9.1/10 stinky bananas
Iconic. That is the only way to describe this movie. It spawned one of the greatest movie franchises ever.
They did a fantastic job of introducing the audience to the cool-as-shit world of street racing. Right from the get-go you are enthralled (big word) by the characters and the overall enviornment of the racing underworld.
The original racing scene is one of the greatest movie scenes of the 2000s. And you can’t get more 2000s than Ja Rule. They throw him into this movie just for him to be a huge bitch: he refuses to jump the bridge, comes dead last in the race, and his girlfriend dumps him because he is a loser. Tough scene for Ja Rule. The best part of the scene comes after the race when Paul hits Vin Diesel with the famous line, “dude, I almost had you”. That line will always get a big smile out of me.
In the last 30 minutes, this movie goes on a 16 to 2 run in the 4th quarter (basketball reference). They get the adrenaline pumping with Brian saving Vince, then they follow that up with an absolute gut punch by killing Jessie. They pause for maybe 2.5 seconds and they get right back to the action with the Tran chase down scene, which is immediately followed by the quarter mile train race. Jesus Christ, what a run. Absolutely electric ending to a great movie.
I think The Fast and the Furious takes the cake for the greatest Fast and Furious movie. I think an argument can be made for Fast Five, but something has to be said for what came from this film. It is the recipe for which every other Fast and Furious movie follows. Great one-liners, funny jokes, awesome music, nice cars, hot girls, racing for pink slips, Corona, and Nos, that’s all you need baby.
Re-watch this movie right now. There is no better way to spend your time. World hunger can wait.