To say the unbearably long wait for George Miller’s fourth instalment in the post-apocalyptic franchise that made his name was worth it would be the mother of all understatements.
Mad Max: Fury Road – the message is simple: see it on the biggest screen possible
Initial grumblings over the two-hour running time and the somewhat unclear motivations of certain characters largely evaporated to dust (save for the sudden switch in allegiance by Nicholas Hoult’s Nux) following a hugely rewarding second viewing of Mad Max: Fury Road.
The genius of Miller’s decades-in-the-making follow-up to his initial trilogy is that it is both sublimely simple in its narrative thrust and also a complex, world-expanding work of real cinematic vision that has ideas coming out of its tailpipe.
Beyond Thunderdome: Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) in Mad Max: Fury Road
It’s also the most brilliantly accomplished action film since The Raid 2: Berandal and a dizzingly demented piece of moviemaking that throws caution, and everything else for that matter, to the wind.
While Mel Gibson’s leather-jacketed lead dominated the action of Miller’s first three Mad Max pictures, Tom Hardy’s eponymous survivor often plays second fiddle to Fury Road‘s real star, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a trusted driver for the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).
Bane of existence: Max (Tom Hardy) in Mad Max: Fury Road
Furiosa brings the full weight of Joe’s wrath down on her when he discovers she’s smuggled his breeding ‘wives’ out of the Citadel. Meanwhile, Max, who has been captured by Joe’s War Boys and used as a ‘blood bag’ for the sickly Nux, works to free himself and do what he can to survive.
It’s difficult to talk about Mad Max: Fury Road without first referencing the quite incredible action scenes. The fact that everyone is in some sort of vehicle, be it Furiosa’s bad ass War Rig, Joe’s outlandish monster truck or the multitude of pursuit vehicles that look like they’ve been chop-shopped to hell, naturally provides a pulse-quickening kineticism that is well served by Junkie XL’s Hans Zimmer-inspired score.
Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) goes in search of his wives in Mad Max: Fury Road
The first major action set piece that culminates in our leads driving headlong into an apocalyptic sand storm would normally be the dazzling denouement of most movies of this ilk, but that is merely the appetizer here for what is a banquet of senses-shattering craziness.
Miller continues to up the ante, throwing in chainsaws, spear bombs and a host of other weaponry until it gets to the point when Joe’s polecats (guys perched on the end of giant, bendy sticks that are somehow clamped to souped-up vehicles) are flying in from left and right trying to take out Max and co or steal the wives back from inside the War Rig. Words barely do it justice, which also might explain why dialogue is at a premium – when action is this compulsive who the hell needs talking?
The polecats get in on the action in Mad Max: Fury Road
Hardy once again lets his physicality do the talking in a role where more is said by his haunted, unsettling eyes and fists than his mouth ever could. His Max is searching for redemption as desperately as Furiosa, a character brought vividly to life by Theron in a performance that’s as feral as it is fascinating.
There’s so much more to be said about Mad Max: Fury Road, but it essentially comes down to a simple message – see it on the biggest screen possible.
three rows back 
Excellent piece! Excellent movie!! I know people get turned off by hype – which will suck FOR THEM. This is the best!
It’s absolutely gosh darned awesome mate.
ABSO-FOOPING-LUTELY
Ha ha! Yep!!
Good stuff mate. It really is a belter. I keep meaning to check it out at the cinema again before it disappears.
Cheers mate. A second viewing pays dividends.
One of my favorite films of the year.
Hard to argue with that!
Top work mate! Incredible film. A bloody brilliant action romp with characters you genuinely give a damn about.
Adam.
Thanks Adam; very succinctly (and accurately) put!
Love the absence of CGI. The stunts were awesome. I loved the catapult, pole bending guys.
They’re crazy aren’t they? Just one element in a brilliantly bonkers movie. Thanks Cindy.
Good points, well made etc etc. I enjoyed it, I saw it on a big screen.
I’d say the storyline could do with a little plumping up, letting the action do the talking is one thing, but a narrative which basically resembles ‘let’s go somewhere, no let’s go back’ is dumbing down just a little too far. But then let’s face it, one might look at this film and gauge; ‘it’s just Fast ‘n’ Furious for the steampunk generation’. Am I wrong? Possibly. Oh, no… there is a wet t-shirt scene which looks like a dated fizzy drink commercial! I am a bloke though, so yer know, fuck it.
I think ‘Fast ‘n’ Furious for the steampunk generation’ is being a little harsh; I do think there’s enough going on here alongside the mind boggling action and wet t-shirt contest to make it more than most other action flicks. Mind you, I love Fast & Furious so I imagine I’ve talked myself into a corner.
We’re both a little in a corner – bloke blogs, bloke comments.
Quite
Awesome review Mark! I LOVE this one and can’t wait to see this again in a bigger screen, preferably w/ Dolby Atmos! Yes it’s a rather taciturn movie but it works for the story I think and the actors are pretty expressive. One of the year’s best surely.
Completely agree, went to see it for a second time yesterday which was just as good
Among the best of 2014 so far…
Among the best of 2015 so far…
Good to read your take on it Mark, even if I did like it less than you! I still enjoyed with Fury Road, though, and the stunts were obviously very impressive.
Its been too long since this came out, a second viewing is in order!! Great review mate!
Sorry for the very late reply! Hope you got to see it again!
Amazing review of one hell of a movie.
God, I’ve just seen that I didn’t reply. Very sorry mate; thanks for that kind comment.
No need to say sorry, it’s all cool.
Great review. Who would have thought this would have been this good?
Just fun bombastic film from start to finish 😀
Absolutely mate; well said.
This movie was plenty fun,b ut more than fun. Really set the bar high for big crazy summer movies, and I wish they all lived up to it!
Yeah, but then this one wouldn’t be so special I guess!
finally got around to seeing this last week on the big screen. my Son treated his old man to a matinee and the film was stunning on all levels. I have already pre-ordered my blu ray. great review, Mark!
It’s absolutely ace isn’t it? Glad you finally checked it out!