hscptcrash

The Hurt Locker (2008) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 2h11
Release 28.08.2008
Director Kathryn Bigelow
About Sergeant William James is tasked with leading a bomb disposal team during the Iraq War. But his ideologies and reckless approach towards the job gives rise to conflicts with his subordinates.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Now TV
Trailer:

The Good

The film’s documentary style cinematography is such a brave choice. It feels like a nod to Third Cinema and allows the film to develop an intimate and raw presentation. What I do admire, is that while taking on the style of a documentary it does manage to establish itself as a work of fiction. It also manages to not feel like a propoganda film, like those made in the UK and US during WWII and Vietnam respectively.

The casting is on point. Not only in terms of our leads, but those lose too. From a Drew Barrymore moment early on, to a mid film rug pull… everyone is expendable and it keeps the audience on edge.
Jeremy Renner provides such a well rounded performance. The dangerous, maverick and the vulnerable father clash and compliment each other in a way other actors could never present with any authenticity. You knowing he shouldn’t be there, yet also knowing his skills are incredible means that your heart will be in your mouth for most of the action.

The Bad

There are few parts I struggled to follow. I think the British representatives were mercenaries rather than military. If that’s the case, were they on the same side? The British also seem to just disappear and leave the US team pinned down and in danger. Would that happen?
By extension, would a military team be as small as three men as it is shown here? I accept that they’re specialist, however for the very reason of the lack of teamwork and shift in working relationships, I would imagine a team would be much bigger and working on rotation to support the much bigger platoons?!
I think I would have benefitted from a little hand holding here. What would normally take place in the “redeployment” scene that does not take place is where I would gain most of this information but I do wish the film had taken the time to redistribute and provide context for those of us without a working knowledge of military life.

The Ugly

This film, intentional or not, shows the damage of warfare on soldiers and what I see as poor management decisions that are taken without consideration of consequence. It’s the most horrific part of the story; the team became as volatile as any of the explosives they attempt to neutralise and you have at least two members who are not in a mentally stable condition to be in that environment.
We don’t see the decisions being made, we don’t get the scene in which Jason is given his orders by a man behind a desk but their presence is heavy and it’s heartbreaking to know that those men should not have been in such high stress situations together without knowing how they would work together as team, or even whether they could trust each other. You also have a soldier who should have been sent home long before we meet him, if he should have been enrolled in the first place. These bad management decisions go on in all walks of life; bad leaders promoted, good workers overlooked. However seeing it present in a film based on real events and knowing the choices impact the body count? It leaves a shocking knot in your stomach long after the film has finished and the credits have rolled.

Final Thoughts

Certainly not an entertaining watch, and it will not leave you with the warm and fuzzies. However it is a raw, gut wrenching and captivating look at war without the traditional element of propaganda.

Lift (2024) Film Review

Rating 12
Length 1h44
Release 12.01.2024
Director F Gary Gray
About A master thief is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Netflix
Trailer:

The Good

Vincent D’Onofrio is incredible in whatever he is in. However, it’s hard not to love him in Lift when he’s clearly having the time of his life. Being a master of disguise, we get to see a wide range of performances from this great. You cannot fault him.

David Proud gives us typical Brit humour and it is incredible. Not only because he gives us some of the funniest moments, it’s also a long time coming having disabled representation in a film as part of the course. That’s true representation.

The heist aspect of the film is good. I mean, I’m a sucker for a heist movie so it was on to a winner there anyway. While there are aspects that are predictable, there are still aspects to this film that are delving into new and uncharted thievery.

No screaming Kevin Hart. I’ll admit, the film hit the hour mark before I lost that fear he wasn’t right for the role but he was perfect… once the action kicked in.

The Bad

Burn Gorman is one of those actors. He pops up in everything; Hollywood and home grown. His American accents come across to me a little ‘fake’ because I grew up watching him in Torchwood and I know he’s a Brit. However, this time I cannot use that. His Irish accent is not only bad, it’s patchy. There’s a scene upon his character meeting Hart’s he straight up says a line in a London accent.

The film takes a little too long to get going. The second half is much better, but it relies on you staying engaged and invested while it takes it’s slow, baby steps.

