article by Connor Behrens for ArtsEarth

Director F. Gary Gray’s latest film, “The Fate of the Furious”, is an American action film that serves as the eighth installment in “The Fast and the Furious” franchise.

“The Fate of the Furious” tells the story of Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) who becomes seduced by a mysterious cyberterrorist (Charlize Theron). Forced to betray his team of close friends, the group embarks on an international journey that will test them to their limits like never before.

“The Fast and the Furious” series has traveled on a bumpy road. The franchise truly did not reach peak potential until 2011’s “Fast Five,” where the franchise decided to embrace its campy premise and deliver audiences unbelievable car sequences and international locations. This continued with both “Furious 6” and “Furious 7.” And while the latest film in the series is enjoyable… there might not be much gas left in the tank.

“The Fate of the Furious” ups the ante in car stunts, set locations and explosive blasts. And while seeing Dwayne Johnson maneuver a torpedo is stupidly captivating, the film feels standard at times. The franchise has lost sight of what it once was. Gone are the days where the films were solely focused on family and racing cars in the streets of Los Angeles.

Make no mistake: the eighth film delivers campy goodness, and the film doesn’t try to be something it’s not (the series jumped the shark and is now riding that shark). But what’s the purpose at this point? There are explosions, car chases, machine guns, torpedoes, etc. The franchise has just become James Bond with cars.

And yet, the film is still a blast of fun and it succeeds due to the star-studded cast. This is mostly due to the rapport that the cast shares with one another. Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris – the entire cast bounces off each other and it creates a special dynamic that no other franchise currently has. By the way, Theron’s character is such a ruthless hacker. Her cold and calculating scenes with Diesel are magnetic. The cast saves the film from being just another blockbuster juggernaut.

Yes, the series has become all about set pieces and ridiculously impossible stunts. However, the film does try to somewhat hang onto its emotional core of family and togetherness. The connection that Diesel shares with Rodriguez is still convincing; the lovable banter that Jason Statham and Johnson partake in is hilarious.

That’s why audiences return to this series with each installment. The spectacle is understandably engaging, but the true selling power is within the film’s commentary on family. Audiences can’t relate to the impractical action pieces, but they can relate to the characters themselves.

Overall, “The Fate of the Furious” gives fans of the series what they want: explosions, fast cars, and most importantly, The Rock pushing torpedoes into nearby vehicles. But while the film is a high-octane ride, this franchise is almost out of gas.

Rating: 6.8/10

article by Connor Behrens for ArtsEarth

Director Dean Israelite’s latest film, “Power Rangers,” is a 2017 American superhero film based on the television series that started in 1993.

“Power Rangers” tells the story of a group of teenage outsiders who find an ancient alien vessel, where the team obtain superhuman abilities and are labeled the Power Rangers. Discovering that a longstanding opponent of the preceding group of Power Rangers has come back to exact revenge on the world, the teenaged group must receive guidance from Zordon and connect their powers to fight to save the planet from destruction.

The biggest weakness of “Power Rangers” is its failure to embrace a solid and singular tone until the final act. There are moments in the film that are executed in a serious tone (the campfire scene is legitimately compelling). Yet… there are also moments of pure cheese. This constant switch between serious and campy never fully works because the film feels unbalanced in what it wants to accomplish.

The serious side of the film is surprisingly touching. Director Israelite shoots some truly emotional scenes with the new team of Rangers. The movie’s first three quarters play like a homage to “The Breakfast Club,” but with superpowers added. The film focuses on the angst and struggles that these teenagers have gone through – and it works for the most part. The standout from this team is RJ Cyler as the Blue Ranger. His character brings some much needed heart and pathos to the film.

However, the real star of the film is Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. Banks completely goes for it in her deliciously campy portrayal. The actress chews up the scenery in every sequence she’s in. Banks ends up making the film feel more like a classic episode of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” by the final act. Her delivery, her posture, her dramatics – it all comes together in a cheesefest that’s strangely mesmerizing.

But aside from Banks’ Repulsa, the campy side of the film is a mixed bag. “Power Rangers” is a film with an identity crisis. Make no mistake, the film is secure in what it wants to be by the bombastic final act. But the journey to get there will be a bit rough for certain fans.

The movie makes you wait for classic moments that call back to the original TV series. For some, that will be frustrating. However, I relatively enjoyed what the filmmakers gave us in its place. The film’s initial focus is more on the team and less on the costumes and giant robots. The film takes bold choices in character design and plot implementation. And for that, it’s commendable. It’s just a shame that the film switches back and forth from a serious focus on the Rangers team to campy alien effects.

Overall, some classic fans of the original series might feel underwhelmed. But “Power Rangers” should work for general audiences. Tone issues aside, the film is successful at modernizing its source material for a new generation. Hollywood may have found a new franchise.

Rating: 6.3/10