The Review at a Glance: ( max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
94
Studio and Year: Universal Studios- 2011
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 131 minutes (Theatrical Cut), 132 minutes (Extended Cut)
Genre: Action,Crime
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish, French DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot
Directed by: Justin Lin
Music by: Brian Tyler
Written by: Chris Morgan
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 4, 2011
"We find 'em we take 'em as a team and we bring 'em back. And above all else we don't ever, ever let them get into cars."
Film Synopsis:
Get ready for "five times the action, excitement and fun" (Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV) as Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all-stars from every chapter of the explosive franchise built on speed. Fugitive Dom Toretto (Diesel) partners with former cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) on the opposite side of the law in exotic Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There they are hunted by a high-powered U.S. strike force led by its toughest Fed (Dwayne Johnson) and an army of corrupt cops working for a ruthless drug kingpin. To gain their freedom and win this ultimate high-stakes race, they must pull off one last job - an insane heist worth $100 million.
My Take:
After hearing "Fast Five" was the best in The Fast and the Furious series, I was intrigued to give it a spin. I didn't like the original too much and I have only seen one of it's sequels, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The original The Fast and The Furious was about under cover agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrating an L.A. gang of street racers while on assignment looking for a hijacking ring. After befriending them he begins to question where his loyalties lie. The fifth in the series, "Fast Five" re-teams the now ex-agent Brian O'Conner and his racing/criminal friends, Dominic Toretto (Vin Deisel), Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibbons) Tej Parker (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges), Vince (Matt Schulze), Han Lue (Sung Kang) and Gisele Harabo (Gal Gadot), as they plan a final heist that will leave them all rich enough to retire from crime for life.
After a car heist goes wrong in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dom and O'Conner find a microchip in a car which has a list of Drug Lord Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) safe houses, with stashes of over $10 million in each. That same botched heist leads an elite US strike force, led by Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), to Rio, pitting Dominic and O'Conner not only against the Feds, but Reyes and his command of a corrupt police force. If that wasn't enough, they recruit a team of familiar faces from the previous Fast and Furious films as Dominic and O'Conner plan to steal all $100 million of Reyes drug money.
I remember thinking about similarities the original Fast and the Furious had to "Point Break", and the 3rd in the series, Tokyo Drift did to "The Karate Kid 2". "Fast Five" is the "Oceans 11" of the series. I enjoyed the fact the film was less about the underground race scene, focusing on the crew and their planning of the heist. It had less car action then expected, but don't get me wrong, it has its share of over-the-top action sequences (especially the "safe chase"), but its success is in its different approach with the focus of plot on characters and the heist. In the 007 tradition, we are treated to a before credit action piece that was just awesome, really setting the stage for this, the best installment (I have seen) in the series. The addition of Dwayne Johnson and his grudge match against Dom was great (I am a fan of Dwayne). When "Fast Five" is firing on all cylinders it has great action, a cool plot, as well as deepening the character development from prior installments. However, I do suggest checking your realism detector at the door and enjoy this loud, fun and thoroughly entertaining flick!
Parental Guide:
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 96
Video: 92
"Fast Five" races to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 20.2 mbps and DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound that has an average bitrate of 2.6 mbps.
Get the popcorn, crank it up, and get ready for a reference quality Blu-ray release from Universal Home Entertainment. "Fast Five" is a looker and fine details are impeccable here. We get every pore, every detail in foregrounds as well as close-ups. Blacks are of the highest order, and the evening scenes never disappoint. Flesh-tones are the only slightly weak link, looking a bit on the warm-side, though that can be attributed to the sun-soaked environment. I noticed no artifacting from the encode and only a slight bit of grain, indicating no DNR or other detrimental tinkering.
Loud, aggressive and precise sum up this awesome DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio experience. Dynamics are impressive, sound-stage pin-point accurate and all dialogue was intelligible, even when things got loud. This DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround channels showcased every bullet, whizzing cars and atmospheric elements perfectly. The LFE was tangible, rattling my chest when asked to, and backing up my main speakers with a nice articulation. This is absolute reference material. Enjoy!
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Check you realism detector at the door and enjoy this loud, fun and thoroughly entertaining flick! I really dug "Fast Five" and will definitely throw this reference quality release by Universal back on screen soon. Jam-packed with extra features, a directors commentary, a DVD copy as well as an Extended Cut (well it's only extended a whopping 73 seconds longer), "Fast Five" comes recommended for fans of action flicks, the Fast and the Furious series, and those interested in giving their system a workout. PS- watch into he credits for a surprise scene.
Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-X3 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Screen Innovations Solar HD 1.3 120" 2.40:1 CinemaScope Screen
Denon AVR 4311 Pre/Pro
Sunfire Theater Grand 7201 Amplifier
Sony PS3 Slim Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sunfire Cinema Ribbon Trio On-Wall (5.1)
2 Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ Solitaire 10"
The Review at a Glance: ( max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
94
Studio and Year: Universal Studios- 2011
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 131 minutes (Theatrical Cut), 132 minutes (Extended Cut)
Genre: Action,Crime
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish, French DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot
Directed by: Justin Lin
Music by: Brian Tyler
Written by: Chris Morgan
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 4, 2011
"We find 'em we take 'em as a team and we bring 'em back. And above all else we don't ever, ever let them get into cars."
