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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Climate activists back solar energy bills Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Inner Peace column: Worldwide Conflict and Resolution, Part II: Who Are You? Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... MOVIE REVIEW 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Furious 7, 140 min, Rated PG-13 Hard to believe, but this behemoth of a franchise, “Furious 1-7,” started some 14 year ago. That was well before sequels morphed into franchises, which have become a staple of most Hollywood studios. Producers and writers have in the last decade counted on audiences viewing one installment and almost instantly beginning to wait for the next. It’s the equivalent of those old Republic Saturday afternoon matinees that treated young audiences to “Indiana Jones” type adventures, always careful to interrupt the action just as the hero was in serious jeopardy (driving off a cliff while duking it out with the bad guys in the rear seat of a very large black Packard), the screen suddenly filled with the promise: “To Be Continued!” “Fast and Furious 1” found a recipe that worked (who knew?) and kept right on going. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) was the quintessential heavy. His sister, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), the attractive love interest for the charismatic Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker), who began the “Furious” journey as an undercover cop, but soon became part of what Dom refers to repeatedly as his “family.” Brian and Dominic are both serious gearheads, and in truth some of the most attractive characters in the franchise are cars — often vintage muscle cars, impeccably restored, their massive engines all tricked out with blowers, carbs and nitro injection. Some are heavily modified Japanese factory cars in jellybean colors with spoilers and power to spare. In other words, each film is all about frenetic speed, saturated with brio. In fact, most fans would be hard pressed to recall the narratives of the last seven. What remains unforgettable, however, are the countless set pieces that have not only involved gorgeous cars going very, very fast, but lots of gravity defying stunts that take your breath away. Reaction: Did they really just do that? Cars parachuting out of a perfectly good airplane? No worries. Driving under semis at high speeds? Yep. Tell me they didn’t just wreck that incredible black/oxblood red vintage Charger? Indeed. And as CGI has improved over the last decade — one could argue that techies have dominated one very large corner of Hollywood movies, to include anything made from the comics or sci-fi/fantasy — the action scenes have only gotten better. Outrageously better. Sure you have to suspend your disbelief when watching “Furious” (take your pick), but where’s the fun if you didn’t? What the series demonstrates is that we, as a culture, are still deeply enamored of the internal combustion engine and car culture. We regard the throaty roar of a jacked-up Hemi V-8 engine as a symphony of sound. It’s music that a Prius or a hybrid simply can’t replicate. And the thrill (and it is a thrill) of sitting behind the wheel as a hot car surges straight ahead, tires smoking, down a city street, the tachometer redlining, is a heart-pumping rush. And illegal. Regarding “Furious 7,” there is embedded in the film an inherent sadness that makes the film all the more poignant. Paul Walker was killed in a car wreck just before “Furious 7” completed filming. There are moments in the movie that are, indeed, touching. Brian is now a family man, married to Mia, they have one son and another on the way. Mia worries that Brian “misses the bullets,” meaning the adrenalin rush of hanging out with Dom while barely slipping out of some very tight spots. In effect, he and Mia say goodbye on the phone and the audience says goodbye to Brian, knowing that it’s only with the help of the techies and body doubles that “7” was seamlessly completed. Will there be an “8”? Likely. Until we run out of high-octane fuel. Will the stories matter? Not in the least. These movies are not about tightly structured narratives (“7” is really two stories in one and makes hardly any sense at all). But then, ultimately, it’s all about the ride. By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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