Another look at "FAST and FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT" -- Including Final Race (Mustang vs 350Z)

If you follow this blog at all, you'll note that currently I am looking at the early films from the "Fast and Furious" franchise. This film, released in 2006, directed by Justin Lin, produced by Neal Moritz and written by Chris Morgan, was the least profitable of all the "Fast and Furious" films, but definitely has aged well. Clearly, its message has value in addressing the human condition, particularly among young viewers. But even n old guy like me can learn something from another look.



The film mostly is set in Japan, but begins in the U.S. with a troubled high school student who has moved from place to place after getting in trouble. His mother can't control him, and that is obvious when our protagonist, Sean Boswell, vies for the attention of cuties Cindy. That gets him into a race with high school sports star Clay, who drives a Viper, perhaps a bit an unfair advantage over Sean's Monte Carlo. The race ends with a crash, a totaled Chevy, and Sean sent off to Japan to live with his father, a U.S. navy officer.



Trouble follows Sean wherever he goes, it seems, as he is an outsider in a very closed Japanese society. Before long he is involved in a new rivalry verses Drift King (DK) Takashi after talking to takes girl Neela. Here the problem is exacerbated because of race, it seems, and for Sean the way to get respect is to race, and in this car to race a different style involving drifting. He is assisted by a true friend, Han Lue, who will meet an untimely end at the hand of Takashi. Friendship thus transcends race and nationalists, and indeed love will also do the same, as the story ends with Sean and Neea together working and living in Han's shop.



One of my negative reviews somewhere with regards to the firsts edition of The Automobile and American Life was a criticism of my lack of commentary on the art of drifting. Well. I addressed that in the second edition.  Drifting emerged in Japanese racing circles in the 1970s, and involves creating oversteer by kicking out the rear end of a career while positioning the wheels opposite to the direction of a turn.  In automotive engineering parlance, when the rear slip angle is greater then the front slip angle, you drift.  Going downhill is especially fun doing this, and it helps if your vehicle has a limited slip differential. Style and grace are significant here as well as speed.



Takashi is quite a villain in this story, along with his friend and right hand-man, Morimoto. I swear Tak reminds me of characters who play POW internment camp commanders during WWII! But he ends in disgrace, and no longer the DK. So much for being evil.



Sean will eventually prevail, with the help of his once alienated father who provides the Mustang fastback powered by a Skyline engine that is featured in the film's final race scene.  Young Sean, once branded a loser and outcast, is loyal, he has character, and he makes a stand, through with running from place to place.



This film is now 13 years old, and many have forgotten it. Yet it has aged with time, like a fine wine.