Unfortunately, I have to admit that this is the first film I've seen in the "Furious" franchise. I purchased the DVD for only three reasons. I wanted to see the fight sequence between Michelle Rodriguez and Rhonda Rousey I'm certainly a big fan of Rhonda's and wanted to see how Michelle did against her. I also wanted to see the legendary actor, Kurt Russell, in action. I've been an avid fan of Kurt's for over three decades, and I was hoping to see him do his thing, which he did in spades. He may be back for Furious 8. Last, I wanted to see the fantastic car-jump scene between three buildings in Abu Dhabi. These three scenes were all I hoped they would be, and certainly much more.

What surprised me, however, is just how much I found myself enjoying the entire movie. This isn't Lawrence of Arabia or The Bridge Over the River Kwai, but I rated it 5-stars because for its genre, the film delivers on what it promises and clearly holds your interest to the last minute. I especially loved the hand-to-hand combat sequences between Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel.

One last thing, even though Paul Walker passed away when the film was only halfway through completion, the production company still managed to finish the movie with the help of Paul's two brothers and CSI efftects. For me, it was like Paul Walker was in the entire film.

Great job!

Now, I'm going back to watch Furious 6 & 5.

Over the top physics defying action and a very touching and satisfying tribute to Paul at the end. I really was moved by the ending as it could have been cliche and thoughtless tribute but it was instead very appropriate and satisfying close to a truly tragic really. Of course, knowing this makes the dialog with his movie wife all the more haunting and profoundly ironic. This movie is full of crashes but the one that is most provoking is the collision of fantasy and reality that will separate this film from all the rest. I won't soon forget the ending so for that reason I highly recommend it. I regret not seeing it when it was originally released.

Best of the fast and furious movies. I have been a fan of fast and furious franchise since the beginning. The stories, action, cast chemistry just unmatchable. There have been some real disappointments along the way such as Tokyo Drift and despite the intense action most recently, I really was not very happy with Fast and Furious 6 either but this one now with 7 more than made up for everything that was weak in some of the earlier films. An incredible 'possible ending' to the franchise while at the same time potentially leaving it open for a possible Fast and Furious 8; though I am in agreement along with most that this would probably be the best point to just go out while on top. Any further movies would have to face the impossible challange of pushing the bar even higher. Of course some of the action in this film was completely over the top just plain crazy and flat out unrealistic if you think about it but it still left you on the edge of your seat both cringing and laughing at the same time, was just fantastic. I am glad they decided to keep Paul's character in this movie verses just flat writing him out. Having completed only initial shooting before he was gone, it would of been much easier to write him out completely for this movie. If someone did not know what had happened, you would not know at least until the end. They did such an incredibly excellent job between the CG, composite footage, and body stand in all used to recreate Paul and fimish out his character with the help of his brothers, just amazing job very well done. Sure, there a few moments where if you knew already, you can tell a bit but if you didn't, I don't think someone would really notice and it was that seamless. The movie was emotional, intense, action packed, intricate plot with more complex levels than some might realize pulling in all the elements which has made this franchise work well while taking everything to a new extreme. Again some parts were over the top unrealistically crazy like the clean over the top tower jumps but it just added to the comedy and great entertainment which is what movies are really about anyway. This is definitely one for the home collection and I will get this as soon as it is available. ADDENDUM: I since received my extended edition Blueray and as expected is a must have for any home collection. As a few have commented they could not see a difference between extended and regular editions, I did a simultaneous play of both side by side and found every edited moment. Little to nothing is added to content but deleted scenes also on the Blueray give you some extra insight there. What is changed is substantial on many of the action shots in most cases adding in extra seconds of footage re-editing and lengthening fight scenes. The initial opening scene at the hospital is lengthened substantially and they worked in Dom's necklace in the extended version. The after funeral car chicken scene is also lengthened as is the Abu Dabhi party cat fight scene. The final Dom battle scene is another one. The first conversation meeting Ramsey is re-edited very subtly and need side by side to notice the difference. The rest is mostly adding seconds extra between cut points in most action scenes. Very well done.

