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Didn't work at all---JB weld held to the socket very well, but didn't hold to the supercharger plug AT ALL. I think elmer's would have had a stronger bond. Going to try again---sand down the plug, get a rough surface, etc. It seemed to adhere to the plug's coating, more than the plug. Strange, the "black" coatings usually don't peel off like that, but a closer look at the plug makes me think it's brass.

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Success! 5mm socket hammered into rounded-out 3/16in hole worked perfectly. Now to just let the supercharger cool down so I don't get a face full of oil when I fully remove the plug. (Supercharger oil by itself is nasty stuff, I can only imagine what it's like when hot and spraying)

PS--found out during filing that there's like 3 layers on the supercharger plug, I think that's what prevented the JB from adhering. There's the teal alignment markings paint, then a black oxide or something, then a zinc chromate layer, THEN the actual metal.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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Redline ( レッドライン )

Chicago Films, 2007

Directed by Andy Cheng

Running Time: 95 minutes

Rated PG-13 for violence, mature situations and strong language.

Cast

Nathan Phillips (Sean in Snakes on a Plane) as Carlo

Nadja Bjorlin :wub::wub::wub: as Natasha Martin

Angus Macfadyen (Robert the Bruce in Braveheart) as Michael

Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother, T.J. Hicks in Deuce Bigalow) as Infamous

Tim Matheson as Jerry Brecken

Jesse Johnson as Jason

Barbara Niven as Sally Martin

Michael Hagiwara as Marcus Cheng

Featured Cars

Enzo Ferrari

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren

Saleen S7

Porsche Carrera GT

Ford GT

Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster

Lamborghini Diablo VT

Ferrari F430 Spider

Maybach 62

Rolls Royce Phantom

Ford Mustang GT BBR LNR

Maserati Quattroporte

Chevrolet Corvette C5 Convertible

Shelby Cobra (replica)

Koenigsegg CCX

Lowdown

Usually, whenever I post film reviews, I'd start with a synopsis of the film. But this time, we're gonna skip that part simply because there really isn't a story on this one.

So what is Redline, anyway? Is it a mere attempt to cash in on the car movie craze spawned by The Fast and the Furious? Perhaps it is - only with more reputable cars and a much lower budget.

Redline is 95 minutes of people getting a chance to play with a collection of the fastest street-legal cars money can buy - many of which belong to the film's creator, Daniel Sadek. The movie starts with a $1 million bet between music producer Infamous and film producer Jerry Brecken over getting from L.A. to Las Vegas in one hour and 45 minutes. Infamous hands the keys to his SLR McLaren to a young driver named Jason, who manages to beat that time limit - all just to deliver a pack of Viagra to Brecken.

We are then introduced to the film's most integral characters - Natasha and Carlo. Natasha is a super-hot female mechanic who also fronts an aspiring rock band. Carlo just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. Carlo and Jason are brothers, but Carlo is not happy that Jason's been living under the roof of their corrupt uncle, mafia boss Michael. Natasha and Carlo first meet at a party when Carlo somewhat saves her from a drunk partygoer, which ensues a fight and - you guessed it - a car chase.

So what do the cars really have to do with this film? Michael, Infamous, Bracken and a handful of multi-millionaires place their bets on who has a faster car. During the event, Infamous dupes Natasha into driving for him. Because of her father's tragic death in a crash during a NASCAR race, Natasha is reluctant at first. But when she's offered a recording contract, she accepts. Little does she know that Infamous has to use her in addition to his $3 million wager, as Michael has put four platinum bars at stake. And Michael has been obsessed with Natasha since her band performed live minutes earlier.

Natasha (driving an SLR McLaren) takes on Jason (driving a Lamborghini Diablo). Natasha is close to winning the race, but Jason finds out the Diablo has NOS, and uses it to win. However, with too much speed, the Diablo flies up in the air and crashes hard before exploding. Natasha is knocked unconscious when she hits a safety barrier while avoiding Jason. As a result, Jason gets killed and Natasha is taken by Michael's thugs.

This is where Redline turns from a racing movie into a cookie-cutter action flick. Carlo grabs some gear and races to Michael's mansion to save the damsel in distress. In retaliation, Michael has his thugs kidnap Natasha's mom. Natasha is forced to drive for Michael in the final race in exchange for her mom's life.

It looks like I gave most of the movie away, but like I mentioned earlier, there is no plot. As far as popcorn movies go, Redline is so-so. But if you're a car buff, you'll want to watch this film. In comparison to other recent car movies, Redline is better than 2 Fast 2 Furious and the 2000 Gone in 60 Seconds remake, but not as good as The Fast and the Furious or The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. You might as well save your $10 on another film while waiting for this one to hit DVD.

Rating: B (for car fans); D (for everyone else)

Links

Official Redline Homepage

Reference

The Internet Movie Database

Edited by areaseven
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Look, if you're a self-professed car-nut, fine--but there's better ways to get your fix than supporting utter shite-on-celluloid like this crap. There's something like this for instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDk9XzKBKHw But for the Love of Pete! don't tell me you'd actually pay to see this movie?! Honest to God people, if you support crap like this, then that's all Hollywood will ever give you--plot-less crap with ham-fisted acting and effects/stunts that look like they were storyboarded by 5th graders playing with their Hot Wheels. If you want to see exotic cars that'll make you drool, go to a car show, go to a sports car race, anything but supporting--and perpetuating--this kind of fecetious fluff.

I don't know what's worse, the fact that this movie will likely do such a dis-service to the fine art of driving at or near 10/10ths, or that the pretentious pri*ks in this film are taking themselves so seriously: "look at me, I am sooo cool, I am sooo sexy..." <_< Hell, at least the Cannonball Run movies had punch lines, blooper reels at the end...

