Written Review by John Delia, Sr.
One of the more explosive films to hit the screen for the summer, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starts the season on fire. Totally off the chain and frenzied on the big screen, the film has the three main elements to kick-ass, extreme cinematography, compelling characters, and daring stunts. The action film is best seen on either IMAX or Dolby Cinema.
A Scene from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Warner Bros
The story however is more of the same old survival of the fittest in a dystopian world wrecked by post-apocalyptic nuclear fallout. Now a wasteland, Australia is governed by outcasts and greed. As the continent evolves there are now three known areas of existence The Green Place, Gastown and The Citadel. Each are governed independently, but involve each other in the future of humanity. Conflict is necessary for each of the tribes that occupy the strongholds, but those with the most powerful weapons that include war arms, water, fuel and transport will control the continent.
A Scene from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Warner Bros
The story begins as Furiosa, a young girl living in The Green Place, gets kidnapped by rogues and ends up with Warlord Dementus. He’s the leader of a huge gang of motorcyclists that roam the wasteland. Now in their custody they teach her how to be a warrior. Wanting to find her own way of life, her goal is vengeance and the return to The Green Place where she was born. But first she has to take down the leaders of this uncontrollable hell.
If you have not seen the 2015 chapter of Mad Max: Fury Road, and are an action film fan, wait to see it after you watch Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The wild and wicked prequel follows the Furiosa character that is the central subject of Fury Road. Like all the Mad Max franchise films that started back in 1979, they can be watched as standalone and still get all the thrills. But in this case, it’s better to know how Furiosa came to be the “tiger” she is in this newest episode before digging into Fury Road.
A Scene from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Warner Bros
Anya Taylor-Joy is the right choice for the early character development of Furiosa. She has the grit, moves and attitude that pulls the two chapters together. Probably doing a lot of her stunts in order for the choreography to work, she reminds me a lot of Charlize Theron the Furiosa she precedes. Having played some very dark characters in films like Morgan, The Queen’s Gambit, Dune: Part Two and The Witch certainly made it an easy choice for the casting department.
The stunt people do a terrific job of providing a lot of gasps and wows with their incredible feats of danger. In Furiosa they are exciting to watch as they ride atop speeding vehicles, push the limit of their motorcycles, sour above attached to wires, crash into immovable objects and much more. A tip of the hat to their ability to make all the action feel real.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has been rated R by the MPAA for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images. For the fan base it’s 4.5 out of 5 stars and all other action lovers 5 out of 5.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Nathan Jones, Goran D. Kleut, Matuse, Jacob Tomuri, Ben Smith-Petersen
Directed and co-written by: George Miller
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
MPAA Rating: R for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images
Running Time: 2 hrs. 28 min.
Opening Date: May 24, 2024
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Released in: IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Standard