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MAD MAX: Fury Road

When a movie flounders in developmental limbo for an extended period of time, the chance of the film being released drops dramatically, and the quality of the production always becomes a concern. Thankfully, in the case of the fourth installment of the MAD MAX franchise, the end result was actually worth the wait. Writer/Director George Miller has been planning on creating the next chapter in the post-apocalyptic series ever since MAD MAD: BEYOND THUNDERDOME was released in 1985. Here we are, three decades later, and the iconic character can finally be seen on the screen again.

madmax-what-a-lovely-day MAD MAX: FURY ROAD begins with a quick introduction to the title character. Max was a police officer who lost everything when civilization collapsed. Haunted by those he could not save, he wanders the barren landscape, merely seeking to survive.

This opening is very reminiscent of the first two MAD MAX films, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be a reboot of those classics. When we are first introduced to Max (now played by Tom Hardy), however, this story immediately becomes it own unique tale.

It seems odd to say this about an action film, but trying to put the plot points into words does nothing but diminish the impact it actually leaves with the viewer. Laying it out in simple terms, Max gets captured by members of a cult-like community, becomes a “blood-bag” for one of its dying members, and eventually fights to keep a group of women alive while traveling in a high-speed oil tanker.

mad-max I realize this hardly seems like enough content to sustain a 2-hour running time, but believe me, it is more than enough. This is because FURY ROAD is such a visceral, pulse-pounding experience that it eviscerates all expectations, and defies explanation. While films like FURIOUS SEVEN and THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON were entertaining, and I enjoyed them both, they don’t hold a candle to MAD MAX. Sure, it’s fun to marvel at the wonders of CGI wizardry in THE AVENGERS, but there was a genuineness in MAD MAX that made the action far more exciting and harrowing. It is the rare movie that electrifies every single one of your senses, and leaves you hard-pressed to comprehend what is playing out before you.

While Mel Gibson has been the face of the franchise from the very beginning, Tom Hardy makes the character completely his own. Like Gibson in the first two films, Hardy doesn’t have a whole lot to say. He is a man with very few words, but an endless supply of fierceness, determination, and rage. He is a magnetic, menacing, and endearing hero who is steadfast in his resolve, and a deadly force for all of those who stand in his way. While he shares the same name as the character we last saw 30 years ago, he is certainly not the same guy. mad-max-cast

Though Mad Max may be the name on the title card, Charlize Theron makes Imperator Furiosa an unforgettable female protagonist. Driving a deadly tanker at breakneck speeds, she is fueled by the unwavering need to provide protection to a small group of enslaved women. With a mechanical arm, and a fearless abandon, she is every bit as strong and merciless as her male counterparts. Theron, who is often underrated in her versatility (think of her turns in MONSTER, YOUNG ADULT, and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) may very well have given the most essential performance in the entire film. It was important that the viewer believe that Furiosa was every bit as intense and savage as those who are pursuing her. There was no doubt that this is exactly what Theron accomplished. Rather than being the meek, submissive tag-along that you see so often in films of this nature, she sets the bar to astronomical new heights for the heroines to come.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD is easily one of the best pure-action films we have seen in years. There was never a sense of “Been there, done that”, and every sequence was phenomenal. The action felt inventive and original, which is a very difficult feat given t MadMaxFuryRoadPoster he state and budgets of action flicks today. I had the pleasure of seeing the film in the RPX 3D format at Destiny USA, and I will say, it felt more like an experience than a simple day at the movies. It is not often that I feel that 3D enhances the experience, but there is no denying that Miller utilized the effects to their fullest potential. The effects, as well as the incredible use of music and sound throughout made the already astounding production feel like an even more immersive experience. “Edge-of-your-seat” is one of the most commonly overused cliches in all of movies, but when you’re in a theater and you realize you’re actually about to fall off of your chair, it’s impossible to not acknowledge this fact. This is exactly what happened to me about 80 minutes into the brilliant MAD MAX:FURY ROAD. Truly a masterpiece in every regard, action lovers, brace yourselves; You’ve never seen anything quite like this.