Those included a variety of classic muscle cars, including a Mustang especially designed by Ford topping out at 190 mph, as well as the 1969 Ford Gran Torino and 1968 Chevy Camaro. More than 100 cars were used on the $66-million film. Because it was based on a video game, we had to come as close as possible in approximating what you feel when you’re playing a video game and that’s what Scott promised - an immersive experience.” “The fact that you could personally feel the energy of the characters made me feel that Scott would be great choice ‘Need for Speed.’. “It was so visceral I couldn’t help but get caught up in the thrill of it,” Snider said. PHOTOS: Box office top 10 of 2013 | Biggest flops of 2013 So it looks like it's up to Warcraft to be the video game movie that could finally elevate the genre.The $9-million film released by Relativity Media grossed more than $70 million at the box office and put Waugh on the radar of DreamWorks Chief Executive Stacey Snider. That's because it's really less a video game movie than it is the next Torque or Biker Boyz. As far as video game movies go, Need for Speed is certainly not an unwatchable turd like Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li. Need for Speed is a dumb movie, and not a dumb fun one. But the movie asks its audience to root for heroes who let civilians get into crashes or let cops get maimed or burned alive in wrecks over some stupid race that doesn't ultimately serve a purpose. And to hell with logic (not that we expected it to get an invite to this party anyway). Why does a character make the bad decision they do? Well, because the script needs to manufacture a dramatic beat that's why. The film has some capable actors and an amazing stunt team, but the story makes no sense. Most of the film's problems are all on paper. These grasps for laughs make the gags in Michael Bay's movies seem like comedy gold. Indeed, all the attempts at humor with Tobey's crew are painfully unfunny and inexplicably protracted, particularly one awkward workplace sequence involving Rami Malek's character. Kid Cudi, as Tobey's high-flying buddy, simply isn't funny despite the movie's numerous attempts at trying to make his character the comic relief. Not that the men are much more dimensional. And Dakota Johnson is wooden and forgettable as the hometown girl who got away. She's also more grating than she is goofy-cute. Poots' poorly-drawn character spends an hour in a car with Tobey and she's now willing to throw her whole life away on this parole jumper. The acting from the rest of the cast is pretty terrible. Still, he - along with Keaton's scenery-chewing, weird Wolfman Jack-meets-Death Race games keeper - is the best and most human thing about the movie. Aaron Paul does what he can to class things up, but he doesn't have writers like Vince Gilligan and Co. It's a ridiculous subplot because it would mean that we live in a world without forensics, traffic cameras, or skid marks that would absolve the wrongly accused. These are unlikable characters making dumb decisions that cause death and mayhem - and for what? There's a subplot about a character proving their innocence that doesn't require the climactic race at all but just a call to the cops (several of whom are presumably killed or maimed in the ensuing race). If the NFS or GTA games make you feel the thrill of being an outlaw then this movie makes you feel like a jerk for liking that. The movie is trying to be both realistic and escapist and it doesn't work. By the homestretch, Need for Speed feels like the snuff film of racing movies. They generate more "That's horrifying!" reactions than "That's awesome!" ones. The film boasts some truly outrageous "you are there" stunts and action cinematography, but they ultimately have the opposite of their intended effect. Pretty much every character in this film is responsible for causing death or grievous bodily harm. Unlike the Fast & Furious movies which make you feel the liberation and exhilaration of fast cars and stunts, Need For Speed makes you feel horrified and guilty for finding any pleasure in watching what's essentially Vehicular Homicide: The Movie. You don't feel a need for speed watching this. In order to compete, Tobey and his crew, along with Julia (Imogen Poots), a rep for the owner of his high-performance Ford Mustang that Tobey will race, have to get across country in less than two days and with cops and bounty hunters out for them. Tobey then seeks retribution against Dino the only way he knows how: on the streets, bitch! Long story short, Tobey and Dino end up competing in the DeLeon, an illegal race along the northern California coastline sponsored by Monarch (Michael Keaton), an enigmatic ex-racer-turned-Internet phenomenon.
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