I’m going to come out of the gate and say that I love the Mad Max franchise. George Miller created this vivid look at a post-apocalyptic world through exciting characters, designs, and fantastic action with practical effects. Max Rockatansky’s story is almost mythical, with Miller using little to make that happen. He’s been able to use the idea of society crumbling and one man surviving to convey a message there is a sliver of hope and justice during the fall of men. Miller showcases this through Max and four movies, yet now he gives another go, only this time with a recent creation, Furiosa, and her solo prequel film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Though the movie promises a spectacle and succeeds to some degree, it’s the 3rd Act that almost wrecks the film.
The previous Mad Max movies were simple to an extent. The films are based on an easily digestible premise mixed with great action set pieces as filler. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga goes a bit different by following a young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) as she encounters the leader of the evil marauders, Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Dementus and his evil deeds would affect kid Furiousa in a big way, forming her character into an adult Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) hellbent on revenge.
Miller’s vision and filmmaking are in full effect with his style of excellent car chases and action-filled scenes, which is the feature’s lifeblood.
The director hasn’t missed a step in delivering incredible moments like the ones in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Mad Max: Fury Road pushes the limits of practical effects in action, and the latest installment in the franchise attempts to do the same. A level of grandness is worth seeing on the big screen but almost comes close compared to the previous movie. Some actions occur on the scene, and some are obvious on green screens. I felt a disconnect in some of the action; however, it was only a short while in the 1st Act.
Miller’s directing makes up for it by being creative and giving something I had not seen on film. You must improve on what worked in the last movie to justify its existence, and Miller easily handles that. The director was able to use Stunt Coordinator Guy Norris to his fullest when designing the magnificent action set pieces. The 2nd Act features a played-out chase scene featuring an older Furiosa, Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), Immortan Joe’s new War Rig, and pursuers itching to take it down. The 15-minute action sequence is an incredible feat in cinema that showcases inventive ways of upping the ante and becomes a crucial turning point for the characters.
Consequently, it’s a reminder of how great the stars of the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga have become the movie’s heart.
Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth carried the movie and entertained me thoroughly during the less-action moments. Hemsworth, as Dementus, chews up every scene he’s in and displays why the actor was the right man for the job. There were several moments where his acting gave me a clear picture of who this villain truly is. It ultimately amounted to a crucial confession near the film’s end, like the final piece in a complex puzzle.
The other half of the excellent acting department is Taylor-Joy. Her character has little to say for most of the movie, but she utilizes that to her advantage. The actress can profoundly convey her characters emotions, motivations, and thoughts throughout the film. In such an example, the final confrontation between her and Dementus comes to mind. Her character breaks down hugely, making the scene truly transformative—I honestly couldn’t get enough of it.
Though Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’s direction, action, and acting excel, some of the script is off. For the most part, the movie is excellent. It kept me engaged, but Miller and Nick Lathouris take the screenplay into this weird place in the 3rd Act. The film builds up to this epic collision between several characters in what would be called “The 40-Day War.” Instead, it’s almost told in this weird clouded montage that was confusing to see and left me perplexed about the status of many of the characters.
Lastly, the final Act in the movie does a lot of hand waving and even lacks an explanation for specific beats. It leaves a lot of questions, and the movie chooses to rush from its final moment to the eventual event of Mad Max: Fury Road. The movie is two hours and twenty-eight minutes long, and could’ve used some of that time to make the transition much smoother.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is an excellent addition to the Mad Max franchise and worked well in giving a more in-depth background to the lead character. Taylor-Joy talent as an actor is on full display, which continues to make the character a fan favorite. Hemsworth performance telegraphs that he’s more than capable of antagonist and hopefully takes him down this entertaining path. Parts of the 3rd Act can be seen as a severe hiccup, but it doesn’t cause the movie to s**t the bed.
Nothing more can be said about Miller’s greatness other than that the man is a genius behind the camera. I hope the adage of “A Mad Max Saga” is telling that the director has more in him for another movie and keeps expanding on this world.