Above the big screen, tension hung in the air as two adversaries, poised like daggers ready to strike, faced off. The intense smell of gunpowder slowly permeated the entire theater, even causing James Bernard, the seasoned film critic known as the "Voice of the Village", to hold his breath and fixate on the unfolding drama, fearing he might miss a single detail.
Hobbs stood firmly before Dominic, his seemingly calm demeanor belying the turbulent storm in his eyes. His gaze, sharp as a razor, bore into Dominic, leaving no room for escape. The overwhelming aura he exuded pressed down on every breath in the room, making the atmosphere so taut it seemed on the verge of shattering.
This was the first time Dominic and Hobbs had faced each other head-on like kings, but the expected sparks did not ignite. Instead, Dominic found himself at a severe disadvantage.
Standing before Hobbs, Dominic appeared diminished in every way, from physical height to mental fortitude. His facade of composure was paper-thin, his strong-willed gaze betrayed a lack of confidence, and he seemed exaggerated and disheveled, putting him in a passive position.
Brian, noticing this, hurriedly stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Dominic. Together, they confronted Hobbs. Hobbs' gaze briefly swept over Brian, and his upright and honorable stance in the face of confrontation, as law enforcement officers, appeared fair and impartial. Yet, with ease, he held the upper hand, and Brian couldn't help but tense up, his trembling pupils revealing his inner anxiety.
The long-anticipated "showdown of kings" was finally unfolding, but it was nothing like what anyone had imagined. It wasn't worse or disappointing; to be precise, it was surprisingly thrilling. However, the surprise was so overwhelming and breathtaking that it left everyone speechless.
James considered himself a seasoned pro, but before his mind could catch up, cries of amazement had already erupted – it was simply astonishing!
Objectively, James thought "Fast 5" was quite good. The plot remained simple and aggressive, adhering faithfully to the basic template of a commercial film. The story progression was predictable: Brian had finally learned that Mia was pregnant, and he and Dominic had decided to retire from the criminal life. However, before they did, they planned to make a substantial score.
The target was easy to select. They were currently facing the relentless pursuit and hunting by Reyes, the undisputed kingpin of Rio de Janeiro. Since they were already engaged in a life-or-death standoff, they decided to go with the flow and pull off a major heist on this mafia godfather before making their exit.
From there, everything in the plot fell into place. They assembled the entire team, bringing back standout characters from the previous four films. They emphasized the difficulty of the mission, as Reyes had stashed his entire underground treasury inside the police station, protected by multiple layers of security. The team divided the tasks, solving each challenge one by one, and began preparing for the final heist.
Then they realized that Hobbs was relentlessly pursuing them. Rather than being passive, they decided to take the initiative and set a trap to lure Hobbs in. They planned to intimidate him with overwhelming force, keeping him at bay long enough to execute the heist. By the time Hobbs came after them again, they would be long gone.
All these twists and turns were not surprising; they were all part of the plan, a well-worn path in their line of work.
However, James didn't mind. Director Justin had displayed a remarkable commercial sensibility in pacing the plot, sprinkling humor at intervals, and coordinating the characters' styles. The entire viewing experience flowed seamlessly, with the continuous laughter in the theater serving as the best proof.
But that was as far as it went. While it met the standards of a popcorn commercial film, and perhaps even exceeded them slightly, it didn't come close to classics like "Inception" or "The Dark Knight", let alone the likes of "Iron Man" or "Spider-Man".
The reason was simple – the film barely delved into the protagonist's character development or personality. Even the plot lacked a clear central thread, resorting to a simple and brute force approach.
"Iron Man" explored the relationship between warfare and weapons, leading to the awakening of personal ideology. "Spider-Man" examined the relationship between ability and responsibility, witnessing the boy's transformation into a man. However, "Fast 5" was nothing more than a series of thrills, thrill after thrill. The film was packed with sensory stimulation, and while it provided a sensory delight during the viewing, upon closer inspection, it lacked substance.
Competing with Marvel's ambitious Phase Two plan, especially with "Thor", would be challenging for a film like "Fast 5".
But at that moment, Hobbs made his entrance once again!
