It's been, well it's been years since I've written anything here. Life tends to get in the way of sharing and you just sort fall into a slow idle. One of my favorite things to do here was to share my love of all things cinema and discussion around it. So here I have been, just sitting in idle not really moving for awhile when this afternoon I just witnessed a spectacle display that literally threw my V8 into overdrive, scorched rubber, and injected nothing short of pure octane into my veins forcing me to want to share again.
Follow me below for my take on what is going to become in my opinion, one of the titular action movies of the year and more likely of years to come. No worries here, this review will be totally spoiler free although may mention a few choice scenes not seen in the trailers.
"My world....is fire....and blood"
This is how it starts. We come to our main protagonist or more actually our main witness (more on this later) to what is literally 120 minutes of nothing less than jaw dropping, eye popping, face melting, bone cracking action goodness. Not even 3 minutes into the film and we have our character Max, who is quite literally mad with visions of his failed history of protection of loved ones, on the run from some of the most bizarre enemies ever put to film. The War Boys as they call themselves.
And it never lets up from there. From start to finish, the film quite literally goes to 120mph and only slows to 60mph very sporadically.
Max is taken hostage and through a series of totally unnerving events ends up set into a collision path with the War Boys and their leader the one Immortan Joe. There is 2nd act detour which puts him on the same path as Immortan's 2nd lieutenant who goes by the name Imperator Furiosa. What sets the movie into full motion is an act of betrayal by Furiosa, stealing his 'brides' in an attempt to set them free.
The films pace is breathtaking, heck it's cinematography is breathtaking. Amongst this break neck pace as we barrel along a trail of fire, steel, and madness we witness it amongst a backdrop of amazing set pieces. Vibrant reds and oranges during the daytime moments, which illuminate the insanity of the world of Max. And then during the night time, cold almost deathly blue hues which though while toned down do not assuage ones fears for our protagonists because the lighting is almost unearthly. There is even a scene which only features a distant fire amongst a fog ridden, moonlight lit landscape but scrapes and scars no different than any scene prior or later.
Even the sound to the film brings your heartbeat to stroke levels, and right from the get go. The roars of the engines, the clang of metal on metal, the screams of those less fortunate, all of them are nothing short than added instruments into a cacophony of chaos that results in one of the most beautiful symphonies of action movie madness.
There is literally a man attached to a truck, rigged with many amps, a group of war drum players attached to the back, playing a two necked guitar, riffing metal rock, while shooting a flame thrower out the ends of his axe. And the best part is, for many parts of the film, this mans war beat that he grinds out is part of the sound track during these chase sequences.
Also, that entire sequence. Yeah that's not CGI. That really is a dude on a truck made of speakers, blaring heavy metal, with drums behind him, shooting fire from his axe to try and melt your face.
Which brings me to another point of this film. It's amazing principle effects. Take note young aspiring film makers, you might want to use this one in your studies.
Many of us, and even those of you reading right now might not have even been alive when George released the now cult classic Mad Max. Released in 1979, it was a product of it's time really. George had seen first hand in Australia the depravity possible when petrol was being rationed. So he created this bleak future, where gas was king and roving gangs would do anything to get it. It really did shine a light on how bleak of a future we as humans have when we break down, and how far down the rabbit hole goes with his follow ups Road Warrior and Thunderdome.
The best action parts of those previous films, were indeed the principle effects. Real stunt people, performing amazing feats on film, amongst real steel beasts, going impossibly fast, and obvious real consequences should something go wrong. Credit goes where credit is due, that John Seale came literally out of retirement to create these set pieces in coordination with the stunt people to make what is literally a Cirque De Solei of Fire, Madness, and Steel.
In this day and age of the CGI madness, George has literally looked at the industry he spawned to some degree and stomped his foot down. Then loudly declared. No, this is my vision...now pay attention.
And pay attention we should, because amongst the visceral cacophony of insanity is actually a well thought out message and delivery. Yes the plot is thin, no one can really argue this point, but the plot need not be thick to deliver this movies message.
This is a film for the women, through and through. This is a movie that unashamedly says that women can kick as much ass (more IMHO), plan just as well, and blows the tires out of the the male hero archetype's car, strips the engine out, throws both of them over the cliff, and then just to be sure lights the whole thing on fire.
In the era of things like gamer gate, nothing could have come at a more poignant moment.
Max, though while the title character, really only witness the struggle and strife suffered by Furiosa and the brides she wishes to save. There are very few moments where Max is the literal hero and even in those moments, he is not the focus. It is the women who win the day here, and boy do they win it with a moment that will make you cringe and yet let out your inner cry of justice.
There are several moments I will bring up, that shouldn't spoil anything but they need brought up so I can finish my point on how good this movie will be.
There is a moment, where Furiosa and Max with brides in tow are being chased through the desert. They almost have excapted the clutches but are in pursuit by a tank tread beast of a machine with a madmen at the helm. Max, now at this point trying to find redemption from his past deeds takes pot shots from a distance using the last few bullets left of their rifle only to miss. They now have one bullet left. Max then relents and lets Furiosa take the rifle, who then takes aim (resting on Max's shoulders, read into that how you will) and aims true.
The threat however delayed is not stopped yet. The madmen piloting the vehicle will not relent, and Max grabs some supplies and heads off towards the mad men. Furiosa tries to delay him, asking what should they do if they need to continue. Max does what Max does, he tells Furiosa to keep trucking on. When the brides ask Furiosa what he plans to do, she comments "Find Redemption"
I don't think you will find another movie, that encapsulates the entanglement of masculinity and femininity of our lives. Max acknowledges Furiosa's goal and her drive to protect life in this scene. Accepts his possible fate, willingly I might add and without complaint. However of note is the ferocity of Furiosa, who literally turns a blind eye acknowledging her separation from Max......but at the same time she accepts his willingness to help and in some way does depends on it.... but understands that she isn't defined by his sacrifice.
It is so refreshing to see this in cinema today. A woman who is both terrifying, powerful, protective, and as you will see later on reflective. Especially in the recently described scene. In those brief 30 seconds Charlize Theron interacts with Hardy as Max before Max sets out into the breach she lets loose a series of facial expressions that could only be described in words by something like War and Peace. But also one who is not defined by the male roles around her. Furiosa is a planet unto herself, and Max is merely a comet who happens to be hitting another comet in that planets direction.
The the best part about this scene is that it is blurred amongst the action so much so that you would never even notice the underlying metaphors and motives of it. The pace of the movie is so awesome, so bombastic, and so over the top, that the message itself never does try to beat you over the head. In fact if this missed the crazy set pieces, the flames, the steel, the 'guzzuline'... if this were just a movie without the chaos that is the set drop, then the message would be lost. The message would be assumed to be just forced feeding.
Just to give you and idea of the metaphor moments and how they could be lost...ponder this. Max comes back from said savoir action to wash the blood of his enemies off with breast milk.
Yeah, read into that what you will.
Long story short, this is a spectacle for the ages. This is a movie that will have the hardest testosterone person fist pumping the sky as they walk out, amazed by the spectacle and perhaps only half realizing that they are pumping their fists in the air for what is a power action movie championing a female.
This is one of those movies, that I wished Ebert could see.
Fury Road runs 120 minutes, and is rated R
https://youtu.be/...