Mad Max: Fury Road

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. This is mainly due to having limited time to do so, but also because I’m finding fewer things that I want to take the time to write about. I’ve only seen a few movies this year and while The Avengers: Age of Ultron was a fun superhero/action movie, nothing about it will resonate with me for years to come; unlike the action movie that I just saw this morning.

I have been excited about this new Mad Max since I first heard minor talk of a new film being made a few years ago; and after seeing the initial teaser trailer I only became more “mad” with impatience for its release. Well this fan can tell you: the wait was worth it. From original writer/director George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road is what some are calling an “interquel,” taking place in-between the original Mad Max and its first sequel The Road Warrior. While nothing in the film directly states this, knowing the character, that explanation makes the most sense and nothing negates that idea either. I will say that any fans concerned that this is a remake, a new series or are misusing the word “reboot,” you can drop those worries now. It is a reboot in the sense of bringing new life to a film franchise that has been out of the public eye for 30 years, not starting fresh with a whole new storyline.

Former-cop Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) is still insane over the great loss he endured in the original film and is traveling through the desert that was once the world. He is captured by a cult of crazed, “water-addicted,” metal-head lunatics that all have a death wish and crave to be accepted with open arms into Valhalla. Led by main baddie Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), they rule this edge of the wasteland, called the Citadel, having control over the only real water source. They strike deals and temporary alliances with “Gas Town” and “The Bullet Farm” exchanging water and supplies. When his five prized Brides escape during a supply run to Gas Town, Joe is enraged, to say the least, and leads an entire battalion of his war machines to hunt them down and return them to the Citadel, with Max being unwillingly dragged along for the nightmarish chase. As the action and insanity ramp up with every scene Max must do what he can to survive, including teaming up with the mysterious Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a fierce warrior from the Citadel with an agenda of her own.

Fury Road is one hell of a movie that other action films should aspire to be compared to. For too long we’ve moved away from action flicks that take risks and have become complacent with our superhero and spy films with practically (or actually) immortal heroes and everyone gets home safe. Like the Mad Max films before it, this one drags the viewers through the dirt and drops them in a meat grinder before being spit out into the unknown. The heroes and villains are equally dangerous and for the most part you are unsure which side will emerge alive, let alone “victorious.”

Fury Road is not only a badass action flick with crazy vehicles and explosions, it is truly a work of art. The camera work, color palette, set/vehicle/character design and writing make for one of the most satisfying action films in the last ten years. For those out there who are fans of the original trilogy, you will, without a doubt love this new installment. And those who have never seen a Mad Max film, but want to jump headfirst into this one, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, post-apocalyptic action drama. This adrenaline-filled 2 hour car chase will have you on the edge of your seat.

I also want to add that while this movie is chock full of muscle cars, huge trucks and insane vehicles that are impossible to lump into one category (whoever got to design all of them must have had an absolute blast), car chases, all-out brawls and gun fights, this is anything but a big, dumb testosterone-fest. In fact this movie is more about its strong female characters than anything else. To a point that there are terrible, women-hating “menimists” throwing hate around towards the film, which is ridiculous. I will use this tiny soapbox to say, “Fuck you” to them.

I highly, highly recommend seeing Mad Max: Fury Road and I plan on seeing it again when possible. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (X-Men Days of Future Past) and Rosie Huntington-Whitely (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) and is playing everywhere today. Go see it!

5 Petrol Tanks out of 5