The Fast and the Furious (2001)

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fast-furious-2001“The Fast and the Furious” is a fun movie. The action and fast hot rods will get any viewer pumped up with very high adrenaline action scenes that are all excellent if a little farfetched. We get to see a lot of cool stunts performed with the great looking hot rods and they never fail to deliver with the engrossing hot rod action. One technique in this movie that I did enjoy was the way whenever a hot rod would rev up, we’d zoom through its engines to see it start. It was an unconventional plot element to bring us in to the moment, but very cool.

That said, “The Fast and the Furious” is a virtual “Point Break” Xerox copy replacing surfing with racing. We know the cop is going to fall in love with the girl, we know he’s going to get close to the leader of the gang, we know he’s going to find out, and we know in the end he’s going to let the leader get away. Star Paul Walker is also pretty stiff in his turn here. There’s also Vin Diesel who despite being a bit over the top at times is at least an intriguing villain and potential anti-hero. Diesel as character Dom is the coolest character in the entire film, and he steals a lot of scenes from co-star Walker.

Michelle Rodriguez who’s grossly underused but still manages to get her few moments in to the action and fights, and there’s Jordana Brewster who garners a shockingly compelling sub-plot with Diesel as his sister and potential love interest for Walker’s character. While I wasn’t terribly surprised or kept on the edge of my seat, “The Fast and the Furious” is at least good action fodder with it unabashed silliness at the surface of every racing scene and bit of dialogue. It’s a cheesy movie, but it’s a fun cheesy movie. Though flawed, “The Fast and the Furious” is a fun, dumb, action-packed piece of B grade genre fun.

Domestic Disturbance (2001)

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At a running time of simply an hour and twenty-one minutes “Domestic Disturbance” speeds through its narratiuve, and never leaves times for suspense, tension, or even logic. If the director Harold Becker had added a half hour more to pad the story and fill in the gaps, there likely would’ve been some great stuff. But that’s only really wishful thinking as “Domestic Disturbance” seems to ride on the fact that it’s hopelessly silly and lacking in thrills. In a movie that casts as Vince Vaugn as its primary psychotic villain, it becomes plainly obvious that the studios just aren’t even trying.

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A Knight's Tale (2001)

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tumblr_lhlop8VQtN1qe5zgiMan, it really pisses me off when such a movie with such heart has tons of flaws to it. First off, the beginning of the movie threw me off so much. I mean, classic rock in medieval times? While two knights joust, we see the crowd of peasants and noblemen pounding their fists on the wooden banisters to the beat of Queens “We Will Rock you.” Am I missing something?

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Jason X (2002)

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In the movie we fast- forward to 2008 where we see Jason whose finally been caught by The Crystal Lake Research Facility. Scientists have decided to freeze him forever until they find out a way to kill him. Scientists decide that instead of freezing Jason and storing him, they want to research his regenerating power for the good of mankind. Rowan played by Lexia Doig disagrees and urges them to freeze him. Mistakenly, Jason breaks free from his shackles and slaughters all the scientists and now begins chasing Rowan. She is cornered in the cryogenic freezing room and lures Jason into the chamber and freezes him. But when she think she’s safe, Jason stabs her through the chamber and accidentally makes the chamber leak, freezing them both. Fast- forward 455 years into the future where space researchers go on a field trip into the now abandoned facility where they discover the frozen Jason and Rowan.

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From Hell (2001)

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An adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore, and based upon the legendary serial killer “Jack The Ripper”, inspector Frederick Abberline investigates the mysterious murders of prostitutes within the White chapel district of London. Abberline who can sense when Jack the Ripper will kill someone. So he and the British police go on a manhunt to track him down and stop his terror once and for all. If anything, “From Hell” has great atmosphere.

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Why We Do It

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“Great films are not happening because some mid-level schluphead wants to hold onto his expense account. He doesn’t want to risk it on a decision, or on somebody who hasn’t already made 10 hits.”
– Brad Bird, director of The Incredibles, The Iron Giant

I don’t think movies should be tailored for audiences. They should be created, made, filmed and then whatever audience it appeals to, then so be it, and that should make for a movie’s success. Movie’s are treated as a product by companies and studios. While they do have potential many times for franchises and money making opportunities, they aren’t a product, nor should they be subjected to scrutiny by audiences who decide something is good or bad in the story, or the characters.

Movies are works of art, moving works of art, thus they should be on display for onlookers to observe as works from artists. Should we still call movies works of art if they were immensely tailored for audiences? Trim the climax, keep the storytelling to a minimum, change this character to fit a better profile. It’s all basic bullshit. Davinci never went around his village asking people which shade of black they’d prefer on the Mona Lisa, and Stephen King never asked people which ending they’d like better in “Carrie”, so why should movies be subjected to such ridiculous routines such as testing audiences?

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Texas Rangers (2001)

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w964In yet another attempt on Hollywood’s part to re-create the incredible western genre that is rapidly dying, James Van Der Beek of “Dawson’s Creek” fame plays Lincoln Dunnison, a boy who witnessed his entire family get slaughtered by ruthless bandits, for some unknown reason. His life is spared and he now sets out to on a journey to join the famed army of the west, the “Texas Rangers”. Dylan McDermott plays the ex-leader of the famed Texas rangers who is asked to reform them because of a new threat. This bad it’s, really bad.

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