Need For Speed (2014)
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Critics Consensus: With stock characters and a preposterous plot, this noisily diverting video game adaptation fulfills a Need for Speed and little else.
Critics Consensus: With stock characters and a preposterous plot, this noisily diverting video game adaptation fulfills a Need for Speed and little else.
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Movie Info
Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, DreamWorks Pictures' "Need for Speed" captures the thrills of the game in a real-world setting. An exciting return to the great car-culture films of the 1960s and '70s, when authenticity brought a new level of intensity to the action, "Need for Speed" taps into what makes the American myth of the open road so enticing. The story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country race against time-one that … More- Rating:
- PG-13 (for sequences of reckless street racing, disturbing crash scenes, nudity and crude language)
- Genre:
- Action & Adventure
- Directed By:
- Scott Waugh
- Written By:
- George Gatins , John Gatins
- In Theaters:
- Mar 14, 2014 Wide
- On DVD:
- Aug 5, 2014
- US Box Office:
- $43.6M
Cast
-
Ramon Rodriguez
as Joe Peck -
Aaron Paul
as Tobey Marshall -
Imogen Poots
as Julia Bonet -
Dominic Cooper
as Dino Brewster -
Scott "Kid Cudi" Mes...
as Benny -
Rami Malek
as Finn
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Critic Reviews for Need For Speed
All Critics (155) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (121)
This is cinema reduced or distilled to its purest definition, of movies that move
This movie is a complete bore.
There's nothing here you haven't seen before.
You wouldn't think a movie called Need For Speed would feel so slow.
It's like watching someone ELSE play a video game for more than two hours. That gets old real fast.
Though later sequences lean a little too heavily on contemporary car flick clichés ... they are all nonetheless informed by a gee-whiz appreciation for gleaming cars and stunt driving ingenuity.
What is most surprising about Need For Speed is how badly it starts off. With too much exposition and not enough spark between the characters, it's as if the overlong 130-minute film will live up to its title for all of the wrong reasons.
Need for Speed is an extremely hollow and tedious film that has nothing to offer to anyone except the most avid of car junkies.
If Need For Speed was 15% less overtly dumb and 15% less pandering to the stereotypical boy audience, it might have been a completely enjoyable B-movie romp.
Need for Speed provides some excitement for its target demographic while proving to be an overlong slog for everyone else.
Despite all the flaws, there's no denying the visceral feeling that "Need for Speed" evokes. I found myself tensed up throughout most of it, and that served to remind me that however simplistic and clichéd this film was, it still had me in its grip.
"However, the auto racing action-thriller meanders so much and takes so long to get its character and situations where they're going you'll be tempted to call it 'Need for Judicious Editing' instead."
Need for Speed is so busy and loud that, if not watched vigilantly, it could be mistaken for something fun. But it is a shambling lemon.
The target audience won't regret putting down its joystick for a couple of hours...but for anyone looking for depth or distinction, nevermind.
The auto carnage lacks flair or creativity.
... little more than gearhead pornography, with an emphasis on skid marks and squealing tires over logical storytelling and meaningful relationships - except that of a driver and his gas pedal.
Speed? Yes. Everything else? No.
If you're suffering from withdrawal symptoms for high-octane action, DreamWorks is ready with an instant adrenaline fix.
This film is clichéd and cloying, a revenge flick measured in RPMs and MPGs vs. anything remotely resembling human emotion. Oh, and the action scenes stink, as well.
OK, so the script sucks.
While the film is easy to look at, it's not easy to watch.
The plot is about as thin as the wisp of air between vehicles swishing past each other on a narrow highway, and the actors say empty-headed things like 'We'll settle this behind the wheel.'
A sloppy movie that glorifies endangering people on our city streets and interstates.
A strong contender for the worst video game adaptation of all time...
Hundreds of non-racing civilians are merrily run off the road but no one cares, least of all the screenwriters who remain locked in single-player mode.
Audience Reviews for Need For Speed
Need For Speed is directed by a Stuntman/Stunt coordinator and it really shows. The action is first class with very little CGI by the looks of it, which is very welcome but the script, acting and editing leave a lot to be desired. However, it is far less self-important and convoluted than the Fast & Furious films. It's not bad considering it's based on a computer game, the cars look good, the direction is often impressive and it's not typical of its genre nor predictable. It's just a shame that the script and acting are so terrible. Certain scenes (the office strip, dancing in prison) really bring it down further though and I'm afraid this has forced me to take a star off. It's a three star film really but I just can't bring myself to admit it.
http://cinephilecrocodile.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/need-for-speed-dir-scott-waugh-2014.html
Super Reviewer
I had some very low expectations for this movie. Actually, when I had blu ray sitting on my tv stand, I debated on just skipping it all together. A "Fast and Furious" knock off starring Aaron Paul(aka Jesse Pinkman) doesn't really scream out awesome movie. But, I'm a big Paul fan so decided to pop it in. I'm so glad I did! This is exactly what it sounds like, a big dumb, fun action movie, and it's entertaining as hell! This movie is a real blast of just mindless entertainment. The story is generic(Paul has to enter a race to avenge his friends death), but the performances are good and the action is fantastic. This has some of the best race/car chase scenes I've seen in movies in a long time. Aaron Paul has some great qualities that should set him up for a good film career. Dominic Cooper is the villain, and he is great. He plays a good slimy butt hole very well. This may not be as good as some of the "Fast and Furious" movies, but it's just as fun and entertaining. Check it out for a good popcorn movie.
MoreSuper Reviewer
Need for Speed seems to have all the ingredients to be the start of a cool film franchise - great leading man, cool supporting cast, beautiful cars, and the budget to make it all happen.
