Need for Speed: Drive Away Movie Fans, Fawn on Game Lovers

I have to admit, I wasn't hopeful about the so-called "Need for Speed" (hereinafter referred to as "NFS") movie adaptation. A group of TV actors on the big screen exuded a strong counterfeit vibe. The storyline of the NFS game itself is also lackluster; although it helps players immerse themselves, adapting it to a movie proved challenging due to its thin plot.

However, having watched the movie, I must concede that the NFS movie is a sincere tribute to the fans. Those who approach it with the mentality of "Fast & Furious" successors might end up expressing strong dissatisfaction.

Beyond the sheer exhilaration of high-speed races, the NFS movie lacks the fists and gunfire essential to action films — just as the protagonist Tobey says, "Everything is resolved behind the steering wheel." With a scarcity of popcorn-worthy scenes, it's likely to leave regular action movie enthusiasts unimpressed. But as a longtime NFS fan, I was moved by the various game scenes replicated on the big screen.

Take, for instance, the bizarre scene at the end where the protagonist surrenders. Until Linkin Park begins to sing, I couldn't comprehend why such a "censorship-like" ending was arranged. But as that stylish and assertive cop, with sunglasses and dressed in olive green military attire, shoves the protagonist, I suddenly realized. Time rewinds, back to the days when I owned my first computer. It was during the era of "NFS 6: Hot Pursuit 2," and whenever I was "Busted" by the police, there was always a very present black uncle in sunglasses, followed by a group of little green-clad soldiers, throwing me into jail. The righteous cop on the big screen today has combined the essence of the black uncle and the style of the soldiers in olive green uniforms. That kind of infuriating swagger is a classic memory for many players who taunted the police and paid the price.

In fact, any NFS player from any generation can find scenes in the movie that perfectly recreate the game. In the beginning, we enter the mountain road area of Bayview City from "NFS 8: Underground 2," crashing into trash cans and sending feathers flying, a common prank during late-night high-speed chases. Later, the track race mode from "NFS 13: Shift" makes an appearance, allowing players to showcase their skills in a closed racetrack. Soon after, the "daytime version" of "NFS 10: The Run" arrives, with brave companions assisting players in intercepting opponents. Upon release from prison, players embark on a cross-country journey reminiscent of "NFS 16: Most Wanted." The ultimate boss battle takes place on winding coastal roads, where million-dollar cars collide and a multitude of police follow, completely replicating the climactic battle of "NFS 14: Hot Pursuit 2010" in Seacrest County.

Throughout the chase, various familiar NFS elements are interspersed. When Carroll Shelby's Ford Mustang makes its first appearance, it features the dazzling style of the introduction animation of the Blacklist vehicles from "NFS 17: Most Wanted." During police pursuits, the indispensable radio dialogue between law enforcement and felons from various police-themed works throughout the series echoes, with the lines exactly the same as in the game. The breathtaking leap of the racing car astonishes Monarch recalls the crash billboard mode of "NFS 17." As racers attempt to wreck each other's cars, a mechanic introduced from "NFS 12: ProStreet," the inception of this feature can be traced. Additionally, the short getaway to Dino's mansion at the beginning, set in the jungle, even hints at the shadow of the original first-generation NFS game.

The grandeur of the movie scenes also deserves praise; coincidentally, this is NFS games' strong suit. From bustling car cities to tranquil southern countryside, from the desolate grand canyon to the pounding harborside small town, from the neon-lit Chinatown to the industrious factory district. Besides a few European racetracks from previous games and some special areas with heavy snowfall or autumn leaves, the movie's creators have virtually reproduced the various classic scenes from NFS's 19-year history. Following the steps of the movie characters, as a player, I am essentially reliving the wild and speedy NFS experiences on the screen.

When all elements of the races, track scenes, visual styles, etc., are perfectly replicated, as a player, there's no need to focus on plot logic, character development, or emotional expression. We return to the basic demand for NFS — driving the pinnacle of racing cars, creating the pinnacle of speed.

Yet, fans seem to have a reason not to give this fan-oriented movie a perfect score — the music. If we were in the theater and could hear the classic original soundtracks from the game, our screams would be even more enthusiastic. Although the newly invited composer for the movie, Nathan Furst, provided a new BGM that combines tenderness and grandeur, what I've been imagining all along is Bryan Tyler's magnificent composition for "NFS 16." In the trailer, I heard Muse's "Butterflies And Hurricanes" (from "NFS 17"), but it didn't play in the actual film. During the police chase, I questioned why they didn't play the masterpiece composed by Vanesa Lorena, which is just as applicable. To really engage fans' emotions to the fullest, I believe the film should have used Rise Against's "Give It All" (from "NFS 8") for the nighttime street race at the beginning, the corresponding original soundtrack from "NFS 13" for test driving (I haven't played any of the track racing NFS games, so I can't provide examples), the rural blues classic "On The Road Again" (from "NFS 16") by Canned Heat as they drive through the South, and ultimately "Edge Of The Earth" by 30 Seconds To Mars (from "NFS 14") for the final showdown. This way, we would not only visually revisit the various characteristics of NFS throughout the generations but also satisfy our nostalgia aurally.

Additionally, the NFS movie lacks Easter eggs. In the beginning, Tobey and his friends play a racing game at Mashall's garage, presumably "NFS 18: Rivals" . If they had given a close-up of the TV screen, showcasing the game, I believe the audience would have cheered with excitement. Similar things have been done by NFS's major sponsor EA before. In the initial, grand football series movie "Goal!" the second male lead, Gavin Harris, is seen playing "FIFA 2005," and it even features a close-up of him controlling Newcastle's Laurent Robert to score a free kick. In the second movie, the protagonist Santiago Munez's large TV displays the pause interface of the XBOX 360 version of "FIFA 06." So why not include more Easter eggs in the NFS movie? For example, put up some NFS posters in Monarch's broadcasting room; place a few game discs in the convenience store at the gas station; insert some virtual road signs on the journey through America, indicating the routes to NFS game "cities" like Rockport, Tri-City, and Fairhaven...

The effort put into pleasing the fans in the NFS movie is evident, but it's not flawless. To have all Need for Speed fans unanimously praise the movie, surpassing the indifference of regular moviegoers to its sluggish and clichéd aspects, there is still room for further improvement in the NFS movie.