Released on May 19,2023, Fast X is the 10th addition to the famous Fast and furious series and is also the second last movie of the primary story content of the franchise. This was directed by Louis Leterrier while continuing with the films obsessive blend of family themes, high octane action and jaw dropping stunts. Featuring a star studded cast led by Vin Diesel, it also introduces new character, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), looking for revenge against Dominic Toretto and his ‘family’ which intensifies the plot.
Summary
The movie begins with a flashback to an incident in the movie Fast Five (2011), wherein Brazilian businessman, Hernán Reyes, was manipulated to surrender a vault full of cash by Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker). The flashback also depicts the intricacies of Hernán’s son, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), who had witnessed his father dying. The movie then portrays how Dante spent most of his life plotting revenge.
Dante reappears and invades the happy life that Dom with his family, consistng of Letty(Michelle Rodriguez), Roman(Tyrese Gibson), Tej(Ludacris), Ramsey(Nathalie Emmanuel), and Han(Sung Kang). Which puts the family in danger together with Brian Marcos, who’s only 8 years old during the time, while targeting Dom’s son, Brian Marcos.
Dante’s deadly strategies force the crew to go from Los Angeles to Rome, then to Rio de Janeiro followed by Antarctica to outwit him. Old allies such as Cipher (Charlize Theron) and Jakob (John Cena) come back to assist in the battle, and new entries such as Tess (Brie Larson) and Aimes (Alan Ritchson) add a surprising spin to the story.A breathtaking cliffhanger is the concluding spectacle of the movie, setting up for the next installment of the franchise.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Louis Leterrier
- Producers: Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Samantha Vincent
- Screenwriters: Justin Lin, Dan Mazeau
Main Cast:
- Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto
- Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes
- Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz
- Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce
- Ludacris as Tej Parker
- Charlize Theron as Cipher
- Brie Larson as Tess
- Alan Ritchson as Aimes
- Sung Kang as Han Lue
- John Cena as Jakob Toretto
Production and Direction
Fast X was initially supposed to be directed by Justin Lin who had helmed all the previous films in the installment, he had to resign at the beginning stages of filming due to some creative differences, which also resulted in some re-structuring in the film, let was taken over by Louis Leterrier who has previously directed The Transporter and Now You See Me.
The film was shot in several countries such as Rome, Portugal, and the UK with the intention of making it feel like the characters traveled all over the globe. The team behind the film aimed to create amalgam of hands on effects and state of the art CGI technology to create a more realistic car chase and battle scene.
Reception from the critics
The critics had a mixed opinion towards the film whereas the fans appear to enjoy its spin off from the overall saga. The movie has a 57% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics while having an incredibly high score of 85% from viewers suggesting that the movie is still action packed even if it doesn’t feature highly rated fighting or car chases.
Dante Reyes was one of the best characters in this movie largely due to the performance given by Jason Momoa, his chaotic attitude was around perfect for the villain he played in the film. The performance given by Vin Diesel Dom Toretto was once again built around the core value of the franchise, family and strength.
Reviewers slammed the film for excessive character build up and story plots however, the true highlights of the film such as the explosion of the dam or even the captivating runaway bomb improved the overlooking feeling of the film being plot armoured.
Themes and Analysis
Fast X still resonates with the recurring themes of the series — family, loyalty, and the chance of redemption. Above all else, it is the bond of love between a man and his family that serves as the backbone of the plot, as seen in Dom’s extraordinary efforts to save them at all costs even in the face of adversities.
On the other hand, Dante Reyes can best be described as the perfect inverse of Dom. Dom who suffered great loss but transformed into a vengeful hate driven individual. This difference accentuates that trauma either brings two people together or rips them to shreds, and the way that trauma is dealt with. The new addition of Dom’s son, Brian, raises the stakes yet again, emphasizing the value of legacy and the need to end the cycle of violence.
Action Sequences and Stunts
Fast X sets the bar even higher with its jaw dropping stunts, slights of hand and intense action, whereas the other movies in the series tend to focus on incorporating the outrageous side of stunts into the movie as well. Some of the major highlights are:
The Rome Bomb Sequence: The crew’s efforts to prevent a giant rolling bomb from demolishing the city are dramatized by a nail-biting chase around the streets of Rome.
The Rio Ambush: A tribute to the stunning shootout that took place on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in Fast Five, with a few tweaks for Dom who came up against a convoy armed with a single weapon.
The Exploding Dam: The character’s dam driving stunt alongside Brian, in the final moments of the film, goes to show how the character’s fearlessness is bestowed to the audience. Safe to say, the whole scene is quite breathtaking.
Economics of the Film
Fast and Furious 10 was the most profitable film of the franchise with a whopping $320 million earned earned over its first weekend alone.his was a huge milestone in itself as the film earned greater sales than its competitors such as brazil and China. Moreover, its reputed base continues to grow across the globe.
In an insatiable run, Fast 10 amassed over $700 million, thus further reassuring fans and Investors alike regarding the constant growth of brand equity associated with the franchise.
Social Context
With its core message evolving around coalition building, the Fast and furious franchise covers a diverse bunch, and even in the new film this was kept intact. In the recent x fast, Versatile and adept actor Jason Momoa, easily shattered the barriers set around typical action hero antagonists
Conclusion
Fans of the famous Fast & Furious saga will be pleased with the latest installment, Fast X, as it showcases car chases, action, and emotional family moments all in one film. It has incredible villains and breathtaking set pieces that clearly presents what the franchise’s last movie would look like. It doesn’t matter if you’re new or a die-hard fan of the franchise, Fast X will leave you wanting more, cementing it’s position as one of the most spectacular movies scientifically ever made.
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