The movie had been playing for over seventy minutes, and this was only Hobbs' fourth appearance, yet each time he appeared, he brought a breath of fresh air.
It wasn't just his tough and straightforward style or his cunning strategies; it was also his incredible ability to dominate even when outnumbered two to one. His every move exuded a strong aura, effortlessly bringing depth to his character.
James couldn't help but speculate about Hobbs' past. He seemed like a rebellious intellect, possibly a former soldier, so why had he transitioned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, leaving the battlefield behind? Hobbs' actions were cunning and adaptable, always staying a step ahead but never rash. According to the script, Hobbs leading a team to the parking lot to confront Dominic and Paul seemed hasty, out of sync with the performance. These small details exposed the script's shortcomings, but the actors breathed life into their characters. If the screenwriters were willing to put in a little more effort, the film's overall quality could have been elevated.
Everyone knew the importance of performance, but they often overlooked the demands of commercial films. In this scene, James saw a stark contrast. No, even a layman could spot it.
Vin's performance was excessively rigid and exaggerated, his expressions and movements oozing a forced sense of self-importance. Yet, he lacked conviction, completely overshadowed. Paul's performance, on the other hand, was too one-dimensional, with almost no variation in facial expressions. His eyes conveyed ample emotion, but it was a linear display, lacking depth, force, or change, squandering the atmosphere of the scene.
The direct result was that, together, Vin and Paul still fell short against Renly.
Renly, portraying Hobbs, left no trace of his performance. His emotions and style were clear and distinct, shifting effortlessly between expressions and mannerisms. Meanwhile, in the subtleties of habitual actions and eye details, he added depth to the character, breathing vitality into the role of "Luke Hobbs".
Though it might seem unfair to say so, the fact remained that with just four appearances, totaling less than ten minutes, the character of Hobbs had already become more substantial than Dominic, Brian, Mia, and other characters who had spanned the five installments.
Dominic's bluff had garnered the support of an entire armory in the parking lot. It was no longer two against one; it was hundreds against one, facing Hobbs. Yet, even in this scenario, Hobbs remained unshaken. Despite his eventual retreat, he retained a formidable presence and dominance.
When James witnessed Hobbs' final trigger pull, adrenaline surged within him for the first time.
Simple car chases, straightforward brawls, and gunfights no longer provided enjoyment for a professional film critic like James. They were too familiar with such clichés. Unless it was something as revolutionary as "Avatar" in terms of technology or as mind-bending as "Inception", their movie experiences remained calm.
But at this moment, Hobbs' devilish, flamboyant, bloodthirsty, and forceful display brought to James's mind a classic character akin to a clown. This description might not be entirely accurate since the Joker in "The Dark Knight" was a villain, whereas Hobbs was a representative of justice. However, the fact was that James began to wonder about Hobbs's backstory and what had shaped such a charismatic character.
James was clearly not the only one.
Eli Wallah suddenly stood up, and the theater echoed with a series of exclamations, one after the other. In a span of just three minutes, at least four such outbursts occurred, with the last one accompanied by some abrupt whistling, followed by joyful laughter and gasps of amazement.
What had happened? What was going on?
And it wasn't over yet. "Wow!" exclamations rang out again. Eli excitedly looked at his fellow companions near the door. "They're racing, right? Is the racing starting inside?"
At this moment, about twenty or thirty people stood by the door. They hadn't been able to secure tickets for the premiere, or perhaps, they were more interested in the audience's reaction after the movie than the film itself. This was crucial for the grand opening. But now, their curiosity was boiling. The waves of exclamations, faint yet clear, seemed to foreshadow a tremendous success for tonight's premiere.
Suddenly, sharp screams erupted within the theater. "Ah!" The screams were uneven, indicating it wasn't just one person, but many—possibly dozens. However, in the blink of an eye, after the electrifying moment, the screams ceased, replaced by silence—a deathly silence.
Eli looked around in bewilderment at the others beside him. "What's going on? What just happened? The screams, the silence—everything's so bizarre. What on earth is happening in this Chinese Theater?"
But no one could answer Eli. Everyone stood up, gazing at the theater's entrance, their minds once again filled with the same thought: Why did they stupidly not enter the theater?
This was indeed torment.