The Ugly

Why is Hollywood STILL trying to make Sam Worthington happen?! He adds nothing to any film, let alone this one.

Final Thoughts

It’s a heist film by numbers with a very pretty cast. Honestly though, if you want a good heist with heart? Invest in Leverage, not this.

Role Play (2023) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 1h40
Release 12.01.2024
Director Thomas Vincent
About Emma has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey. She also has a secret life as an assassin for hire, a secret that her husband Dave discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

Kaley Cuoco and Bill Nighy have amazing chemistry. It’s strange because it’s not romantic, in the slightest, but they give us some of the best scenes in the film.

Cuoco actually plays the action really well. From weaponry, to hand to hand she makes for a convincing spy/ gun for hire and I certainly welcome more work like this from her.

There’s some incredible shots, locations and camera work throughout this film. As a director of episodes of the incredible The Bodyguard (2018), Thomas Vincent has shown he’s as good on the big screen. Much like Cuoco, I am looking forward to seeing more from him.

The Bad

The film goes the long way around to set itself up and get to the action, and sometimes it’s about the journey and sometimes it’s about destination. Unfortunately, this film tries to do both and achieves neither.

By extension one of the biggest problems is who the film deems the protagonist. Initially it seems all set up for Kaley Cuoco’s Emma to lead the film as spy whose lies catch up with her. Then it briefly appears as if the film is going for a riff on Date Night (2010), before giving us Dave’s (David Oyelowo) perspective on a potential pretence that Emma has gone missing.
The film really is a Cuoco’s vehicle and could do with a narrative clean up as there’s just a little too much diversion in the middle act that brings the audience out of the film.
While there’s equally an edit in which this film exists as the duo, akin to Date Night. However, for that to work, there needs to be less separation between the couple. Most importantly, for this to be truly coherent film, a decision needs to be made.

The Ugly

The motivation of the mysterious Sovereign, the decisions made and the lengths they go to is left somewhat unexplained. Yes, there’s a connection made to Emma however it’s all centred in the past. There’s no explanation of the future and the ever important… why?

I did not like some of the cuts that made it into this, specifically ones relating to Cuoco. Way too many sad and angry faces when they weren’t necessary. Maybe the director was calling for stoic, but I’m not sure that’s what happened. Just really made me sad seeing such a pretty, and funny, person frowning so much.

Final Thoughts

It’s a decent Friday night watch, but I don’t think it’s going into anyone’s rewatch pile.

The Producers (1967) Film Review

Rating PG
Length 1h28
Release 09.10.1969
Director Mel Brooks
About A Broadway producer decides to get rich by creating the biggest flop of his career.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: BBC IPlayer
Trailer:

The Good

Gene Wilder is incredible. From his opening hysterics to the closing captive audience, he’s outstanding with his comic timing.

It’s a lean 85 minutes and it’s technically not a musical. Having seen the 2005 outing first, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the original is much lighter on the songs.

The Bad

The Nazi play within a film can be misinterpreted. What you have to remember is; this is created by Mel Brooks famous for two things. Mainly the satirical comedy, but the other is that he’s Jewish.
So while there are many at the time of release, and perhaps even now upon a first watch, who saw this film as offensive and missed the point it truly is an amazing feat to take a hated figure and reduce him to a punch line.

The Ugly

I don’t know what it was about the 60s, but it was way too comfortable with its misrepresentation of rape. The Knack … and How to Get It (1965) has a main character running around screaming rape, for anyone she comes across to laugh at her.
The Producers has one of the old broads ask for sex play with Bialystock that is the ‘rape of …’ someone or other. Thankfully, I Think we’ve done away with this trope, much like using asbestos in our buildings. However, it really threw me and I felt like being slapped. No one, and I mean no one, wants to be raped. In fact the phrase is non-sensical.

Final Thoughts

Matilda (1996)

Rating PG
Length 1h48
Release 20.12.1996
Director Danny DeVito
About Matilda has a dysfunctional relationship with her parents and brother. At school, she hates the principal for torturing her and a teacher, so she uses her telekinetic abilities to deal with her.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Now TV
Trailer:

The Good

DeVito is absolutely MVP for this film. His acting; spot on. The narration; perfect. The direction; a more mainstream, child-friendly, Tim Burton. Honestly, I loved this movie the first time I saw it and as I’ve grown, I’ve learned to appreciate DeVito’s style of direction. I adore the use of shadows to create tension, the close ups of characters that are intimidating.

