Who's
In It: Lucas Black, Lynda Boyd, Zachery Ty Bryan, Keiko Kitagawa, Brian Tee,
Bow Wow, Nikki Griffin, Sung Kang, Jason Tobin, Nathalie Kelley Who Directed
It: Justin Lin
When Can I Buy It: NOW (Region 1)
The
Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) - Reviewed by: Paul Heath
Underground Drifting - Burn up the streets with real-life drifters
Drifting
School - Hit the track with the stars as they learn to drift
Cast
Cam - Join the action behind-the-scenes with video shot by the cast
The
Big Breakdown: Han's Last Ride - Uncover the secrets behind the film's most explosive
chase
Tricked
Out to Drift - Find out how the filmmakers customized over 230 cars for stunts,
crashes and pure adrenaline!
Welcome
to Drifting - Get the low-down on the high-octane sport that's revolutionizing
racing
The
Real Drift King - Meet the legend who put drifting on the map
The
Japanese Way - Go on-location with the cast and crew to high-intensity Tokyo
So,
the third FAST AND THE FURIOUS movie makes its way to DVD. THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS:
TOKYO DRIFT is a the first FF film that doesn't star heartthrob Paul Walker, and
this time all of the action is relocated to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Japan.
The
plot for this one is simple. Sean Boswell has been a naughty boy and got himself
into trouble with the police in his home town in Southern USA. Having already
moved schools a number of times, Sean is sent all the way to Japan to live with
his estranged father 'to sort himself' out, and distance himself from his love
of cars, and car racing. Once there, rather than distancing himself, Sean finds
himself immersed in a totally new world involving muscle cars, underground drift
racing, and even the Japanese Yakuza. Having made a fool of himself in a hasty
race with the 'Drift King', Sean is taken under the wing of Han, whose car he
wrecked in the aforementioned race. Along for the ride are Army brat school kid,
Bow Wow, and the girl that's as hot as the cars themselves, Nathalie Kelly.
Straight
from the off I knew that I was going to enjoy this movie, and THE FAST AND THE
FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, for those a little weary as to whether it will deliver the
car chases, and thrills and spills of the two previous movie, does in spades,
and it's possibly the best of the three in that respect. The plot of the film
is also way better than anything before. There's no dodgy undercover cop plot
or the like. Here, we concentrate on the racing. For those not in the know, 'drifting'
is when you approach a corner and almost send the car sideways as you attempt
to turn. The car is skidded around the corner before the accelerator regains control
and continues. I think.
This
movie was a blast. The cars look cool, the Japanese and American kids are as equally
good good looking and director Justin Lin keeps the pace, ahem, fast and furious.
As I said, it is the best of the trilogy, and petrolheads who see these films
for the racing and the racing alone, will have a field day with this as there's
lot's of it. For everyone else, there's enough here to keep you happy too. Gas
guzzlin' fun!
For
a movie that is thrown out on just one disc, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT
certainly boasts some cool little extras.
Commentary
with director Justin Lin A feature length commentary with director Lin,
who takes us through a scene specific chat. Nice little track from a very enthusiastic
director. Tidbits on the making of the movie and more. Lin is a name to watched
out for in the future for sure!
Deleted
Scenes More action featuring the main cast.
Featurette:
"The Japanese way" A featurette looking at the cast filming in
and around Tokyo. Documentary footage and interviews with the cast and crew on
location in the city.
Featurette:
"Tricked Out To Drift" A
look at how the filmmakers tricked out the 230 plus cars for the making of the
movie. We get to see the types of cars used for certain types of stunts and more.
There are interviews with the crew again, as well as stunt coordinator/ 2nd unit
director and stunt legend Terry Leonard.
Featurette:
"The Big Breakdown: Han¿s Last Ride" This one looks at
one of the pivotal sequences in the movie, and how it was all put together. We
learn that most of the sequence wasn't actually filmed in Tokyo, but on the streets
of downtown Los Angeles. We get to see how greenscreen was used in the sequence,
and what camera-rigs were used to follow the action. A nice, but short little
featurette.
"Cast Cam" The
cast are given camcorders to film onset antics. A short, but self indulgent little
feature that I could have lived without.
Featurette: "Welcome to Drifting" A guide to the new form
of racing, "drifting", which is the theme of the movie. All you ever
wanted to know and more!
Featurette:
"The Real Drift King" We
get to meet the original DK who helped put drift racing on the map. The short
featurette looks at how the guy helped with stunts on the movie too.
If
you like the other two, you'll love this. If you didn't you may find something
new here as I really enjoyed it. It's flawed, but enjoyable. The extras are superb,
so it's well worth having in you collection. Well done Universal!
Who's
In It: Lucas Black, Lynda Boyd, Zachery Ty Bryan, Keiko Kitagawa, Brian Tee,
Bow Wow, Nikki Griffin, Sung Kang, Jason Tobin, Nathalie Kelley
