sammyadelaiye

I didn't know what to expect going in. I wondered what kind of story could possibly be told around professional car racing and honestly, the Jerry Bruckheimer formula isn't something I crave anymore. But I was pleasantly surprised. After watching this film, I might actually start following F1 and NASCAR races more closely.

I saw the movie in XD with the D-Box experience, and if D-Box was made for anything, it's films like this. The racing sequences felt incredibly real. The way they were shot, the opulence of the venues, and the high-paced action pulled in even an audience with no previous connection to racing. You could feel the intensity of the competition and the massive machine, both literal and corporate, behind every team.

The soundtrack was fantastic. Hearing Afrobeats included brought me so much joy, especially considering the diverse cast and the celebration of African and Caribbean accents. The film makes a clear effort to feel global, not just in casting, but in its locations, music, and respectful cultural nods throughout.

Brad Pitt's eternal swag truly needs to be studied. His charisma commands the screen, and his chemistry with Javier Bardem is so natural that I would love to see them star together in a buddy cop film someday.

The supporting cast is also excellent. Idris brings charm and energy as the hotheaded new-blood driver, and Niles is a total delight as his mother. The pit crew members are so well-written and performed that they feel like main characters themselves. Watching them work together is one of the film's most rewarding elements.

I laughed, I cried, and I felt like I was on those tracks. I've never been more invested in a race. The victories and the exquisitely shot celebrations that follow were thrilling and moving. I didn't know what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved what I got.

A highly enjoyable film packed with high-octane action scenes, this movie expands the John Wick universe beautifully by exploring another branch of its shadowy world of assassins.

Ana de Armas leads as a captivating femme fatale, reviving the slick, spy-like energy she brought to her standout role in the last James Bond film. Here, however, her character is given more depth-angry, tortured, a bit inexperienced, but undeniably lethal. The supporting cast mostly play to type, reprising familiar roles, but they do so effectively and with charisma.

The action sequences evoke the style of Atomic Blonde, but feel even more thrilling. Every kick, punch, and shot lands with weight and urgency. The stunt choreography is exceptional, with creative weapon use and dynamic fight scenes that ensure even minor characters aren't wasted-they each get a chance to shine, adding richness to the action rather than just serving as cannon fodder.

In terms of action, this film surpasses others in the genre like Black Widow, Atomic Blonde, and Red Sparrow. It delivers relentless, high-energy combat anchored by a capable female lead who dominates in hand-to-hand fights, gun battles, and inventive weapon use. It's a standout entry in the modern action-thriller genre..

This had me at the edge of my seat for so much of the movie. There is action, comedy, and drama, and the clock keeps ticking throughout the movie. It feels like time is ticking by, and one wrong move could ruin everything. There is so much happening at the same time, and the audience is left gasping at every slip, every crack, and every door that fails to open.

The first act felt like a greatest hits montage, which turned out to be very helpful considering all the callbacks in the movie, including a major heartwarming one from the first movie. It was beautiful to see the attempt to tie a string through all the MI movies from the first film to this entry. Some things may have come off as forced, but it works.

This movie is also the second part of a two-part movie, but it does a great job of catching you up on what you may have missed in the first film. I found this refreshing but also a lot; I estimate that at least half an hour of the movie was archival footage.

There were a number of scenes that were just meant for Tom Cruise to be Tom Cruise. The submarine expedition, for instance, was quite long, the plane sequence was also quite long, and then we get the mandatory Tom Cruise running scene, which we have all come to expect. I feel it got a bit much in this film.

We meet a few new characters who are impressive and very likable. The villain feels more like a Roger Moore-era Bond villain, but the president and her inner circle feel so engaging. The different teams we meet in the countdown keep the audience engaged and at the edge of their seats.

In some parts, it feels like it is trying too hard to invent dramatic and high-octane parts. Some sequences could have been completely cut out of the movie, and it wouldn't have mattered. While not as delicately well-crafted as its predecessor, this entry is indeed just as entertaining, if not more entertaining.