The dancing scene as Matilda learns to control her powers! Gah! It walked so that the Philosopher’s Stone could run. The effects; practical and CGI have aged really well and even in that scene, you’re too engrossed in the joy to notice some of the animation-like quality.

Pam Ferris is as amazing as she is frightening. As an ugly fat person, I admire her dedication to present herself in the way that she does. There’s a skill required to be able to give this character a balance that allows the audience to laugh at her, and be terrified. You can see from this performance why she was cast as Aunt Marge in Potter (although she was always my head cannon for Umbridge though)

The Bad

Dahl, being the problematic sod that he is, has some questionable language within his books and some has made its way into the film. Primarily, the word “pissworm”. What he most likely intended was the traditional meaning ‘individual who is deemed to be small or insignificant’. However there are a few other definitions, including it being a ‘disparaging term for a man’s penis’.
I’m sure most kids would miss it, but I’m telling you now I wouldn’t want to be any parent whose kid catches it and repeats it.

The Ugly

As much as I am certain the plot of Miss Honey is entirely innocent, and was written in a very different time, I’m not entirely comfortable with the whole going to Miss Honey’s home for after school hangs. Add to it a casual break-in, and she’s not the role model we’re met to think she is.
Lets but it this way; put Danny DeVito (Or Mr Poppy, Pam Ferris’ other relation from Nativity) in place of Embeth Davidtz and it doesn’t feel as wholesome; its creepy, its grooming and we’re arresting them.

A slight change in the story; not having them in isolation and perhaps having Violet with Matilda, instead of Honey, during the search for doll would tone down the ick.

Final Thoughts

The ick was nowhere near as bad watching it this time, but it also didn’t bring the joy that it did the first time.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 1h34
Release 05.09.1997
Director Jay Roach
About Austin Powers, a cryogenically frozen British spy from 1960s, is thawed and reinstated when his arch nemesis Dr. Evil returns from space and terrorizes earth with his evil schemes.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Netflix
Trailer:

The Good

I have the funny bone of a 12 year old boy, so the fart jokes, the pee jokes, the naughty puns…. they always will make me laugh. This is one of those rare films in which the toilet scene works and I appreciate the pay off of having Robert Wagner being named Number 2.

This is a spoof before Scary Movie ruined it all. This is a jovial send up, instead of the bad taste and in spite movie that the genre became in the early 00s. I love the reanimation process and its parody of Demolition Man.

Seth Green was my crush at the time and he’s still the perfect guy. He represented pretty much all of us going through out teen years at this point and he plays off Myer’s brilliantly.

The film gives us a perfect example of consent. Yes, he’s all about sex all of the time. However, an intoxicated woman throwing themselves at him?! Austin is all class.

The Bad

Will Farrell’s ‘brown face’. Again, it’s a reference to spy movies and the various inappropriate and downright offensive representation of various ethnicities while hiring primarily white actors. Doesn’t make this right. Also made what could have been an incredibly funny scene, something that I just wanted over.

The Ugly

The use of the “that’s not a woman” ‘joke’. Not one, but twice. Yes, the first time it’s clear that there’s two people playing the agent and the second Austin has gotten it wrong, but it just doesn’t work today.

Final Thoughts

This franchise was part of my personality. It was the main reason I have always wanted a sphinx and until I left them in my childhood home, owned the action figures.
It hasn’t aged incredibly well, but it certainly brought a smile to my face.

It Came From Outer Space (1953) Film Review

Rating PG
Length 1h21
Release 25.09.1953
Director Jack Arnold
About John Putnam, a stargazer, witnesses a spaceship landing in the Arizona desert, but none of the townsfolk believe him. Horror strikes, when residents begin to disappear.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Now TV (under Cult Classics)
Trailer:

The Good

The music! I will never not love a good theremin tune and it works really well her to build tension.

