Following the wonderful experience of watching “Top Gun” in 4DX last time, I believe that the same director (Joseph Kosinski) would take good care of the 4DX version this time as well. As it turns out, the 4DX tickets for “F1” at Xinyi Vieshow were incredibly hard to get. It took me several weeks of trying before I finally got a ticket for a show that ended just in time for the last metro.
The 4DX Experience of “F1”
This was my third time watching a movie in 4DX. The first time was “Top Gun: Maverick,” and that experience was really great. The seats moved in the right direction at the right time, giving a sensation similar to flying when the plane took off, and even poked you when hit by a pool cue. However, the second time with “Attack on Titan” in 4DX felt like the movements were just for the sake of moving. Scenes that should have been enhanced by the 3D maneuver gear often felt out of sync due to the seat movements.
The third time was with “F1,” and I found the experience quite similar to “Top Gun: Maverick.” The seat movements generally followed the direction of the scenes. When the car’s rear was hit, the seat would push you a bit, enhancing the immersion. My favorite part was towards the end when the protagonist, Sonny, finally reached the “feeling of flying” he had always pursued. The usual vibration of the racing scenes transformed into a gliding sensation, allowing us to better immerse ourselves in the protagonist’s perspective through the contrast in movements.
If the 4DX version is re-released, I highly recommend everyone to watch it.
Review of “F1”
The main storyline is quite stable and safe. The super racer Sonny had a trauma in his youth, and his friend Ruben offered him a chance to turn things around by leading a rookie, Pierce, to revive a bottom-ranked team. After various conflicts and twists, they finally realize their dream. The main plot is quite common, and I could predict the outcome about a third of the way in. However, this allowed me to focus more on enjoying the details of the process rather than constantly guessing the plot, which enhanced my movie-watching experience.
The rookie racer Pierce (left) is very talented but impulsive due to his youth. His equally immature manager keeps urging him to stand out, suggesting that the team is looking to replace him, and pushing him to build his image in front of the media. This often influences him, leading to mistrust and intentional non-cooperation with his teammates, acting like a teenager going through puberty.
The protagonist Sonny (right) is a seasoned veteran, strategic in races, not just speeding ahead recklessly. Sonny considers various factors and exploits loopholes in the rules to secure more points for the team, despite limited resources. This approach was initially uncomfortable for the team, which was used to Pierce’s lead of just charging forward. Sonny’s independent style also caused friction within the team, especially with Pierce, the lead driver.
The movie focuses on the process of these two characters with different personalities clashing and eventually harmonizing.
This harmonizing process involves the intervention of the technical director, Kate. She observes the stubborn rookie with great potential and the experienced veteran, both with poor communication and full of friction. She finally decides to bring them together to clear the air, allowing them to express their thoughts constructively through her.
One of my favorite small details throughout the process is the continuous portrayal of their completely different training methods. Sonny uses traditional methods: push-ups, early morning jogging, and reaction training with a ball; while Pierce uses technology-driven training: flight simulators, treadmills, and reaction training machines.
Over time, you can see both of them quietly incorporating each other’s training methods into their routines. Sonny starts using the flight simulator, while Pierce begins early morning jogging. Initially, it was just Sonny jogging early in the morning, then two crew members joined, and eventually more and more people joined, with Pierce leading the entire crew in morning jogs. Pierce ultimately realizes that the gimmicks suggested by his manager to gain exposure shouldn’t be the focus. He’s a racer, and what he should excel at is racing, not gaining nightclub exposure.
Sonny eventually figures out what he truly wants. In the past, he participated in various small races and even drove a taxi. Even when he won, he wasn’t interested in trophies or championship watches. Everyone kept asking Sonny what he really wanted, and by the end of the story, he finally understood that he just loves driving. It reminded me of the movie conclusion from “3 Idiots”: “Pursue excellence, and success will follow.” Here, Sonny is also trying to convey to Pierce that he is a great driver, and what he should do is excel in racing.
After watching the movie, I wished I knew more about F1, such as basic race rules, industry celebrities, and famous historical events. The film includes many scenes clearly meant to connect with real events, and there are characters given significant screen time who are probably racing legends making cameos, but I didn’t recognize them, so I couldn’t resonate.
Additionally, during the races, the plot emphasizes Sonny’s ability to exploit rule loopholes to score points for the team. The entire team rises due to Sonny’s strategic planning. As someone not familiar with racing, I could only vaguely sense, “This is probably very clever,” or “It seems Sonny did something creative here,” just enjoying the spectacle. If I were more familiar with racing rules, this film might have offered many intriguing insights.