REVIEW: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
What a lovely day to be a film buff. In fact, what a lovely year to be a sci-fi nerd of any kind. When there's big fare like George Miller's return to the "Mad Max" franchise in three decades with Fury Road, blockbusters like Age of Ultron and indie side dishes like Ex Machina, a nerd's palate is sure to be quenched. Of course, these are just appetizers until the mother of all science fiction franchises releases its long awaited film near Christmas, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Until that sure to be Oscar winner is released, Fury Road will be a fine placeholder, and a perfect shot of adrenaline for movie buffs familiar with Max or not.
I binge-watched the two sequels leading up to this movie, The Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome. Both were enormous servings of adrenaline and creativity, especially the latter, which might've been my favorite until I walked into the theater, anxiously awaiting the start of this film, as EIGHT TRAILERS passed before me (sorry Entourage, I'm just not that interested in you). The movie wastes no time setting up the atmosphere, with Tom Hardy doing the most talking in this movie he's going to do in its duration, in that interchangeably, vaguely European brogue of his that's somewhere between a grunt and a rough groan. Max is a prisoner of Immortan Joe in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is Earth, a man who rules the desert by briefly letting loose water onto his subjects, though he warns them "not to get addicted to it." Charlize Theron, playing Furiosa, takes Joe's five prized "breeders," beautiful, fertile woman forced to produce his offspring, and speeds off in a massive oil rig. Nux (Nicholas Hoult), wants to prove his worth to Joe, and, taking his blood bank of energy with him (Max), all set off to track down Furiosa, kill her, and salvage the breeders. And that's pretty much it. Complex storytelling is not a problem in this reboot.
In fact, my only problem is, and that's why this movie gets docked half a point, is Max. Tom Hardy is still great in the role, don't get me wrong. But there's so many questions we have. I've read Miller said that the audience got three movies worth of backstory but...is this a reboot? A continuation? Who are the people in Max's troubled visions? I know the character of Max Rockatansky is supposed to be this speak softly and KILL EVERYTHING type of antihero, but give me a little more substance to work with. Especially stacked up against co-star Theron, who's hardcore heroine can now be added to the very small list of female action heroes people automatically will think of (and yes, it does include Ripley and Sarah Connor). She has her weak moments, certainly her strong moments, and her nubbed arm and greased war paint face just portray an immensely interesting character. Give me a spinoff!
But why should the average, casual moviegoer see Mad Max? To get their minds blown. The movie isn't necessarily the two hour car chase some are calling in it. But the action so rarely lets up it...and let's be honest, that's rare in an action movie. There are always scenes in one, sure. The major three big battles between bad guys. But not since...well, The Road Warrior, has so much heart-pounding action been crammed into a two-hour running time. There's just sand in George Miller's world, so when there's an explosion you feel it, and see it in all its glory. Shots are sped-up to keep up with the frantic, kinetic tone Miller is looking for. The special effects are practical and ludicrously entertaining, the score appropriately in your face, the cinematography spectacular (and subtly beautiful, look out for those gorgeous blue night scenes). Miller, at age 70, gives the most adrenaline-soaked, freshest action movie to have come out in years, I can truly say there's nothing like it I've seen. Why has he been making Happy Feet movies for the past decade or so? I don't know. But I do know whatever he does next will have me singing and tap dancing to the theater like one of his penguins, because what a day, what a lovely day it'll be when we all get to see the sequel to one of the best movies 2015 has to offer so far.
Rating: 3.5/4 stars
In fact, my only problem is, and that's why this movie gets docked half a point, is Max. Tom Hardy is still great in the role, don't get me wrong. But there's so many questions we have. I've read Miller said that the audience got three movies worth of backstory but...is this a reboot? A continuation? Who are the people in Max's troubled visions? I know the character of Max Rockatansky is supposed to be this speak softly and KILL EVERYTHING type of antihero, but give me a little more substance to work with. Especially stacked up against co-star Theron, who's hardcore heroine can now be added to the very small list of female action heroes people automatically will think of (and yes, it does include Ripley and Sarah Connor). She has her weak moments, certainly her strong moments, and her nubbed arm and greased war paint face just portray an immensely interesting character. Give me a spinoff!
But why should the average, casual moviegoer see Mad Max? To get their minds blown. The movie isn't necessarily the two hour car chase some are calling in it. But the action so rarely lets up it...and let's be honest, that's rare in an action movie. There are always scenes in one, sure. The major three big battles between bad guys. But not since...well, The Road Warrior, has so much heart-pounding action been crammed into a two-hour running time. There's just sand in George Miller's world, so when there's an explosion you feel it, and see it in all its glory. Shots are sped-up to keep up with the frantic, kinetic tone Miller is looking for. The special effects are practical and ludicrously entertaining, the score appropriately in your face, the cinematography spectacular (and subtly beautiful, look out for those gorgeous blue night scenes). Miller, at age 70, gives the most adrenaline-soaked, freshest action movie to have come out in years, I can truly say there's nothing like it I've seen. Why has he been making Happy Feet movies for the past decade or so? I don't know. But I do know whatever he does next will have me singing and tap dancing to the theater like one of his penguins, because what a day, what a lovely day it'll be when we all get to see the sequel to one of the best movies 2015 has to offer so far.
Rating: 3.5/4 stars
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