I'm quite a latecomer to the FAST & FURIOUS franchise, having gotten on with the fourth entry, but not really liking it until FAST FIVE. Here we are, seven films in, the series has morphed into something else entirely different from the street racing formula it started as. While the previous two were heist films, FURIOUS 7 goes into full superhero mode. I mean, can nothing kill these people? Still, once you embrace the absurdity there's a lot of fun to be had with the over-the-top action and quip-making. The plot, as if it really matters, involves Dom and his team going after Deckard Shaw, who is hunting them down because of what they did to his brother in the previous movie. It's actually an interesting dual family dynamic that, sadly, isn't really played up save for one scene at the beginning. That's also the scene where we're introduced to just how bada** that Shaw is by seeing the aftermath of what he did to the hospital where his brother is staying. Sadly, nothing in the rest of the film lives up to that level of awesome. Along the way, the team has to extract a hacker so that they can get some incredible piece of technology that will help them find Shaw. However, the "God's Eye" is merely a plot-driving MacGuffin that extends the running time, and kind of useless because Shaw just keeps showing up where Dom and company are anyway as the plot requires. And that's generally the biggest problem with FURIOUS 7: it relies too heavily and coincidence and convenience to drive the story. Still, the film delivers on the action it promises. Big time. The coolest stunt in the whole film is probably where they parachute cars down onto a mountain, which looked to be achieved practically (at least part of it). I can only imagine what an adrenaline rush it would have been to see it on a premium format screen (like IMAX), but it was still effective on my laptop. But, for my money, the film's best action sequence takes place in Abu Dhabi. James Wan, best known until now for directing low-budget horror films, was at his directorial best here deftly cutting between concurrent action sequences and witty banter courtesy of Roman (Tyrese). After this show-stopping segment, the final "street fight" was almost anti-climactic by comparison. As for the lulls between the action, there was plenty of talk about family as is typical for the series. Yet, none of it really felt genuine until the emotional final scene which pays tribute, and says farewell, to Paul Walker. That moment alone, out of all the other similar ones throughout the series, was heartfelt and touching without being clichéd. So, is this highbrow entertainment? Heck no! But, it knows what it is and delivers what the target audience wants.

Talk about over the top! This was certainly an ambitious movie, what many Bond movies should have been. Their tuxedo moments in this movie pay homage to that, I suppose, but it is one heck of a thrill ride. It's like Bond, Mission Impossible, and Terminator rolled into one. Of course, there are many "are you kidding me" moments, but if you don't enjoy them anyway, you're seriously watching the wrong movie.

The fight choreography is again top notch, and so are the ridiculous car stunts, including driving a luxury car from one skyscraper through the air into another. One criticism would be that the big battle at the end seems a bit too long, but maybe that's because you have been rattled with the action throughout.

Of course, the big item lurking in the back of your mind as you're watching all of this is, how are they going to do Paul Walker's sendoff? The ending was a masterfully done tribute that made me, uh, a bit misty ... along with the background song, it was a great way to deal with Paul's tragic death.

For go-for-broke stunts and this tribute, this should have a place in every action aficionado's library.

With 230 cars in the film, car buffs will love it...if you can stand seeing them get crushed. Like the villain's Aston Martin DB9 that is involved in a head-on collision. This is a good vs. bad, fast vs. slower adventure featuring more than car chases and stunts. Vin Diesel is his usual macho but winsome self wooing his lady. Picture a Dodge Challenger, Plymouth 'Cuda, Bugatti Veyron, Jeep Wrangler, Subaru Impreza and a Nissan GTR with 700 horses. The Supercar, though, deserves its own statement: The Lykan HyperSport made in the Middle East, has a max speed of 240 mph and goes from zero to 60mph in less than 3 seconds and costs over $3.5 million. And wait until you see WHERE it goes. Think of Mission Impossible in world-renown cities building to more than a smashing conclusion. As a final note: While this film was being produced, actor Paul Walker died in his car so his brothers stepped in to take his place in the film.

This movie didn't disappoint at any time, the whole movie had me wanting more, I'd get so into an action scene that it'd switch back to the other action scene and I'd stop and say "Oh man I forgot about them" cause the action was so intense. The Furious franchise has just gotten better and better leading to this amazing film. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into any detail, the ending was a great tribute to Paul and I actually got a little choked up, movies rarely get to me on an emotional level like that. The intro sets the movie up for some serious action and delivers. Bottom line, if you've been a fan of Furious movies, do NOT pass this up-if you're just an action fan, do NOT pass this up-if you like a good 'Good(ish) Guy vs Bad Guy' movie, do NOT pass this up. I bought the digital version and the quality of our internet isn't great, so tomorrow I'm going to buy the Blu-Ray, that's how great this movie is...

Great action movie that reunites all the cast from the original movies in one form or another and manages to send a heartfelt farewell to Paul Walker. This was a really awesome movie with some jaw dropping action scenes and a nicely woven plot that manages to bring everyone back as they are being hunted by great bad guy Jason Statham in his quest for revenge.
As the movie comes to a close you can see how they set up the Rock's much rumored spin off franchise of his own and they have said goodbye to Paul Walker in such a way of grace with flashbacks throughout the series of the movies.
As much as I love these movies and as much as Fast 5 breathed some much needed life into them and 6 was great as was this it is time to close the door and go out in a classy way.

All in all one of the best of the series....