The short films were either released direct-to-video or saw limited theatrical distribution, being mostly included as special features for The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and Fast & Furious, as part of the DVD releases. The films, which range from 10 to 20 minutes, are designed to be self-contained stories that provide backstory for characters or events introduced in the films. They were also designed to bridge the chronological gap that was created as the initial leads departed the series.
Universal attempted to bring back Diesel for the third installment, but he again declined due to other projects and a dislike for the script.[31] After failing to secure the returns of Walker or any other member of the original cast, Universal ordered a reboot of the franchise. Screenwriter Chris Morgan subsequently attempted to revive the series primarily for car enthusiasts, introducing new characters, focusing on a car-related subculture and moving the series to Tokyo; Japan contains one of the world's largest automotive industries. It is the first film in the series to start its tradition of filming in locations outside the United States.[32] Moritz returned and hired director Justin Lin, having been impressed with Lin's work for the film Better Luck Tomorrow (2002), which shared similar elements with Tokyo Drift. The third film marked the first appearance in the Fast & Furious franchise of Han Lue, portrayed by Sung Kang, a character who originated from Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow. Although the relation between Better Luck Tomorrow and Fast & Furious was originally left unaddressed, both Lin and Kang repeatedly confirmed during the following years that it was the same character, and that Better Luck Tomorrow doubled as Han's origin story, retroactively making the film part of the Fast & Furious continuity.[33][34] Moreover, with Tokyo Drift, the series was able to bring Diesel in for a cameo appearance, in exchange for letting the actor's production company acquire the rights to the Riddick character.[35][36] The third film was the least financially successful of the franchise, received lukewarm reception and left the future of the franchise in limbo.[37]
In 2011, Fast Five was released. While developing the film, Universal completely departed from any street racing elements prevalent in previous films, to transform the franchise into a heist action series involving cars. By doing so, they hoped to attract wider audiences that might otherwise be put off by a heavy emphasis on cars and car culture. Fast Five is considered the transitional film in the series, featuring only one car race and giving more attention to action set pieces such as gun fights, brawls and the heist. Fast Five was initially conceived to conclude the franchise, but following positive reception at test screenings, alongside its eventual strong critical and commercial performance, Universal proceeded to develop a sixth film.[38] Furthermore, the film is noted for the addition of Dwayne Johnson to the cast, whose performance was critically praised.[39][40][41]
Fast X was designed to be the final movie of the franchise which later evolved in becoming a two part finale. Justin Lin was brought back to direct both movies but left the process early on due to on set differences with Vin Diesel.[60] Louis Leterrier was then hired as his replacement to direct the two part finale. At Universal's request, the two part finale was changed to a trilogy.[20]
After the release of Tokyo Drift in 2006, Universal began introducing theme park attractions. From 2006 to 2013, The Fast and the Furious: Extreme Close-Up attraction was included as part of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. The tour's tram would enter a small arena, which featured a demonstration of prop vehicles being manipulated by articulated robotic arms.[109][110][111][112]
A new attraction, Fast & Furious: Supercharged, opened as part of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2015. The tour's tram passes the Dodge Chargers used in the fifth film, as riders are shown a video of Luke Hobbs, who informs them a high-valued witness sought by Owen Shaw is on the tram. The tram enters a warehouse party, where the cast appear via a Pepper's ghost effect, before the party is shut down by the FBI and the tram moves into a motion simulator where a chase sequence ensues, led by Roman Pearce, Letty Ortiz and Dominic Toretto.[113][114] A similar attraction opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2018.[115] In the queue, guests pass through a garage with memorabilia from the films before getting a video call from Tej Parker and Mia Toretto inviting them to a party. Guests board "party buses", where they get the video message from Hobbs and the ride proceeds as it does in the Hollywood version.[116]
