Mad Max: Fury Road Review

Wow. What a lovely day, indeed. Mad Max: Fury Road is the latest installment in George Miller's post-apocalyptic Mad Max franchise. The last one of these came out 30 years ago. It might seem strange, then, that they've decided to revisit a series that has never transcended passed cult status after so long. However, this is no longer a little Australian thriller with a no-name cast and no-name director made on a shoestring budget. This is the pinnacle of blockbuster filmmaking, a $150 million action extravaganza that proves action movies can still be great. This is the best movie I've seen so far this year.

I never had a huge interest in Fury Road. The only Mad Max movie that I've ever been compelled to rewatch is Road Warrior, so I wouldn't exactly count myself as a "fan" of the franchise. I appreciate the influence that Miller's movies have had on the action genre; however, I've never thought of them - or at least the first and third - as great movies themselves.

So, when I heard they were making a new one, I sort of ignored it and let the cult followers of the previous films get excited. However, once I saw that the trailers were really good, I started to take notice. And after the critical acclaim that this movie has received, I had to go and see it for myself. I'm glad I did. I absolutely loved it.

The film features two main characters: Max, of course, played this time around by Tom Hardy, who is quickly becoming one of the most sought after actors working today. While he isn't given many lines to say, Hardy has a convincing presence that made his character likable and compelling. Charlize Theron plays Imperator Furiosa, who many have called the true protagonist of the film. Personally, I still viewed Max as the main character, but Furiosa does play a major role in the story and Theron gives the character conviction and a surprising amount of emotional resonance.

In Mad Max: Fury Road, civilization has been scrapped as humanity now dwells in a barren wasteland where food and water are scarce. Immortan Joe, the film's antagonist, is a power hungry tyrant who has direct access to water underground, but withholds it from the people to ensure that they come back to him. He is ultimately a god-like figure who is followed and worshiped religiously by "War Boys".

The action ensues once Furiosa, who is one of Immortan Joe's highest ranking subordinates, abducts the "Five Wives", who are five beautiful women that Immortan Joe keeps with him to have his child, who will ultimately succeed him once he dies. She not only wants to free them, but also is trying to return back to her homeland called the "Green Place". Joe sends his armada of War Boys out to catch her, and Max gets pulled along for the ride.

The simplicity of the premise is what makes Mad Max: Fury Road so incredibly enjoyable. It has reduced the movie to a purely kinetic experience, one that relies on action and visuals to tell the story rather than dialogue. And by making the entire film essentially one big chase sequence, Miller has exploited an intrinsic human instinct: the fear of someone you're running away from catching up to you. It's odd to say it, but that is really what makes this such an effective movie. The suspense comes straight from your gut.

The action is incredibly well-helmed by Miller and his camera crew. It's truly thrilling to watch all the sweeping car chases and explosions, especially since most of it all is practical effects. I think practical effects are something that modern Hollywood movies are sorely missing. They make the movie more believable and effective as a result. Christopher Nolan is someone who prides himself on his practical set pieces, and his movies are better for it. Mad Max: Fury Road is a great example of why practical effects should be utilized more often.

This really is a non-stop action thrill ride. There is very little room to breath in between the chases. This would be a problem if the action was dull, but because it is so hard-hitting and exciting, I didn't get tired of it at all during the entire 2-hour run time. It was glorious, and Junkie XL's phenomenal score only helped to augment the experience.

Miller still finds room amidst all the action to flesh out his characters, and provide enough depth to anchor all the spectacle. That was something that surprised me. I wasn't expecting to actually care about the characters, or even feel any real emotion other than exhilaration. But, I did, especially regarding the character of Furiosa, who really delivers most of the emotional moments.

Just like other Mad Max movies, Fury Road is weird. I mean really weird. It will probably put off many cinemagoers who are taken aback by all the film's eccentricities. It's all just a part of the experience, though, and while I'm not exactly sure it was entirely necessary for the movie to be good, it's intrinsic to the Mad Max universe and helps the film stand out from the rest of the crowd of summer blockbusters. In that sense, I suppose the oddities were necessary.

This was probably the most breathtaking experience I've had in a theater since Interstellar. It's a loud, unrelenting action spectacular that is completely out of its mind in all the best possible ways. It is an absolute must-see for action junkies, and pretty much everyone else who wants to finally see an action blockbuster that definitively stands out from the crowd. I highly recommend everyone check this one out, even if you're not a Mad Max fan. It's so forceful in its vision, that I could imagine it winning over pretty much any viewer, even one not well-versed in the franchise.

A