Rip Paul Walker

JadeyBlitzen · December 1, 2013

Ok I know its been a few hours since his passing, but there's been very little discussion here about it. Being Sri Lanka's premier automotive forum Its totally unacceptable limiting the demise of this great man to a few posts in post whoring.

So this is my eulogy and I hope it won't be the last

I was 14 when I was first saw Paul Walker on screen. His character was troubled and, we have to admit, overshadowed by Vin Diesel's character for the most part of the movie. The movie wasn't too great either. fake turbo sounds, and "motec system exhausts"? what the heck is that? But it was fundamentally the first street racing movie and appealed to that throbbing street racer in young unlicensed car enthusiasts.

So when 2 fast 2 furious came out for most of us that was the best movie ever. Paul Walker was THE man. Everything he did was just right. "Could you tell me right quick what would be a better motor for my Skyline, a Gallo 12 or a Gallo 24?" lines like that, "the stare and drive", giving the finger while going in reverse made a big impression on me. It wasn't a deep movie. It didn't have any deep messages in it. But for me it defined epic. I used to watch it every weekend. I still remember all the dialogues from the top of my head. When I worked part time the cinema I worked for had a habit of putting an employees favorite movie under their name on their name tag, And you can guess what mine said.

For me Paul Walker absolutely defined what a heterosexual male should look like and act. He was a real guys guy. both on screen and off it. I started wearing converse shoes, before they went mainstream in SL, because of Paul Walker. I even walked like him and sometimes randomly read out his lines from the movie. No automotive icon or movie star had ever had such an impact on then 16 year old JB. And nobody has since.

As I grew up I felt silly about it and sometimes I wasn't proud of what my name tag at work, the manager especially couldn't help but judge me from my taste in movies. I also felt f&f sequels that came after were "manufactured" for mass market appeal diverting from car only action.

But today I'm not ashamed to admit that such is the impact this guy had on my life. He had a big part in my growing up, helped me notice things that I haven't noticed and opened my eyes to a whole new world.

My life wouldn't have been the same without him. And it'll never be the same again now that he's gone.

RIP Paul Walker

Komisiripala · December 1, 2013

you aren't the only one, bro.

RIP Paul walker. and the F&F franchise. no one can fill those shoes.

dreamracer · December 1, 2013

I dont have much to say jadey had said most of it....

RIP Paul Walker!! Your name will be long lived

RIP Roger Rodas, (who turned out to be a profesional race car driver... Who drove the porsche)..

ferrarif50 · December 1, 2013

actually i didn't believe it in the first time and once I realized it's real... i was shocked. as Jadey said he was THE MAN in my life too some time back and still someone i like most. RIP Paul Walker

Watchman · December 2, 2013

You speak the sentiments of many of us Jadey! Very nicely worded indeed!

SpeedyAsA · December 2, 2013

You have mentioned all of our feelings Jadey.. RIP Brian O'Conner(Paul Walker) ..! You will remain in our hearts forever.

Komisiripala · December 2, 2013

Swarnavahini did a eulogy for O'Connor this morning. Was touching, but then the host on the tv show started preaching about how he died blah blah.

This was in the cafeteria. And one by one, all the other doctors started to turn around and look at me.

I mean really?? What am I? His local representative?

trinity · December 2, 2013

Jadey great that you opened the thread, as others have already said, the feeling is mutual. Feels like a close friend passed away! never felt like this about a celebrity death or any other death that wasn't close to me.

Maybe in my mind i wanted to be just like him....

May he attend Nirvana!

dreamracer · December 2, 2013

Yeah trinity even i have never felt like this when a celebrity passed away...i think we all loved him more than we thaught we did

Some bugers from FB keep sharing..the picture of paul's disfigured face after the crash i dont know what those f*cking retards are up to ..and more than that it is a fake pic

VVTi · December 2, 2013

My take is, he lived and died doing what he loved the most. How many of us will get a chance to go like that?

