Writer: Yap Yew Jin

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Watch this if you liked: "The Fast and the Furious", "2 Fast 2 Furious", "Initial D"

When they announced that Paul Walker is not returning this time around, topped with Vin Diesel's continued absence from the franchise, critics are predicting that the latest instalment of the popular fast-paced series won't be fast nor furious at all. Boy, were they wrong!

"The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" is certainly anything but boring. The movie starts off at an extremely fast pace and never slows down right till the end. The action comes right at you both 'fast' and 'furious' and the upbeat music score provided by Brian Tyler will definitely keep your adrenaline pumping.

Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) is an outsider who attempts to define himself as a hot-headed underdog street racer. After getting into trouble with the authorities, he is sent to live with his father who is stationed in Tokyo.

There, he meets fellow American Twinkie (Bow Wow), who introduces him to the underground world of drift racing. On his first time out, Sean unknowingly takes on the local champ D.K. (No, not Donkey Kong...) and loses embarrassingly. But when he falls for D.K's girlfriend Neela (newcomer Nathalie Kelley), an explosive series of events is set into motion, climaxing with an ultimate high stakes face-off.

I have to admit, Lucas Black is certainly no Paul Walker or Vin Diesel, but he manages to hold out on his own (he somehow sounds like Forrest Gump when he talks, though). Despite her lack of acting experience, newcomer Nathalie Kelley gave a solid performance and in my opinion, is way sexier and hotter than Michelle Rodriguez and Eva Mendes in the series' predecessors.

Setting the movie in Japan, director Justin Lin gave "The Fast and the Furious" series a much-needed Asian flavour. With eye candy coming in the form of girls and cars, this film will definitely appeal to the guys and driving enthusiasts.

Although the movie stars didn't make a lasting impression, the tuned-up cars and the races are simply amazing and fantastic, which just might put "Initial D" to shame. If the latter focuses more on demonstrating how drifting works, "Tokyo Drift" sets the standard and shows just what drifting is all about - the fun and excitement!

Finally, keep an eye out for a surprise twist at the end with a special cameo appearance by someone familiar to the "Fast and Furious" franchise. With a cool ending wrapping up a fabulous show, what more could you ask for? Watch this movie for your dose of adrenaline rush but just remember to fasten your seatbelts and hang on tight! "4 Fast 4 Furious" anyone?

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008