A loved character leaves in a memorable way...

Rating: 8/10 (7 April 2015)

Often, we remember how people come in and out of our life more than what happens in between. First impressions are brief moments that can last a lifetime, and final goodbyes can be the hardest moments of our lives to endure. This is the message at the heart of "Fast & Furious 7", the latest installment in the car racing / action franchise now entering its fourteenth year.
The anticipation behind this film over the past two years has been enormous. As "Fast & Furious 6" left us blown away and wanting more, the seventh installment high-tailed it into production, planned to be released the following year. Then in November 2013, things took a drastic turn for the franchise. But let's wind back the clock to the summer of 2001, and the story of a little street racing film and its young star, Paul Walker.
Coming out of a few teen flicks, the young actor was cast in what would become his most famous and enduring role, but there's no way he could have known that at the time. Starring alongside him was the imposing Vin Diesel, hot off the success of the brilliant "Pitch Black". Diesel filled the screen with his presence and power, whereas Walker brought the vulnerability and naivety of a fish out of water. Playing undercover LA police officer Brian O'Conner, he infiltrates the street racing scene through Dom and his crew, getting caught up in their high risk antics. By the end of the first film, the lines between crime and the law were blurred as a friendship was formed that would take a long ride.
Originally due for a July 2014 release, filming on part seven was put on hold while the filmmakers worked out what to do. Walker had already completed about half his scenes for the movie, so with some creative thought, the production was picked back up again in April 2014, to be finished and released a year later. As we waited for the film to be released, bits and pieces of news emerged on the forthcoming sequel about its story and other cast members joining the ranks. Fans began to wonder how they were going to deal with the early departure of Paul Walker from a half-completed film, so the makers released a statement merely saying "Brian will be retired from the series, respectfully" No other information was released, so we waited to see what would happen in April 2015.
If you've already seen FF7 or you're intending to, then you're a series fan and I don't need to go into details about the story of the series leading up to this point. You know what's happened recently, and how the stage has been set for this new installment. And as exiting and awesome as things look in the trailer, that is just a tease in regards to what waits for you in the film. From the very beginning the action kicks off, and doesn't let up for a single moment. I enjoyed every minute of "Fast & Furious 7". As ridiculous as it is to see cars spending more time in the air than on the road, I switched off any sense of logic and reasoning, and went along for the ride. That's what this movie is meant for, as are all movies at the end of day. Films are a form of escape; a chance to leave the real world for a couple of hours, and see the world from a view where anything is possible, allowing us to suspend disbelief, relive some childhood fantasies and connect with our imagination. What's wrong with that? Nothing, in my opinion, and this is what the Fast & Furious series has become about.
As the action leaps off the screen, you can't help but feel a sense of sadness knowing that this is Paul Walker's last film, and every scene he has on screen, is among his last.
For a series about high octane car stunts and tough guys fighting it out, "Fast & Furious 7" takes an emotional turn in its last ten minutes. Using some clever CGI effects, Paul Walker is still there, even though you know it's not really him, you can feel his presence in the final scene. Having grown up on these films, watching the cast grow and evolve into their characters and take on more daring stories as the sequels progress, the ending of this installment is a perfect way to wrap that up. Brian's departure from the story is the end of a journey, much as it was the end of Paul Walker's short journey on earth. The cast are so well connected on screen and off, you can feel that their words and tears are genuine as they say goodbye to Brian, as for them, it was a way to say goodbye to Paul Walker as well.
As the final scene of the film played out on screen, and after two hours of action got plenty of gasps, whistles, claps and laughs, the entire theater sat in silence for Brian and Dom's farewell. Backed up perfectly by the song "See You Again", performed by Wiz Khalifa, it's a fitting, respectful and heart touching scene. Even if you're not a series devotee and feel a connection to the characters, I think you'll find it hard not to be moved by the final scene of this film, as it says goodbye to its long running star, who will certainly leave a gaping hole in the heart of the series and fans alike.
Farewell Paul Walker; an actor that was watchable and likable, taking the audience into the Fast and Furious world like a trustworthy friend. Rest in Peace. You will be missed.