Edited by reddsun1
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Actually, I realize I do need to just get over it. After all, in retrospect, even as I began recalling the movies I grew up watching--Cannonball, Gumball Rally, Vanishing Point, Corvette Summer, even the orig. Gone In 60 Sec's, pretty much any of those old hot-car chase movies--they were all kinda crappy actually. I guess each generation will have their own tastes and standards. I mean, the budget in Gi60S was practically nil, the acting was basically dreadful [at least Halicki could say he just got friends and amateurs], it's just the 45 min chase at the end that makes it worthwhile. And in retrospect, I suppose that's tantamount to the same thing with the kids that'll be going to see this Redline. If they're willing to sit through the transparent plot, the bad acting, and the lame cg stunts just for the eye candy, well then bully for them.

Edited by reddsun1
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True, the acting in this one's pretty dodgy [hell, even when they started filming, they hadn't even written a story/plot yet!], but as racing movies go--even 35+ years on--this one is still the standard by which all others can be measured: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls08-F6I5Ss

There are few points of contention from the aspect of realism in the action, save for the Ferrari crash [a bit melodramatic], and the finish--but hell, since Sebring '07, that ain't all that far-fetched/Hollywood-ish any more at all, now is it?

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I heard that they totalled his F430 performing a stunt.

I didn't hear about any incident with the F430, especially since it had only one non-chase scene.

There were casualties during and after the film's production:

- Eddie Griffin totaled Sadek's Enzo during a practice run at a charity event at Irwindale Speedway late last month.

- One Porsche Carrera GT was deliberately totaled during production. At least the engine was removed beforehand.

- Sadek bought a Saleen S7 with cash when Steve Saleen himself refused to loan him one. It returned to Saleen HQ for repairs totaling approximately $150,000.

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Speaking of Ferrari's, I got a chance to intimately check out the F-430 Spyder that belongs to the owner of the restaurant/bar I manage. He was going to give me a ride but his 18 year old plaything of a wife had to be somewhere.

In any case, Redline's for the cars, and only the cars. Out of all of the car movies out there I'd have to say Cannonball Run was absolutely the worst of them, if not one of the worst movies ever made with dialogue and jokes so bad it was painful. Gumball Rally-now there's a good car movie...

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Maybe it was the Enzo I was thinking about. Yesterday's paper mentioned that a Ferrari (one of only 400 made) was totalled during shooting of the film. It also mentioned the porshe as well.

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A car-chase movie with CG stunts and enhancements is like...I dunno, about the lamest thing ever.

I can't believe any self-respecting car nut would endorse any such thing. It goes against the very essense of what makes a car-chase awe-inspiring.

I have the same feeling about aviation movies.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Seriously, what's with these ugly supercar designs? This one looks like a Pontiac after running through a trash compactor.

Wowsers.

That is amazingly bad.

That white Wiesmann in the background on the other hand...

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I believe that the new supercars are examples of "modern art".........which is bad in the first place.

I'm going to Formula Drift @ Atlanta this weekend, I'll take some pics for ya'll!

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Speaking of ugly Pontiacs, my membership application to Club LS-1 has finally been approved:

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Man. I thought the cars I already have are fast, but this thing's ridiculous. I just hope it doesn't break for a while, we all know what GM quality is like...

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Speaking of ugly Pontiacs, my membership application to Club LS-1 has finally been approved:

...

Man. I thought the cars I already have are fast, but this thing's ridiculous. I just hope it doesn't break for a while, we all know what GM quality is like...

I don't see the pig nose short ram intake so i'm guessing you got the Formula Firebird with the LS1 and not the Trans Am? There's no contest to this thing being pug ugly, a good friend of mine had one and they're also deceptively cozy on the interior considering how big the car is. I'm sure you probably got a good deal on it though since they don't make em anymore especialy since it's anywhere between 5 and 9 years old. The one thing that redeems all of it's GM shoddiness is that 5.7L V8 LS1; do you have any plans for the motor? The great thing about the LS1's is you can get so much power out of them for so little money, but i'm sure you're already doing donuts with this thing as it is (keeping those rear wheels to the ground with that car is a challenge).

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It's a '99 T/A, 3.23 gear, A4, t-tops, 64K on the car. I remember hating them soooo much back in the day because of the way they looked. Ironically I ended up seeking them out as I got older. I only paid $9500 for a basically stock car which is what I wanted. There's a "lid" on the LS-1 but that's all I can see for 'mods. With exception to the Charger I'm not really into the aftermarket thing. I baby my cars and certainly don't drive them the way most would. The test drive which nearly killed me and everyone aboard will be one of the few times that I really push the car.

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I must the only one here who likes the looks of Firebirds of that generation--all models. (Hate the 98+ Camaro nose, 97 was the best-looking year).

PS---I also baby my cars (and they're usually Pontiacs--not that I've had all that many cars in my life). Modding a car often makes it less pleasant to drive. I'd rather spend the money on getting an inherently faster car in the first place that'll drive very nicely in its stock condition. I currently have a Grand Prix GTP but am looking at getting a GXP---303hp in them. :) (snow sucks, RWD is only an option here if you own multiple cars so you can still have a FWD/AWD in the winter)

I came close to having a 97 Camaro RS+performance package at one point, but never happened. It sure looked nice though.

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for some reason the Firebirds/camaro's don't hook up well (or at least they didn't when i drove my friends '00 bird), so doing motor work probably isn't a good idea unless you're into peeling out at lights all day. But simple stuff like Intake, Exhaust, isn't going to do much except make for a nicer sound and maybe a negligible horse power gain.

Edited by emajnthis
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