For the most part, the glue thats held the franchise together is its eclectic cast.
So asFurious 7opens, heres my attempt to rank the films in the franchise so far.
While some are inevitably better than others, Id argue that everyFastfilm has something to recommend it…
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7.
Best action moment:the opening drag race, in which a Dodge Viper is totalled in spectacular fashion.
The flashpoint for this films action is Doms main squeeze, Lettie (Michelle Rodriguez).
WithFast & Furious,we can see returning director Justin Lin steering the series in a new direction.
Best action moment:either Walkers on-foot chase or the stealing fuel from a lorry scene.
The Fast and the Furious
Here it is the 2001 film that got the whole franchise rolling.
The resulting film is a cop thriller with a healthy dollop of automotive action on the side.
Best action moment:The bit where Walker slides a car towards the camera and shoots a bad guy.
He really was impossibly cool at this kind of thing.
What makes2 Fast 2 Furiousstand out is its infectious sense of fun.
It remains one of the most wince-inducing scenes in the entire series.
Luke Evans rides around in a big armoured car like something out of Mad Max.
Theres a huge set-piece on a bridge involving tanks.
Having said all this,Fast 6is still one of the best entries in the franchise so far.
Best action moment:Vin Diesel catching Michelle Rodriguez in mid-air.
Ridiculous, but fun.
Furious 7
Under the circumstances, its remarkable just how goodFurious 7is.
Best action moment:possibly Dwayne Johnsons tussle with Jason Statham.
The result seemed to catch just about everyone by surprise.
The action sequences are similarly outsized.
That affection seems to emanate from the screen and reach the audience in the franchises best moments.
This, I think, is the secret to theFastfranchises success.
They have stunts, races and explosions, but theFastfilms arent really about cars.
