After Paul Walker tragically died in a car crash half way through the filming of Fast and Furious 7, Vin Diesel promised himself that the Universal family would make the best movie in the history of cinema, and Riddick apparently thinks them have done it. According to the latest gossip news updates, Michelle Rodriguez' big-screen boyfriend has no problem insisting that Furious 7 deserves a Best Picture Oscar, but knows that the Academy will be obliged to overlook the film being that it is such an over-the-top action masterpiece. Unfortunately, the citizens of Thailand will have to wait until a yet to be determined date to watch the film. Sahamongkol Films has filed a court injunction delaying the release date of the sequel there -- citing the participation of international action star Tony Jaa as a direct violation of an exclusive contract they have with the actor.
While everyone seems to agree that the Fast franchise films are entertaining and fun to watch if nothing else, longtime lead, Vin Diesel, thinks that the latest instalment deserves much higher praise that the movies that have gone before it.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press while in Beijing to promote Furious 7, Diesel claimed that the new movie clearly deserved to take home the highest honor at the next Academy Awards but was sure it would probably be ignored by the snooty powers that be (via Fox News):
"Do I shy away from aiming high? No, I don't.
"The Oscars have been somewhat criticized in the last couple of years for maybe not being as populist as they could be, but we have a very powerful movie here."
As audacious as that may seem being that Vin Diesel hasn't even seen the rest of the movies yet to be released throughout 2015, it pales in comparison to the statements he made to Vibe about Furious 7 being the greatest movie to ever be made:
"The person that used to challenge me the most was Paul Walker.
"And when the tragedy happened, I made a promise to him that I would do everything to make this the best movie in history.
"And here we are today with one of the most groundbreaking, important films of the millennium: Furious 7...Brace yourself."
Unfortunately none of Tony Jaa's fans in his native Thailand will be able to see the film at the beginning of April with the rest of the world thanks to Sahamongkol Films' allegations that the actor is in breach of contract.
Despite the fact that Jaa and his old production company have been arguing over his status with the company for years, Variety reports that the issue won't be decided until the flm has already left theaters in most major North American markets:
"Jaa and Sahamonglol have been in dispute for the past two years, with Jaa insisting that the contract had expired, and Sahamongkol insisting that it had been renewed.
"The court has said that it will not examine the case fully until June."
Don't worry Vin...it's not like anyone remembers when Citizen Kane was finally released in Thailand.
