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“Cinematic Red Bull” Mad Max: Fury Road review

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD   (UK CERT: 15)

Director: George Miller  

Music: Junkie XL

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult


REVIEW AUTHOR: Rob Stoakes

Up until a week ago, I was really looking forward to this film. Mad Max as a series has a criminally underestimated impact on our pop culture psyche thanks to its unique aesthetic. Everyone now knows exactly what they want to do in the event of the apocalypse; strap dustbin lids and S&M gear to our bodies.

Then I remembered that other recent reboot of a beloved 80’s sci-fi film, 2014’s Robocop. Specifically, I remembered that it was absolutely awful, a broken train-wreck of a movie that doesn’t understand and full on resents the original film, and drained all the personality out of a film bursting with it. 2012’s Total Recall shared similar problems, so the question came; would this modern reboot of an 80’s genre classic be the first of its kind to match the quality of the original?

The answer is no. It is far, far better.

Mad Max is back, after a 30 year hiatus

Mad Max is back, after a 30 year hiatus

The original Mad Max films each had the budget of a school nativity play and relied entirely on the scrapyard aesthetic and charismatic villains rather than action. Fury Road, on the other hand, is the cinematic equivalent of Red Bull; fast paced, frenetic and wild. The action sequences are almost constant, only broken up when the audience’s hearts are about to burst, accompanied by one of the most energetic and brilliant soundtracks I’ve ever heard. In the hands of a lesser filmmaker it would be too much to handle, but Miller makes sure to frame and edit each scene in a way that allows the audience to always follow the action.

Visually, the film is much more in line with Alejandro Jodorowsky’s failed Dune adaptation than anything else, with its deformed mutants, impractical clothes and grungy mechanics. Every image on screen is madder than the last; the audience will probably ask “Why does that guy have a flamethrower guitar?” or “Why is there a fat dude in a business suit with his nipples exposed?” and the film just says “Because you wanted to see it and didn’t know you did.” And it is totally right. Like Big Game, the landscapes are achingly beautiful too, turning a barren desert into a sea of colours.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJnMQG9ev8?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

The plot is utter gibberish; there is absolutely no reason that any series of events would lead to the world looking the way it does and the characters looking and acting the way they do. Most films would be ashamed of this and try to handwave it away or explain it; Fury Road, however, takes the smarter option, and full on embraces the insanity. Characters spout lines like “I have seen the three gates” and “You will ride with silver and chrome” without irony, and it all just works, sweeping the audience up into a world where logic is superfluous as long as what you’re saying is cool.

This wouldn’t work if the acting wasn’t on point, but every single actor is completely game for the madcap lunacy that is the

Theron is mesmerising

Theron is mesmerising

script. Everyone sings their lines, which might be nonsense but just sound so good. The only weak spot is Tom Hardy as Max himself, who tries to be a calming anchor to contrast everyone else but instead seems like he came out of a different, much more boring film. In fact, Max seems here only so the film can be called Mad Max, because really it is Charlize Theron’s movie; Imperator Furiosa is the true main character and Theron easily gives the most nuanced performance.

Upon seeing this film, I genuinely had to go for a jog to get all of the energy out of me. This film is mad glory from beginning to end, a fireworks show for the eyes and ears. One of the best action films of the year in an already good year for the genre. Certainly a much better reboot than Robocop. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to make a suit of armour out of washing machine parts and ball gags.

Category

Scoring /10

Story/Plot 4
Acting/Vocal Performance 8
Special Effects/Cinematography 10
Soundtrack 9
Costume/Design 10
Script/Dialogue 9
TOTAL                                      /60 50

Adam’s Thoughts

Adam-Brannon_avatar_1421010490-368x368It’s been thirty years since George Miller graced our screens with a Mad Max film and despite being a decent movie, the third in the series was lacking the substance that the other two had.
Here, Miller creates a film that is not only an assault on the ears, but on the senses. Fury Road is, despite its lack of story, absolutely stunning.
Everything from the imagery to the acting is sublime, with Nicholas Hoult being a particular highlight throughout. I challenge you to find a more ridiculous and exciting action flick this year.

5 Comments

  1. vinnieh

    Wonderful review, you described the movie so perfectly.

    • Adam Brannon

      Thanks for your kind comments. I’ll make sure I pass them onto Rob who wrote this review. Adam.

      • vinnieh

        Please do, he really did an excellent job here.

        • Adam Brannon

          I completely agree, he certainly has a way with words that lends itself perfectly to a film in this type of genre.

          • vinnieh

            Excellently put.

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