But it's like this movie went out of its way to be disappointingly stupid. Things like one character always showing up in different helicopters kept having me think - how are you plausibly doing this? Or how Aaron Paul is established to be the best driver ever and the car he drives the fastest car ever, yet even a truck can catch up to him. Not to mention Michael Keaton's really annoying commentary throughout the final race, and the insanely awkward dialogue throughout the entire film.
It seems movies made from video games are a lost cause. Need for Speed does not make the case that this trend will change any time soon.
Super Reviewer
I think it was completely and utterly inevitable that this film would come under close scrutiny because of the near identical concept and execution alongside another certain highly popular street racing franchise. Well...either that or completely shunned, I mean lets be honest here this is a new wannabe racer franchise riding on the coattails of 'The Fast and Furious'...well trying to take its place, so can it?
I needn't really go into the plot much, its all very silly and simple. Basically the main team of characters have gotta get from New York to Cali ASAP so they can enter a secret race there. Behind all this is the standard revenge plot line, the protagonist saw his best friend get killed in a racing accident caused by the films antagonist who sneers like a young moustache twirling 'Dick Dastardly'...without the moustache. Naturally the bad guy (who happens to be rich and own lots of fancy super cars) is in this secret race hence why the good guy wants to enter it and win. Cue lots and lots and lots and lots of super flashy, super slick petrolhead car porn.
Right, I liked this film, yes that's right...I liked it. It started off badly no doubt, there's a hideous looking illegal street racing scene with every fudging unoriginal cliched stereotype under the sun, really got me reaching for the stop button. But my reasons for enjoying this are simply because I like cars and this film feels like an old school car flick. Everything you see in this film is a real time stunt using real cars, no CGI, its all real and it all looks amazingly good. This is what impressed me so much, I mean yeah sure the cars are all filmed beautifully when parked up and when they're on the move but that's expected. The stunts in this film really opened my eyes I can't deny, the Koenigsegg Agera R wreck at the start is fudging awesome! a flipping spinning flaming...errr car on fire! Again you expect hyper glossy interior and exterior shots of the cars in high speed action but damn they got this right! Everything sizzles on screen as the camera pans past from various angles resulting in some excellent traffic dodging moments and of course sexy engine gurgling and roaring.
You can clearly see the people behind this love cars and know how to sell them on screen, add to that the fact they know their way around a good looking real stunt. It all looks quite mature too, in other words it doesn't look like a hammy boy racer flick for 18 year old Vauxhall Corsa owners. Its a different type of street racing to 'The Fast and Furious', that was more modified rice racers and American muscle cars, this is the rich boys league with super cars like Lambo's, Veyron's and Spano's. That doesn't mean its better or worse for that, its just offering another level of racing but still with damage.
This doesn't mean its all good of course, far from it. There are still plenty of stupid scenes which are ridiculous and clearly stuck in to crank up the sex appeal. I still don't get why the main character deliberately gets the attention of the cops when picking up one of the gang, I also don't get why that member quits his job and proceeds to remove all his clothes when leaving. It really felt like they were straining for gimmicks to grabs peoples attention other than the fast cars...seeing as the characters are all so one dimensional lets have one remove all his clothes just because he can.
Despite driving like an absolute maniac across half of the US the cops are nowhere to be seen. The main secret race is a winner take all event, so you win the race you win the cars. Problem with that is all the cars get wrecked and nabbed by the police so in truth you don't get any of them and if you do it will cost a fortune to get them fixed up. Plus why would anyone enter a race with a billion Dollar super car and then proceed to ram your opponent?! Jesus Christ what about that expensive paint job and bodywork??!! It made me wince in pain watching it...no! no! that's a McLaren P1!! don't do that!!! Arrrggghhh!!!
Then you have the race organiser played by Keaton, now this guy sits in front of his computer using Skype or something to talk to people all over the place. The funny thing is everyone seems to be logged into his channel or whatever all the freakin' time! he knows everything and everyone is always watching and or listening...accept the police. Hey police you wanna know what's going on how about watching the mega rich guys computer network channel thingy. The main character just happens to befriend the sexy blonde female who works for some other mega rich guy who owns lots of fast cars...this comes in handy because she is able to loan him a Shelby Mustang to race, lucky huh. Oh and she is also the stereotypical female character who everyone thinks is just a dumb blonde but actually knows tonnes about cars. Yet in reality we all know the actress really knows sod all and is reading a script.
I could go on with more silly bits n pieces but lets be honest here (again), we knew to expect silliness and lame characters plus the token black guy. We knew to expect hammy dialog, a cliched plot and lots of predictable sequences, this film is based on a racing videogame. I think its safe to say if you like cars then you know you'll probably get a kick outta this, if you liked that Vin Diesel/Paul Walker car franchise then you'll probably like this. I thought this would be trash but I have been pleasantly surprised I admit. The visuals are crisp sexy and colourful, the action is exciting and seeing these cars in action make you wanna tear up the tarmac on your way down to your local Tesco. Completely cliched B-movie dross top loaded with car porn, but damn I enjoyed it...plenty of vroom!
Super Reviewer
Need For Speed Quotes
- Finn:
- Arm is broke.
- Tobey Marshall:
- Anita, I need a car!
- Tobey Marshall:
- We'll settle this behind the wheel.
- Julia Bonet:
- Is there anything right-seaters are supposed to do?
- Tobey Marshall:
- Be quiet.
- Julia Bonet:
- Never judge a girl by her Gucci boots.
- Tobey Marshall:
- They took everything from me. I do not fear, for you are with me. All those who defied me shall be ashamed and disgraced. Those who wage war against me shall perish. I will find strength, find guidance, and I will triumph!
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