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Not going to lie, I teared up a bit.
Logically, I know Paul Walker was just an actor in a movie.
But a huge part of me credits the FnF movies (mostly the first 3) with my love affair for cars. I remember being 9 years old and begging my dad to buy the VHS - yes, it was THAT long ago - copy of the first movie. We had to have watched it about 20 times the first week we owned it. To this day I can pretty much recite every single line in the film word-for-word. Growing up, guys like Walker were a huge role model for me. Not only on screen, but because he was a charitable individual who didn't do stupid-ass shit like the celebrities of today (Kim K, Kanye, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, etc.) but instead stayed low-key and true to himself. I saw that clip of him where he went to Japan to visit Mine's and test drive an R34 and thinking... damn, this guy actually is Brian O'Connor in real life!
RIP Paul. IMO Universal did a good job with paying tribute to him, I was really worried they'd be insensitive and kill him off but the way they did it was awesome. Especially at the end when the two cars split ways (that song too, DAMN!) was extremely touching to watch. You can see the pain in Vin Diesel's eyes, and you know he isn't just acting at that point. Paul really was his best friend and it shows in their chemistry. Personally, I was crushed when I received the news that Paul died, and doubly crushed when the news came out that he passed away during a charity event... it's times you wonder why a celebrity who actually does something constructive with their fame dies, but many of them live senseless lives of hedonism and worthlessness for 80+ years...
That being said, the movie requires a LOT of "suspension of disbelief". But then again, movies are entertainment, and I personally enjoy movies that don't take themselves super seriously. I pay $15 to be entertained, not to pull out my imaginary fact checker and tick boxes in my head.
Realistically, I'll probably watch Fast 8 if (and when) it ever comes out. But those movies will never be the same without Paul Walker.
P.S: the only way they could have made this movie "better" as a tribute was to have Ja Rule at some point screaming "NOOOOO, MONICAAAA"
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