In 2020, LEGO produced a set in their Technic line of Dom's Dodge Charger.[140][141][142] In June 2022, The Lego Group unveiled Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger R/T which was released as part of the Lego Speed Champions theme on August 1, 2022. It consists of 345 pieces, and includes a Dominic Toretto minifigure. On January 1, 2023, the LEGO Group released Brian O'Conner's Nissan Skyline GT-R, also as part of the Speed Champions theme. It consists of 319 pieces, and includes a Brian O'Conner minifigure.[143][144][145][146]
The series, particularly the first few films, helped popularize the import scene and car tuning.[152][153] According to the LA Times, there are some Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers who blame the Fast & Furious films for popularizing street racing in the city.[154] In August 2022, residents of Los Angeles held a protest against the filming of Fast X, claiming the movies promote illegal street racing.[155][156]
Movies about race still tend to be self-congratulatory or mine tension for comedy ... The Fast and Furious movies, by contrast, are free of this angst. They're basically a prolonged party for a ring of street-racing urban car thieves.[158]
Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B+ and wrote, "Fast & Furious is still no Point Break. But it's perfectly aware of its limited dramatic mission ... it offers an attractive getaway route from self-importance, snark, and chatty comedies about male bonding."[28] Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, Kirk Honeycutt called it "the first true sequel of the bunch. By reuniting the two male stars from the original and ... continuing the story from the first film, this new film should re-ignite the franchise."[29] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times considered it a "strange piece of nostalgia, where, without apology, fast cars still rule and fuel is burned with abandon."[30] Roger Ebert, who had given positive reviews to the previous films, considered the story, dialogue, and acting to all be perfunctory: "I admire the craft involved, but the movie leaves me profoundly indifferent. After three earlier movies in the series, which have been transmuted into video games, why do we need a fourth one? Oh. I just answered my own question."[31]
A little detour here, as it's not really part of the core franchise, but a spin-off. The Rock and Statham return to team up against Idris Elba's super-soldier. Shaw transitions from villain to hero. Vanessa Kirby also stars as Statham's sister Hattie, while Helen Mirren reprises her role as their mother following a cameo in the eighth Fast and Furious film.
Speaking to Variety, Diesel seemed to confirm that Fast X will no longer be part one of the franchise's two-part finale. Rather than Fast and Furious 11 wrapping up the series, a 12th movie will be coming to theaters. "Going into making this movie, the studio asked if this could be a two-parter," Diesel said. "And after the studio saw this one, they said, 'Could you make the finale, a trilogy?'"
The next action-packed installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast 11, has exciting story details, a promising cast, and a not-too-distant release date. Fast X marks the beginning of the end for The Fast Saga, kicking off a multipart finale that will wrap up the story of Dom Toretto and his fast and furious found family. Fast X Part 2 follows up on that story as Dom Toretto and his family gets closer to their endgame. Vin Diesel, the star and producer of the franchise, is already building hype around the next Fast & Furious movie.
Universal has confirmed that Fast X director Louis Leterrier is returning to direct Fast 11. Leterrier managed to turn around Fast X under immense pressure. He was brought on as a last-minute replacement after long-time Fast & Furious director Justin Lin left the franchise due to creative differences. Since Lin departed from the project right before filming was set to begin, Leterrier had far less prep time to shoot Fast X than filmmakers usually get with these big-budget franchise tentpoles. After he pulled off Fast X under these circumstances, the studio has enough faith in Leterrier to bring him back for Fast X Part 2.
Fast neutron therapy has been used for decades. In conjunction with recent advances in photonic techniques, fast neutrons are no longer of much oncologic interest, which is not unequivocally positive, given their undoubted therapeutic value. This mini-review recalls the history of medical research on fast neutrons, considers their physical and radiobiological properties alongside their benefits for cancer treatment, and discusses their place in modern radiation oncology.
I am not a big fan of fast cars and high-speed robberies, but when I first saw the movie The Fast and the Furious way back in 2001 I instantly connected with it. My core resonated with the profound depth of perspectives the series shared right from the first part in 2001 to its seemingly last installment in 2017. And, no kidding, I was only 22 years old when I first watched that movie. Since then I have watched and rewatched these movies over and over again, not only reminding me of these important messages but also often creating newer and deeper shifts.
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