Imagine an arid wasteland that stretches for miles unending, no sign of shelter anywhere. It's a post-apocalyptic landscape, not a single puddle of water in sight. People are milling around, dishevelled, emaciated and…dehydrated in search of sustenance. But there's one person who can give it to them—Immortan Joe, their leader.
He's a hideous figure (or maybe a creature because we don't really see his face) wearing a gas mask around his head, surrounded by his council, a group of equally hideous men and baldheaded boys painted white called the War boys.
When a huge throng gather before Immortan Joe with their containers for scraps and water, a convoy including an armour-plated tanker driven by a fierce looking woman called Furiousa slowly drives away from that environment. Intriguing, right?
At this point in the film, I try to understand what the storyline is, why the so-called leader of this people hoards food and water, and where the convoy is headed. I'm not much of a fan of apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic movies but this one is popular and I thought it's about time I satisfy my curiosity as to why it has such a high rating and positive reviews.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) is a part of the franchise that began in 1979 with the film Mad Max produced and directed by George Miller. I didn't know this at the time of watching and it didn't feel like anything was missing so it's a good standalone.
Also, did I mention the lead cast are Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy? With that in mind, I expected their performance to be outstanding and they absolutely delivered.
I love Charlize Theron in films and in this one, she plays the role of Furiousa, an important lieutenant in the army of brutal warlord Immortan Joe (played by Hugh Keays-Byrne) who kind of owns everything and everyone in the wasteland. But why the name ‘furious(a)’? You'll get an answer to this question when you understand her road mission.
While driving to Gastown, another section of the wasteland, Imperator Furiosa deviates off course. This throws the War boys riding with her into confusion but she doesn't give anything away until Immortan Joe becomes suspicious and sends more War boys after her. This is where the adrenaline-fueled action scenes kick off.
Apart from being one of Immortan Joe's imperators, Furiosa is sort of a crusader on a mission to free the women held in captivity as ‘breeders’ for this wicked warlord. She crosses path with Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy), a survivor-turned-bloodbag and together they face the storm. Will the warlord let them leave with his ‘breeders’ without a fight? It's more than a fight, it's a war!
Review
Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic action film and without a doubt, there are violent and gory scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot is good and so is the storytelling. You'll applaud a few characters as you watch while raging against the rest. No wonder one of the protagonists is named Furiosa.
One major aspect that makes this film shine is the editing and cinematography. Every scene is so vivid and striking. The action sequences, the car chase and fights, the mayhem that ensues are realistically and delightfully executed, if I may say so. The fast-paced mood makes the scenes more exciting. Unlike the modern blockbusters, this film doesn't portray any of those cheap special effects. It's obvious a lot of work went into making this movie.
Another element that makes Mad Max: Fury Road worth watching are the characters. Charlize Theron is spectacular and artfully embodies Furiosa in a way that we see and feel the anger and passion of her character. She’s fierce and quick in her fight scenes, even with only one hand.
Hardy's Max Rockatansky is a tough survivor who defies the odds and makes it when survival seems impossible. He doesn't talk much but his actions speak volumes. Nicholas Hoult did great as the crazy War boy, Nux and I'm glad he changed ship at the end, refusing to be brainwashed. It's good to see Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Zoë Kravitz in this film though I don't see much to their roles as the breeders.
Overall, this film is great and vibrates with much energy and thrills. It's all about revolution and redemption. The fights and car chases are violent but exciting to watch. I'll give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
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Other images are screenshots from the movie
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