This is written from a point of view of a racing fan, I won't address the other aspects of the movie.I saw this movie today for the first time and it is just ridiculous.I mean, after the race is over he drives into the pits, requests new tires, goes back on track and then crashes into the race winner on purpose? I'm not really familiar with NASCAR but I'm pretty sure you get a lifelong ban for that.Also, the scene where he explains Nicole Kidman that they're developing 'a little thing called 'drafting''.Early on in the movie we're told that Tom Cruise doesn't know anything about cars but drafting is part of the absolute basics of racing.It would be like watching a movie about soccer and the main character says that 'they're developing 'a little thing called 'scoring a goal''.As a movie I'd probably give it a 6 but the racing part is just ... so ... awful.

Spectacular direction by Tony Scott and a script form legendary screen writer Robert Towne bring life to this incredibly exciting race car tale in stunning fashion. Robert Duval is superb as the old time car builder and Nicole Kidman is breathtaking as the doctor. John C. Reilly gives excellent support and the entire cast is uniformly perfect in their roles. The race scenes are absolutely the epitome of magnificence and constitute some of the greatest stock car racing ever filmed. After decades of avoiding this movie because of Tom Cruise, I now realize this is more a Robert Duval film than a Tom Cruise movie and everything is redeemed by the Oscar winning actor's presence. Nice to hear Nicole Kidman's actual accent and a credit to the producers for including it. Overall, a great film, with fiery direction, an excellent script, a superb Robert Duval, and a Nicole Kidman who is truly pleasing.

(54%) Tom Cruise and and Tony Scott return, only this time Tom drives a really fast car instead of driving a really fast plane. This very much tries to follow on the back of the success of Top gun with more or less the same plot and structure with its bolted on love story sub-plot and more than a fair share of fast paced action. So in terms of being a modern-day classic this doesn't have what it takes, it's too crude, predictable, and forgettable; yet it's still worth a look for either fans of the director/star or racing cars. Cruise's character is an underdeveloped show-off, but he is at least played with a degree of effort. And this is a well made production with well directed action, a good supporting cast, and a quality feel throughout.

This is the best racing movie ever!This is one of Tom Cruise's best movies. With a great supporting cast consisting of Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Michael Rooker, Randy Quaid and John.C.Rielly, this movie is simply amazing. Now this movie is about a hot-shot race-car driver named Cole Trickle. He is teamed with Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) a crew chief who lost a driver at Daytona a year earlier. When these two are first paired together they at first despise each other with Cole's temper and Harry's resentfulness to work with him. When these two eventually bond Cole is unstoppable.I first watched this when I was 4 and loved it. I would watch it over and over and again and pretend to be Cole Trickle. I would pretend that i was driving his car and would say the line " I'm dropping the hammer!" I love this movie. I have always loved this movie and i could still watch it over and over again. It is one of my favourite movie and anyone who loves movies should watch Days of Thunder!