‘Mad Max Fury Road’ amazes on every level – 5 stars!
Not since George Lucas brought audiences Star Wars has a filmmaker delivered on a universe full of bizarre and crazed characters without being too campy or distracting. George Miller reboots the Mad Max franchise with Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron headlining an amazing cast in this apocalyptic adventure which dazzles, entertains and engages viewers.
Mad Max Fury Road picks up after the original trilogy, which starred Mel Gibson, with a narration to summarize the story and impact on the titular character. Max is quickly consumed and engulfed in a road battle between a cultish community dictator named Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) and Theron’s Furiosa on a journey to the “Green Place.”
Not relying on CGI, the stunts and action is amazing and complimented with strong visuals, bright color contrasts and fantastic performances. Nicholas Hoult (new X-Men films, Jack the Giant Slayer) steals every scene and The Wives are much more than pretty faces thanks to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Courtney Eaton and Abbey Lee.
Miller transforms an otherwise benign car chase into an exhilerating battle with the War Boys, who are chasing down the Rig driven by Furiosa, Max and Hoult’s Nux.
Disgusting S&M and a rancid disregard for humanity are full manifested in the menagerie of oddball and freaks which battle across the desolate wasteland. A blind guitar strung to the front of a truck while drummers pound out a warning theme sound like the most absurd idea since talking droids and giant walking hairballs with laser guns, but every aspect works perfectly.
Even when you think you can foresee the end to the insane, long chase sequence, Miller turns the story and audience around to retrace the steps back through the destruction, re-engaging the “wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
Hardy pulls off the role perfectly and seems poised to be the perfect actor to build more films around. Theron proves “tough girls” are cool.
The production designer deserves Oscar consideration and the cinematography is fantastic.
Mad Max Fury Road receives 5 stars out of 5 stars
This is a unique situation for me to recommend a film so strongly, but those who dislike the film likely doesn’t care for any of the Max films, these stylized films of the 70s and 80s or the apocalyptic film genre.
Not since Inception have I come away this impressed after one viewing.