Film Synopsis:
Get ready for "five times the action, excitement and fun" (Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV) as Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all-stars from every chapter of the explosive franchise built on speed. Fugitive Dom Toretto (Diesel) partners with former cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) on the opposite side of the law in exotic Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There they are hunted by a high-powered U.S. strike force led by its toughest Fed (Dwayne Johnson) and an army of corrupt cops working for a ruthless drug kingpin. To gain their freedom and win this ultimate high-stakes race, they must pull off one last job - an insane heist worth $100 million.
My Take:
After hearing "Fast Five" was the best in The Fast and the Furious series, I was intrigued to give it a spin. I didn't like the original too much and I have only seen one of it's sequels, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The original The Fast and The Furious was about under cover agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrating an L.A. gang of street racers while on assignment looking for a hijacking ring. After befriending them he begins to question where his loyalties lie. The fifth in the series, "Fast Five" re-teams the now ex-agent Brian O'Conner and his racing/criminal friends, Dominic Toretto (Vin Deisel), Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibbons) Tej Parker (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges), Vince (Matt Schulze), Han Lue (Sung Kang) and Gisele Harabo (Gal Gadot), as they plan a final heist that will leave them all rich enough to retire from crime for life.
After a car heist goes wrong in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dom and O'Conner find a microchip in a car which has a list of Drug Lord Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) safe houses, with stashes of over $10 million in each. That same botched heist leads an elite US strike force, led by Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), to Rio, pitting Dominic and O'Conner not only against the Feds, but Reyes and his command of a corrupt police force. If that wasn't enough, they recruit a team of familiar faces from the previous Fast and Furious films as Dominic and O'Conner plan to steal all $100 million of Reyes drug money.
I remember thinking about similarities the original Fast and the Furious had to "Point Break", and the 3rd in the series, Tokyo Drift did to "The Karate Kid 2". "Fast Five" is the "Oceans 11" of the series. I enjoyed the fact the film was less about the underground race scene, focusing on the crew and their planning of the heist. It had less car action then expected, but don't get me wrong, it has its share of over-the-top action sequences (especially the "safe chase"), but its success is in its different approach with the focus of plot on characters and the heist. In the 007 tradition, we are treated to a before credit action piece that was just awesome, really setting the stage for this, the best installment (I have seen) in the series. The addition of Dwayne Johnson and his grudge match against Dom was great (I am a fan of Dwayne). When "Fast Five" is firing on all cylinders it has great action, a cool plot, as well as deepening the character development from prior installments. However, I do suggest checking your realism detector at the door and enjoy this loud, fun and thoroughly entertaining flick!
Parental Guide:
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 96
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 92
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Get the popcorn, crank it up, and get ready for a reference quality Blu-ray release from Universal Home Entertainment. "Fast Five" is a looker and fine details are impeccable here. We get every pore, every detail in foregrounds as well as close-ups. Blacks are of the highest order, and the evening scenes never disappoint. Flesh-tones are the only slightly weak link, looking a bit on the warm-side, though that can be attributed to the sun-soaked environment. I noticed no artifacting from the encode and only a slight bit of grain, indicating no DNR or other detrimental tinkering.
Loud, aggressive and precise sum up this awesome DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio experience. Dynamics are impressive, sound-stage pin-point accurate and all dialogue was intelligible, even when things got loud. This DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround channels showcased every bullet, whizzing cars and atmospheric elements perfectly. The LFE was tangible, rattling my chest when asked to, and backing up my main speakers with a nice articulation. This is absolute reference material. Enjoy!
Bonus Features:
- Feature Commentary with Director Justin Lin (Extended Version Only)
- (HD) On Set with Director Justin Lin
- (HD) Inside the Vault Chase
- (HD) Tyrese TV
- (HD) Featurettes: Reuniting the Team, A New Set of Wheels, Dom's Journey, Brian O'Conner: From Fed to Con, Enter Federal Agent Hobbs, Dom vs. Hobbs, The Big Train Heist
- (HD) Second Screen
- (HD) Deleted Scenes
- (HD) Gag Reel
- DVD Copy
- BD Live enabled
- My Scenes
- pocket BLU Ap
- D-BOX
- Digital Copy of Fast Five - Extended Version (expires on 03/13/2012)
Final Thoughts:
Check you realism detector at the door and enjoy this loud, fun and thoroughly entertaining flick! I really dug "Fast Five" and will definitely throw this reference quality release by Universal back on screen soon. Jam-packed with extra features, a directors commentary, a DVD copy as well as an Extended Cut (well it's only extended a whopping 73 seconds longer), "Fast Five" comes recommended for fans of action flicks, the Fast and the Furious series, and those interested in giving their system a workout. PS- watch into he credits for a surprise scene.
Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-X3 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Screen Innovations Solar HD 1.3 120" 2.40:1 CinemaScope Screen
Denon AVR 4311 Pre/Pro
Sunfire Theater Grand 7201 Amplifier
Sony PS3 Slim Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sunfire Cinema Ribbon Trio On-Wall (5.1)
2 Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ Solitaire 10"