How the film presents the alien POV; it’s quite majestic. In fact everything alien works. Particularly when you consider this was made in the early 50s. Not a single bit of CGI in sight.

The Bad

It’s a chilling film that makes use of sound to imply so much about the aliens that land and makes them out to be the scary big bad. In a modern film there’d be a closer resemblance to the xenomorph and people would die to create the scares. However this film is refreshing in that all the chills are implied upon human paranoia.
There’s the added element of chills brought about by the mob that’s formed as the film progresses and actually how real that would be.

The Ugly

I hate the “mock the person who says they’ve seen aliens”. Not believing him is one thing, but outright mocking him in the paper and on the radio?! Technically not this film’s fault, but after half a century of it being the go-to response in movies and me seeing a good chunk of them first, it bugged the hell out of me. Particularly when in-universe its all true.

Final Thoughts

A short and sweet look into 50s sci-fi. If you like the original Invasion of the Bodysnatchers you’ll enjoy this just as much.

Scent of a Woman (1992) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 2h37
Release 12.03.1993
Director Martin Breast
About A prep school student, who is in need of money, agrees to be the caregiver of a man with visual impairment while his family is away. Unbeknownst to him, the colonel has his own agenda for the weekend.
Moon: no moon sighting
Trigger Warning: Suicide plans/ Gun Violence
Where to Watch: More 4
Trailer:

The Good

I remember Al Pacino being rated number one in a list of 100 actors and I really didn’t understand how, or why. I’ll admit, my dislike of the American gangster movie and their epically long run times, means until recently I probably hadn’t seen too much of Pacino.
Now, though?! I get it. He’s not the man with range, but he’s the man who goes all in to provide authenticity and emotional connection.

Frank’s story arc is compelling. His story provides arguments for and against assisted suicide; the struggle, the loneliness both conflict with the confidence and life that’s still fighting within Frank. How the cause of Frank’s blindness, his bitterness and position within his family and his plans for the future are drip fed to us, provides an ever shifting opinion and it makes for quite a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story.

The Bad

I’m not completely sold on Chris O’Donnell in the role, or the development of the character. What got him into the school? He said it was a bursary, but what for? What was his aim? There was mention of Harvard, but not of what he wanted to do there. We’ve got a Roary Gillmore here, but nothing about the character tells me this. Just a few changes to the character; hell, have him hold a book, taking homework with him to his first day with Frank. Something that showed me that he’s having to work harder than everyone else because he’s still having to earn his place.
Then for Chris O’Donnell, the performance is just a little too timid with not enough growth by the end of the film. It feels a little too one-note and wooden for a young man in crisis and thrown into highly tense situation with a clearly depressed man.

The Ugly

You’re trying to tell me that the Principle of that Prep school didn’t recognise those voices on the tannoy? Given that this is what the B-plot hangs one; it’s fucking stupid. I’d have had more respect if the film acknowledged that the Principle knew who it was, but that he needed someone to confirm it.
Or not have the trio so obvious, watching from the window. So much of it points to the boys and it’s frustrating to have the plot play so dumb.

Final Thoughts

Dead Poet’s Society meets About a Boy. It’s certainly a well made film that everyone should watch once in their life, but it’s more cathartic than entertaining.

The Wedding Singer (1998) Film Review

Rating 12
Length 1h37
Release 05.06.1998
Director Frank Coraci
About When Robbie Hart, a wedding singer, meets Julia, a waitress, he promises to sing at her marriage, but unaware of what destiny has in store, the two plan on spending their lives with separate people.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

A plot that’s not too dissimilar to Serendipity (2001), a film I absolutely hated, The Wedding Singer shows how you can do a romance film in which both leads are with other people, yet you still root for them to be together.
Firstly, we don’t meet Robbie’s fiancé until she’s left him at the alter. As an audience, we already dislike her. Then, with Julia, we have a more traditional ‘doomed couple’ trope; she airs misgivings right from the get go, there’s outside social pressure, and in case we’re left in any doubt, Glenn is a sleaze ball of epic proportions.
Secondly, the friendship is built up first and we them gradually fall in love. The time spent together never feels date like. It also doesn’t feel cruel that Robbie is helping with Julia’s wedding plans given his employment. I do also really like that Robbie is held accountable by Holly and reminded that Julia is getting married. That doesn’t happen very often in films and all morality and ethics go out the window for the romance of it all.
Finally, there’s chemistry between the two. It’s commented on by a fair few people throughout the film and you can genuinely see the chemistry while the authenticity of them believing they are just friends works, even if others and the audience don’t.