Supra_Natural · December 2, 2013

I'd never have believed it if anyone told me that I'd be genuinely sad that a movie star died, but I was after I heard the news yesterday... I guess like dreamracer said we all loved the guy more than we knew we did...

Even Vin diesel and the friggin' Rock have gotten the soppiest they have ever gotten on twitter etc...

He was a great guy, he will be missed. And at least he went out while doing something he loved.

VVTi · December 2, 2013

On 12/2/2013 at 4:35 AM, Supra_Natural said:
I'd never have believed it if anyone told me that I'd be genuinely sad that a movie star died, but I was after I heard the news yesterday... I guess like dreamracer said we all loved the guy more than we knew we did...
Even Vin diesel and the friggin' Rock have gotten the soppiest they have ever gotten on twitter etc...

He was a great guy, he will be missed. And at least he went out while doing something he loved.

Modern day James Dean...

I saw the trailer for his last movie, about to be released next week, called Hours. I get the feeling a Posthumous Oscar is on the way. Critics are already talking about it. The actor known for creating a generation of petrol heads will go down remembered for this movie.

CK2 · December 2, 2013

"If one day the speed kills me, dont cry because I was smiling"

Paul Walker

RIP....

Amila G · December 2, 2013

Thanks JB for the nice wording... no other film star passing away won't make me this sad...

I can't remember how many times I've watched the car chases in 2 Fast 2 Furious.. His driving style in the green evo is what made me to learn to shift a manual so fast.

RIP Paul Walker...

Edited December 2, 2013 by Amila G

H.C · December 2, 2013

JD has written everything and never felt like this for a death of a person for a long period.

RIP

Schiffer · December 2, 2013

Its sad, that he passed away after a charity event for Philippines yolanda/haiyan typhoon victims.

just shows that he was a good guy as well.

like all of you siad, i too have never been sad at a death of a celebritiy (except Tony Greig) cant really summon up why

but we all grew/matured watching Fast and Furious. unrealistic as it is. it made a huge impact in all our lifes

like VVTi Said, he died doing what he loved to do, R.I.P Paul Walker.

you will be missed.

tinyman · December 2, 2013

R.I.P Paul.

I watched all the F&F movies, liked Paul for his role,cool but tough character, But to be frank never bothered even to know his name, but now I can't even imagine that I've read almost all the news articles about the demise of Paul Walker from all the major news sites & retweeted as many as tweets about him.

As Dreamracer mentioned "we all loved him more than we taught we did".

R.I.P Paul Walker, as many said, F& F will never be the same without him.

VtecE · December 2, 2013

Lost for Words . R.I.P, Paul Walker.

ashan82 · December 2, 2013

RIP Paul Walker .........!

Blitz · December 2, 2013

R.I.P Paul Walker, Fast & Furious will never be the same without him.. :sad-smiley-017:

JadeyBlitzen · December 2, 2013

Reading your posts literally brought a tear to my eye. I never thought the death of someone I had never met would have such an effect on me.

Even I had trouble accepting the news. I was out celebrating a friend's birthday yesterday and was just starting on the mains when she casually said "I wonder what's gonna happen to f&f now that Paul Walker's dead" and I was like "No no its Han who's dead. not Paul Walkers character" then she told me what had happened and I lost my appetite instantly. All that went through my head was all the great stuff he did on and off screen and how much an impact it had on me as a kid.

anyway here's a neat tribute video so we can remind ourselves what an awesome guy he was

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=698603530150700

The Don · December 2, 2013

I remember the car modification scene, street racing, or for that matter high displacement, and appetite power ranges above 120 BHP didn't really exist until Fast and the Furious. Though it might not have been a cinematic masterpiece it was a cultural icon, and to many of us a cult movie. And its a bug you can't ever shake off.

In many ways Paul Walker was one of us. He was a real life petrol head. He kept the car from his first movie. So while as we may not share his good looks or his Hollywood stardom we still feel the loss of a kindred spirit.

R.I.P. Paul Walker...