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The Long Wait For "Furious 7" Is Over

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's been a long, anxious wait for "Furious 7." Fans of the previous six "Furious" films have made the series one of the most popular and enduring franchises in movie history, so when "Fast & Furious 6" ended on a cliffhanger, that was enough to get fans revved up about "7." But then, in November 2013, the shocking news came that one of the series' beloved stars, Paul Walker, was tragically killed in a car accident. Following the accident, Universal Studios halted production and the future of "Furious 7" remained unclear. But, after much discussion, the producers said they all agreed that Walker would want them to finish the movie.

Was "Furious 7" worth the wait? Most definitely. In addition to doing all the things each of the previous "Furious" movies have done so well over the years – such as get viewers' adrenaline racing – this installment is also a touching tribute to Walker. More on that later.

Furious 7

As far as adrenaline, after reminding viewers where "Fast & Furious 6" left off, "Furious 7," gets hearts pumping with a newcomer to the franchise: action star Jason Statham as cold-blooded British black ops assassin Deckard Shaw. His motive: hunt down and kill everyone responsible for taking down his little brother during their last mission.

In the course of their dealings with Shaw, the "Furious" team is enlisted to rescue an elite hacker named Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). That also pits them up against mercenary Mosi Jakande (Djimon Hounsou). With so much on the line, "Furious 7" takes the art of stunts to a whole new level. You already know there wouldn't be a "Furious" movie without race scenes galore, but how about cars dropping from the sky? Or crashing through skyscrapers. But that's not the half of it. There's way more jaw-dropping and heart-pounding action packed into this two hour and 17 minute movie.

Now back to Walker. With his role as Brian so integral to the franchise, the filmmakers use Walker's final "Furious" appearance to pay tribute to him and send him off in style. This final ride with Walker and the latest with the rest of the "Furious" team is one well worth taking.

See you at the movies!

Be sure to tune in to WWJ Newsradio 950 every Friday for my weekly look at the movies with Midday Anchor Jackie Paige.

Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee

Member:
Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)
Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS)
African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
Digital Arts, Film & Television (DAFT)
National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)

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