Furious 7

You would not resist falling in love with it if the movie had been more (much more) self-conscious as it was in the Rock or Statham scenes. In this way it is an unprecedented “over the guilty pleasure top" soap opera action movie with over-the top story line, which despite having an ultimate testosterone cast is lame, because instead of these guys punching each other all the time, the computers animating their CGI doubles in flying cars in many different ways are applied. And it is captures by a shaking camera, where the overall confusing chaos is multiplied by the epilepsy-inducing editing. Last time we saw such a waste of potential/cast was in... Well, actually sixth Fast and Furious. PS: Diesel will say "We are/I was a family" in different ways perhaps even more often than "I'm Groot" in the Guardians of the Galaxy. (2015-04-02)

I'm not going say that I wasn't entertained by flying cars, unbreakable body shells or a badass Jason Statham because I'd be lying. I had so much fun that what should have otherwise deserved 5 stars for the amazing action spectacle turned into a slightly awkward joke worthy of 3 stars, where everything turns against the narrator and a perceptive viewer familiar with the laws of physics and limited human abilities rather appreciates every moment when they do not have to laugh loudly and continuously – not to mention that the twist is nothing to write home about. To put it another way, the action is entertaining, but it makes you laugh mostly unintentionally, the script is weak, reminiscent of an action video game, where each new level is accompanied by a change of location and a new form of combat against the main enemy, and if we look back at the film, apart from a touching final farewell to Paul Walker, we see only an incoherent sequence of explosions and crazy stunt (or rather digital) action scenes. Thank God for the truly great actors who belong, belonged and will always belong to this series (R.I.P.). 65% (2015-06-09)

The nicest thing is that after the previous airplane games and intercity jumps, the seventh installment appears more believable most of the time. Not that cars with parachutes or crossing from one skyscraper to another are particularly realistic, but there is a certain spark of greater liveliness in them. Perhaps it's thanks to the 4D experience, which allowed me to personally experience all the falls and twists. Perhaps it is the merit of saying goodbye to Paul Walker, which works excellently in an emotional way. However, the most positive impressions are left by the domestic finale, which surpasses the already breathtaking passages from the Caucasus and the Emirates with its diverse involvement of all participants. The method of crossing, the Rock's idea for healing fractures, and above all, the showdown between Vin Diesel and Jason Statham are attractions pumped with adrenaline, brought to the level of a perfect experience. For the kind of movies whose mistakes you can only spot a few hours after your heart rate subsides, this group still has no competition. (2015-03-31)

Rich parents lacking good sense bought their model child all the toys he asked for. When he had them in hand, without any good sense, he started to smash around with them. The cars were flying, the good guys were in them too, the bad ones were too much for them, and they were all chattering just as a little child would think. At the beginning, you first find it cute, then annoying, and if it weren't for the few truly crucial moments (like when Alpha and the main villain punched each other, or when the Deus ex machina appears with a really big rotary in his hand), you probably give up on it. After the noisy and senseless rampage, all that is left on the living room floor is a big mess, which no one seems o have much interest in cleaning up. (2015-04-02)

The Fast and the Furious franchiser seems completely exhausted and overdone. If if #5 was some kind of boosted restart with fresh and rough southern blood, and #6 was about pretty, but visually smoother and with even crazier stunts. This one, unfortunately is already about 80-90 percent similar to the previous one. So, essentially it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s just bigger, more expensive, and louder. The summary “it's a bit too much" fits perfectly. And I haven't even mentioned the scenes that are copied straight from the previous film, it's striking. Especially the fight between Jason Statham and The Rock (almost identical as to The Rock vs Vin Diesel) and the female combos? Gina Carano at least had feminine charm and sex appeal, unlike the bulldozer queen. It also has the same flows: a PG-rating, meaning no blood even though heads are being cut off, unintentionally funny and nonsensical scenes, etc. Despite all this, you end up liking the main "family" of heroes and root for them, and despite the many shortcomings, Fast and Furious 7 still has the best action scene of the year – the only truly stellar one – yes, the one in the mountains with the armed convoy. You'll be amazed at how such a complicated action set-piece can be filmed so clearly. The farewell to Paul Walker is truly elegant and the final action scene is annoyingly long, loud, and monotonous. Go see it out of obligation and for Walker, but judge it as a functional/non-functional film – leave sentiment at home. (2015-03-31)