The soundtrack is incredible. The best of the 80s for your listening pleasure. Not to mention the use of a String Quartet playing a pop cover… before it was mainstream. *chef’s kiss*

That final act on the plane is perfect. Funny, wholesome and satisfying. Most importantly. Robbie manages to get the girl without having to resort to telling her about Glenn’s sleazy antics.

The Bad

Fat and ugly jokes. It’s a common joke in Sandler movies. It sucks, but even more so in this because Robbie is a really sweet guy.

Did they really have Julia marry Robbie in the dress that was bought for her marriage with Glenn?! The marriage that caused a lot of heartache?! Come on, I know there’s the expense, but movie romance here…. give Julia another fucking dress!

The Ugly

It is an Adam Sandler shouty film. Not his worst, by any means, but it is the worst thing about this film. It’s early enough in his career so its not all one note, but it gets particularly loud towards the 45 minute mark.

Final Thoughts

A funny and sweet film that I cannot believe I’ve not watched more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Rating PG
Length 1h35
Release 23.11.1990
Director Steve Barron
About A quartet of humanoid turtles, trained by their mentor in ninjitsu, must learn to work together to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.
Moon: full moon while waiting for pizza delivery
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

The puppetry is amazing. Of course it is, it’s Henson productions. The Turtles are only surpassed for me by the full on puppet of Splinter. The characterisation of the team is spot for me.

The Bad

I’m not quite so sure what the plot is?! Shredder ratnaps Splinter, but he doesn’t know who Splinter is? What was the motivation? Why were the Foot stealing random shit? Too many questions about the story arc really and it stops me being entirely invested.

Not a fan of this iteration of April and I never thought I would say there’s a worse choice for one of my favourite characters than Megan Fox.

The Ugly

It’s really dark. Both physically and tonally. While it isn’t the modern ‘so dark you can’t see anything’, there’s still no reason for it to be as dark as it is. It’s probably why, despite this being one of my favourite shows growing up, I have only seen the film once before today.
Add to that, the violence, it does seem to indicate that the creatives weren’t too sure who they were targeting audience wise.

Final Thoughts

Nostalgia is sometimes left in the past. While I’m glad I took a rewatch, I can also see why this was not something that my parent’s allowed me to have on repeat.

The Birdcage (1996) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 1h48
Release 26.04.1996
Director Mike Nichols
About Gay lovers Armand and Albert disguise themselves as a heterosexual couple in order to meet and impress the conservative family of their son’s fiancee.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

Robin Williams in one of his understated performances makes for a rather charming and contrasting role. Not only in terms of his own body of work, but the performance really stands out against the delightful flamboyance of both Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria. Knowing that Williams could have equally nailed the part of Albert and would have been the audiences expectation, makes the role of Armand all the more impactful being in the hands of Williams.

On the most part, the comedy really lands. Particularly when it comes to the Conservative Family and this is one time in which the audience knowing something characters don’t.
The comedy really ramps up when everything starts to fall apart and utilises all of the tropes that come with a set up based on lies.

I adored the resolve. How they protect Gene Hackman’s senator from the media is charming. It’s also the only way I would buy the acceptance from the family. Which dies make me wish that the outro had been held back and we got to experience a sequel.

The Bad

I love Hank Azaria, I really do. The performance is funny and I love almost all of it. The except being the accent. It’s too ‘crafted’ like many of his other ethnic accents in the Simpsons. It just needed toning down slightly to make it more authentic.

The son, Val, and his fiancé are absolute dicks. What they ask of Armand and Albert is heartbreaking and, certainly for me, doesn’t work. They need to really have already met, and love, Barbara. The decision to fictionalise the Goldman’s lives also really should have come from Armand and Albert. There’s no way a Senator’s daughter who seems as intelligent as Barbra would ever think she could get away with such lies, particularly when the media have just uncovered a scandal.
By making this change, Val doesn’t come across as so entitled and cruel.

