(OT) Fast and Furious

[tinopuno]

Let me apologize at the outset to anyone I may offend and let me stipulate that I've never seen anything more of the 'Fast and Furious' series than a brief promotional trailer. That was more than enough! You don't need to rub your nose in dog shit for an hour to know that it stinks and I avoid watching pointless trash whenever possible.

I just heard an ad on TV promoting 'Fast and Furious 6'. The ad makes a big deal of mentioning that a portion of the profits from this film will go to Paul Walker's charity, 'Reach Out Worldwide'. How very fucking generous!

My reaction...Could the creeps that produce and promote this swill be any more transparent. When I heard about Paul Walker's death in a high speed single car accident and his close ties to this series, I wondered how the promoters of this garbage would 'spin' the unavoidable connection between this real life tragedy and overriding theme of their worthless films. So apparently some suit came up with the slick idea of sending a few bucks to Walker's charity. I have what I think is a more honorable way for them to show respect for the death of this man. Stop making their shitty films that promote reckless and dangerous behavior to their adolescent male audience.

I had never heard of Paul Walker before his death but it's reported that he was one of the 'good guys'. Unlike many Hollywood types who's very public charitable efforts are little more than a scheduled aspect of their total PR package, Walker reportedly kept a very low profile in supporting his charity that focused on reaching out to those effected by natural disasters.

Still, I have mixed feelings about his death. I feel bad whenever a young person loses their life unnecessarily. (Walker was 40...and that's still pretty young from my vantage point.) It apparently isn't clear who was driving the car... Walker or his friend Roger Rodas. Whoever was driving was going much, MUCH to fast on a public thoroughfare and, as such, was endangering others as well. I'm aware that it's reported that a blow out may have contributed to the fatal accident. But if you're not going way to fast, you usually survive a blow out.



Teenagers and kids in their early 20s can, to an extent, be forgiven for their impetuousness and stupidity when they speed recklessly. Most have not witnessed the sobering, and often life changing, effects of a fatal car crash.

Men of 40, particularly men who work around high performance cars, shouldn't get that pass.

[Eaglebreath]

I love high performance cars. That said, driving fast on the street is dangerous. They're fortunate that no innocent people got killed as well. People need to be more responsible. In addition, the Carerra GT is a nasty car. I'm a Porsche fan, but even I can't understand why they decided to put a squirrely race car on the street. It's a difficult car to drive, and lacks traction control to help the typical driver handle it. It's a dangerous car. They only made a limited amount, and I'd bet that at least a third of them have been wrecked out of existence.

[YourPalChrisMal]

On a related note, I saw a headline that said...

"Actor Paul Walker, 40, and another person killed in crash"

And THAT, my friends, is why I don't hang around famous people.

[tinopuno]

I love high performance cars. That said, driving fast on the street is dangerous.

When I started driving, I had a very fast Chevy coupe. I loved going fast and did my share of street racing, not infrequently after 2 or 3 beers. In short, I was a danger to myself and, more importantly, to other people. I collected a slew of speeding tickets and lost my license twice. The license suspensions didn't really get my attention. I was a smart ass (or more accurately a stupid shit!)

My approach to driving changed the week I graduated HS. There was much partying and that meant a lot of drinking and driving. (This was in an era before Designated Drivers became in vogue.) The 3 guys I rode with to this particular party were ready to call it a night before I was. The fact that the guy driving was drunk was not a factor in my decision to stay. They headed back to the Cherry Hill Diner where we usually met to pick up their respective cars. I joined some other friends and headed back to the diner a bit later.

As we approached the Chill Hill circle traffic came to a stop. Up ahead was a mass of emergency vehicles. There had been a terrible accident.

Bottom line, the driver had either fallen asleep or passed out. His convertible had hit the circle at an estimated 80mph with no sign of brake marks. My friend Bob was thrown from the car and killed. My friend Jack was thrown from the car and seriously injured. He survived but had suffered multiple broken bones and brain damage and was never quite the same. The driver, Bill, who was an acquaintance but not a friend, was uninjured. Go figure.

That got my attention. I remained a smart ass but my driving habits changed. I would still really like to drive very fast at times...but I don't. Maybe I've grown up a little.

[FRESH]

I can't say much, as I am part of the problem. I still street race when opportunity arises. I try to minimize risks as much as possible, but running high HP machines on the street is dangerous business.

Anyway, I like Walker and did think he was one of the good guys. A lot of good guys like to go fast...even another famous Paul "Newman". Shit happens, and I just hope that people try to use a little judgement and keep innocent bystanders out of the mix. You can blame the "Fast & Furious" franchise if you want, but this is nothing new and will never go away (Bullitt, American Grafitti, Gone in 60 Seconds, etc....). Hollywood will never stop promoting street racing, becausue the public still embraces it.

[tinopuno]

I can't say much, as I am part of the problem. I still street race when opportunity arises. I try to minimize risks as much as possible, but running high HP machines on the street is dangerous business.

Anyway, I like Walker and did think he was one of the good guys. A lot of good guys like to go fast...even another famous Paul "Newman". Shit happens, and I just hope that people try to use a little judgement and keep innocent bystanders out of the mix. You can blame the "Fast & Furious" franchise if you want, but this is nothing new and will never go away (Bullitt, American Grafitti, Gone in 60 Seconds, etc....). Hollywood will never stop promoting street racing, becausue the public still embraces it.

