Faster (2003)

Just perfect...

Good concept, poorly executed.

best movie i've ever seen.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Having been a motorcyclist for a number of years I've avoided the world of MotoGP. Likely more because I didn't know anything about it and spurned it for the same reasons I don't watch NASCAR or Formula 1 racing. Let's face it, until Tom Cruise used Nicole Kidman's leg to explain drafting, well, 'Days of Thunder' did teach me about drafting.There are lots of subtle and unknown things happening in MotoGP. Riding a motorcycle and understanding motorcycle racing is about as distant as eating and being a fine chef. So, here's a great way to learn about this fascinating sport, its superstars, and perhaps why they do it. Besides, its great fun to watch, lots of ooohs and ahhhhs!

I have been a motorcyclist most of my life, and have ridden coast to coast, and everywhere in between, during the past 10 years. Back in the late 1990s our local cable carried AMA Supersport 600 and Superbike racing, and occasionally Grand Prix motorcycle racing. I got to know many of those motorcycle warriors through that venue -- Miguel DuHamel, Doug Chandler, Mick Doohan, and the youngsters like the Hayden brothers. The racing was always exciting, and I did my own much lower speed simulations on my VFR750, or my wife's CBR600, but have come to realize that racing is NOT for the streets, a message played clearly in this movie "Faster." "Faster" focuses exclusively on World Grand Prix racing, the now-defunct 500cc strokers, and the newer 4-stroke liter bikes. Primarily seasons 2000 through 2004, and featuring the newest wave of great riders, like Valentino Rossi, the best of the bunch, and his chasers like Biaggi, Macoy, and others, including homeboy Colin Edwards from up the road in Conroe. This film is not just about the races themselves, but also goes often behind the scenes to show us what goes into development of these race bikes, to make them go faster and faster each year. Narrated comfortable by Ewan McGregor, a very nice DVD for motorcycle racing fans.

I am happy about someone putting out a quality production about my favorite sport. But as usual it is a 2 hour long lets fluff Rossi'S ego documentary.I found the movie to be very bias in the sense that only Biaggi has been the only consistent form of competition to Rossi, yet he is the only rider that was slandered in the whole movie...and repeatedly. What is up with that? Why did the movie need to take sides about any of the riders. I can understand highlighting there rivalry and giving Rossi due credit as World Champion, but at the expense of the only other good rider in the series? I am disappointed in that, and disappointed that the movie is riding the Rossi bandwagon. We were hoping for a deeper picture. One that explored the politics, technology, and lives of the people involved. The movie also spent considerable time showcasing two riders that haven't proven to warrant such attention. If you are a Rossi fan and don't mind hearing the same old "hail Rossi" propaganda then this movie is for you. For me... I am not a Rossi fan...the movie left me un-fulfilled.

I got to see a sneak peek of this film at a little motorcycle rally in Texas in Nov. 2003. The soundtrack, opening credits and racing action in the first half the film are excellent. As the interviews go on in the latter part of the film it drags a bit, but the insight into the strategies and politics of racing at this level still made it interesting. The action-packed editing of all this racing, sliding, flipping and crashing crammed into one film is unbeatable.Because of the European flavor of Moto-GP, the choice of using Ewan McGregor (with his British accent) as narrator was appropriate. I hear he is an avid rider as well.Definitely worth seeing on a big screen if it shows near you and renting once available. As soon as it goes on sale, I'm buying the DVD!