With Fast and Furious racing into cinemas Friday, Movies.ie recommends the following flicks to get your heart pumping…
Heading back to the streets where it all began, two men rejoin two women to blast muscle, tuner and exotic cars across Los Angeles and floor through the Mexican desert. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are back in the driving seat for the latest in the franchise – “Fast and Furious”. Before you speed out to your local cinema to see the latest version, Movies.ie recommends you race over to your local video store and pick up the following racing gems:
The Fast and the Furious
A magazine article about real-life car racing gangs for Vibe becomes this fast-paced automotive thriller from director Rob Cohen. Paul Walker stars as Brian O’Conner, a youthful FBI agent investigating a series of hijackings by going undercover with a street gang led by charismatic Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) Harking back to where it all began the 2001 film “The Fast and the Furious” remains the best in the franchise.
Gone in 60 Seconds
Randall “Memphis” Raines (Nicolas Cage) can steal practically any car that crosses his path. While he has done well in his life of crime, he knows that there’s a short future in theft, and he wants to get out of the business. But his retirement plans are interrupted when his younger brother Kip (Giovanni Ribisi) gets in trouble with a dangerous crime boss… The first half is a study in how not to write, cast and act in a movie but the cars on the thieves’ hit list are super-fine, and the final 40 minutes have to be seen to be believed.
Thunder Road
Cheesy dialogue, karate chops, and wooden acting aside, the film has some jaw-dropping stunt driving and plenty of cars blowing up. One of the best speed traps ever: gasoline on spike strips so the car will careen out of control, flip over and crash – into a nearby power station.
Death Race
The title of alone is enough to help you imagine how gruesome the car race sequences are in this “Death Race 2000” remake. Putting together a group of blood thirst criminals in a high speed race track and equipping them with cars that have been heavily-modified with armor plating, machine guns and defensive weapons, this movie presents a rare and unique race where the goal is not only to win the game but also to come out alive.
Fast and Furious is in Irish cinemas Friday, April 10th.