F8 was dope. I don't know how else to put it. That was an entertaining 2 hours.
I haven't watched the FF series in a year, so my memory isn't fresh on the series, but this might be the movie with the highest stakes in the series, and I like how Hobbs makes a point to emphasize it ("Are you ready to save the world?"). I like the escalation from theft against truck drivers and Asian gangs + undercover cop story, to going against druglords, and now cyber terrorism on a global scale.
That being said, it's maybe the first time in the whole series that I took a moment to genuinely think about how a bunch of street racers ended up being part of a covert operation on a global scale. But really, fuck it, it's fun as hell.
Speaking of fun, the New York City part with the hacked cars was crazy + chasing down Dom. The wave of cars crashing onto the street on a turn was particularly insane.
Cipher was good, very villainy with the escape at the end lol. Hoping she actually comes back in the future. I particularly like the way she basically deconstructs Dom's views on family and his code, and points out how ridiculous it might be.
Roman's schtick wore a bit thin by the middle, but he keeps picking himself back up with shit like talking about shrinkage or him bouncing off Tej and Ramsey, and of course having his badass moment with the snowmobiles. Hobbs' schtick ("I will beat you like a Cherokee drum!") was played out, but it's great having Deckard to bounce off of.
Going back to thinking about how the series progressed from its roots, it's pretty great seeing old characters return and reutilized. Hobbs being an antagonist-turned ally by the end of Fast Five, and again with Deckard now. Owen showing up was cool as hell too. On that note, Elena kinda gets the short end of the deal being Dom's temporary girlfriend until Letty came back, but she and their son ended up being a huge part of F8 anyway. I read something about Sean from Tokyo Drift being part of the movie, but that's clearly wrong. Would be cool if he came back though.
Helen Mirren cameo was neat. Was expecting it to be for something sinister, but it ended up being pretty funny.
And on Deckard: Dude killed Han, and is now part of the family. This is definitely going to be a thing used in F9/F10. Writers can't/won't just sit on this. I can see them twist Han's death into Deckard actually saving him right before the car blows up in Tokyo Drift. Predictable, but I'll eat it up anyway.
Anyway, good movie, fun as hell.
Unrelated, but am I misremembering or imagining a scene from a tv spot or the trailers with Cipher talking about how she was there in Rio, London, LA? I don't remember that being in the movie.
Something along the lines of "I was there and you just didn't know it." I don't remember hearing her say it in the movie, but also vaguely remember it in a trailer or two.
Sad about