The Ugly

There’s no doubt, this film is a trailblazer for the LGBTQ community. However, the plot doesn’t come across as an LGBTQ positive film. The majority of the plot is about putting Armand into the closet and teaching Albert “how to be a man” and doesn’t scream positivity.
Then there’s the use of the word “fag” repeatedly. I’m aware that some words we now consider slurs are used by an intended community in a positive way, and that words have different means depending on the country of use. However, I’m pretty certain by 1996, the word “fag” was considered more slur than not. The use did make me wonder about the creation of this film, it’s predcessor and the play they’re both based upon and whether anyone involved was part of the community. It feels like gay representation by straight creatives to me. It just meant this wasn’t the uplifting film I thought it was going to be.

Side Note

This film made me think about the recent call for all gay characters being played by gay actors and why this is a very bad idea.

Nathan Lane is openly gay. Now.
Back in 1996? Not so much. Although he was almost outed on Oprah while promoting this film.
By enforcing the rule above, means you’re forcing people to out themselves when they’re not comfortable to. It also means you’re writing off a performance like the one Nathan Lane gives in this film.

Final Thoughts

This film, however flawed, walked so the LGBTQ genre could run and it’s a must watch for anyone who loved the amazing talent that is Robin Williams.

Fast X (2023) Film Review

Rating 12
Length 2h21
Release 19.05.2023
Director Louis Leterrier
About Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Now TV
Trailer:

The Good

Jason Momoa is an absolute bat shit crazy delight. I want to see the film he was in because he was having a blast. From his styling to his talking to corpses during a little self care, he’s pitch perfect and funny as fuck!

John Cena is as perfect as always.

There’s a car that will envoke a certain theme when you see it and it is stunning. I would learn to drive to have that car. In black. Matte black.
It is a cameo car, but I’m still thinking about it now. That’s how good it is.

There’s an attempt to tie everything together and credit, where credit is due, I think the film does manage to not only incorporate the two decades worth of franchise, but it does a fair job at streamlining it all.

The Bad

The cold open really threw me out of the whole film in a way that no other instalment ever has. It was only after watching and upon checking wikipedia, I connected the dots. No movie, none at all, should ever require you to rewatch the previous films to follow what you’re currently watching.
Annoyingly, the cold open serves only as a rug pull later in the movie. The film would work just as well, if not better, without the opening. Mainly because it’s chopped up and replayed throughout as Dom works out what we’ve already been told. I don’t know why movies insist on putting the audience in a position where they know more than the protagonist and then have their perspective play like a mystery.
Oh, and what the fuck is it with no title card in that cold open, yet locations?! After establishing shots with landmarks?! Big fuck-off “LONDON”, or wherever they inexplicably find themselves.

Speaking of which, there are so many rehashes of the 9 previous films in various forms. Each one so fleeting that it’s never going to support any casual watcher of the franchise, and I can only imagine it’s a tad tedious to hardcore fans.

The Ugly

This film is trying to be Endgame. The problem with that? The franchise is a mess. There’s no consistency in how they number their sequels, let alone have a plan that connects all the characters and plots in a that Kevin Feige has done over in the MCU.
So what’s the alternative? Ram in as many cameos and callbacks as humanly possible until you create a bloated, convoluted and chaotic confusion put on celluloid? Even if that wasn’t the intention, it’s what was created.
For example, I welcome Helen Mirren reprising her role as Queenie, however the scene was nothing but exposition so it felt pointless. Also, didn’t Dom kill one of her sons?

It was an HOUR before we got a drag race. You know, the premise that built this bloody franchise?! Instead we get to watch the “family” scramble after a bomb that should have exploded way before the trigger was pushed (I don’t know much about explosives, but I’m damn certain THAT is not how they work).

Final Thoughts

The bad most definetley outweighs the good. That sad, Momoa is one big slice of good and Cena certainly makes everything easier. I would advise that you switch off your brains though: as much as leterrier has stated he was trying to bring it back to reality, the films still up there with taking a car to space.