Fresh,
I was not suggesting that the 'F&F' series causes people to speed or street race but they certainly lend support to what people have always been inclined to do when they had a fast car.

I can't speak to Gone in 60 Seconds 'cause I never saw it. Bullitt and Amer Graf were well written and well acted films in which fast driving was an intriguing but minor adjunct to the films. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the 'F and F' series are actually quality films. From what little I've seen in the trailers, I believe them to be juvenile crap. The point is, they don't exist without reckless speed and violence.

I know Newman loved to race. I think he did most of his racing on private tracks where the only lives endangered were his and other people who also chose to be involved in racing. When you suggest the public 'embraces' street racing, I'm hoping you would agree that it's a small minority of the public that does so.

[leifdawg]

Fast and Furious movies aren't exactly Oscar worthy, but as far as action movies go they are some of the best coming out lately.

[FRESH]

tino, the majority of the F&F movies of late are plot driven, not racing driven. Just sayin'.....

As far as the minority part....these types of movies have always done well. And my own personal experience with the males of our species would suggest that it is not such a minority of them who are into cars/hot rods. Granted, that is just based on my PERSONAL experience. Might have to do with the company that I keep.

I don't mean to give you a hard time.....my pet peeve is not simply about street racing. It's teh mantra that ...

Video games are violent. They are making our kids violent!
People are using gun in movies...that glorifies guns and everyone is going to want to go blasting up their high school!
Those kids were smoking pot in the movie. blah, blah blah!!!!

I'm tired of people insinuating that outside influences overide personal accountability. We know that shit we do is dangerous, or bad for us and our health....and we do it anyway. And not because someone told us it was a good idea or because we saw it on TV.

The only one who can save you FROM you, IS you. Don't empower others with that ability.

Dismounts soap box...........

[tinopuno]

Fast and Furious movies aren't exactly Oscar worthy, but as far as action movies go they are some of the best coming out lately.

Well then maybe I have judged them unfairly. It wouldn't be the first time I've drawn a conclusion about something/someone based on a small sample of evidence or behavior. But I have to say that, in addition to being put off the content of the 'trailers', it has been my experience that any film series that exceeds the number '3' in the title has pretty much exhausted anything of merit in the original idea/theme, and is 'running on empty' in any further sequels.

[stocknowledge]

it has been my experience that any film series that exceeds the number '3' in the title has pretty much exhausted anything of merit in the original idea/theme, and is 'running on empty' in any further sequels.

Perhaps they should name the next release "Running on Empty!"

[tinopuno]

tino, the majority of the F&F movies of late are plot driven, not racing driven. Just sayin'.....

As far as the minority part....these types of movies have always done well. And my own personal experience with the males of our species would suggest that it is not such a minority of them who are into cars/hot rods. Granted, that is just based on my PERSONAL experience. Might have to do with the company that I keep.

I don't mean to give you a hard time.....my pet peeve is not simply about street racing. It's teh mantra that ...

Video games are violent. They are making our kids violent!
People are using gun in movies...that glorifies guns and everyone is going to want to go blasting up their high school!
Those kids were smoking pot in the movie. blah, blah blah!!!!

I'm tired of people insinuating that outside influences overide personal accountability. We know that shit we do is dangerous, or bad for us and our health....and we do it anyway. And not because someone told us it was a good idea or because we saw it on TV.

The only one who can save you FROM you, IS you. Don't empower others with that ability.

Dismounts soap box...........

Fresh,

You're addressing several issues that I have not raised. This is a good example of why I avoid debates on line. Too much is lost or misunderstood without the face-to-face interaction that is, IMO, basic to good communication.

My original post was intended to make 3 points and only 3 points, all of which reflect my often biased opinions:

- The producers of the F & F series show their transparent cynicism when they announce in the new ads for 'F&F6' that a 'portion of the profits' will go to Walker's charity. Forgive me if I suspect it will be a pittance that is given and that the slick PR guy who came up with this idea sees it primarily as a way to boost sales. I'll continue to believe this until I find information to the contrary.

- The F&F films themselves are juvenile swill and a waste of time and money. Perhaps I'm wrong here but so much that comes out of Hollywood anymore is juvenile drivel that mindless crap has become more the rule than the exception. My suggestion that the producers stop making F&F films had more to do with my belief that they're making stupid movies than it did that they are a bad influence on people.

- That any sympathy/sadness I might have for the death of an otherwise 'good man' is tempered by the fact that he died engaged in an activity that needlessly endangered other people.

I would suggest there is an enormous difference between finding enjoyment in watching a thrilling high speed race or car chase on the screen or in a video game vs actually engaging in very high speed driving/racing on public streets. Our individual freedom to act as we see fit (within very broad parameters) carries with it the responsibility that we not act in a manner that endangers others.

I agree that a large portion of the male (and probably female) population enjoys watching a high speed race/chase.It's good, safe fun. I would suggest that only a very small minority engage in such activity in real life other than on a controlled race track.

[FRESH]

tino, you know that you are safe to debate/discuss with me ANY time. You are not going to offend me, bud.

In response to your original intent, I would agree with you that the attempt to profit on the death of Mr Walker is transparent. They would not be the first people to try to profit from a death, disaster, ......heck, people were selling "I survived 9/11" T-shirts! But mom always told me, a little bit of good can come from any tragedy. So if his charity is getting some benefit, I am sure Paul would appreciate that.