Fury is destined to become a new classic.

Rating: 8/10 (22 October 2014)

Fury is the kind of film that actually gets richer ever time you view it. I've seen it twice now and enjoyed it even more the second time. As much as I loved Saving Private Ryan, I think I may grow to love Fury more. The details in this film are the best I have ever seen in a World War 2 movie. Everything looked very "lived in", as if the gear, vehicles and uniforms had been in use for years. I also enjoyed the crew and the occasional banter they shared. The movie was 2:14 but it seemed like 90 minutes. I actually wish it 30 minutes longer, which is extremely rare for me.
The finale that some viewers seem to take issue with is the classic "defending the Alamo" scenario. Movies like The Wild Bunch, Dirty Dozen, Saving Private Ryan and 300 all feature characters facing insurmountable odds and making a decision to deal as much damage as possible before going down. The crew of Fury actually takes out half of the threat before the Germans can even figure out what's going on. Add to that soldier fatigue, smoke, confusion, mud, darkness and chaos and I don't find the damage they inflict in the finale as unbelievable as some. The last battle was rather beautiful in many ways as the tracers and explosions lit up the sky while enemy soldiers were seen only in silhouette.
The tank (Fury) itself actually became a character in the film since it's the shell that protects the crew we're riding with (in a way it's protecting the audience as well since we're also inside of Fury). I think a lot of viewers don't appreciate how well David Ayer shot those interior scenes. For the first time (yes, I've seen The Beast) I actually felt like I was inside of a tank watching the crew work together as a well-oiled machine. You could almost smell the stench of sweat, fuel, powder and oil in the belly of Fury.
Unlike a lot if the disposable action and superhero films that Hollywood vomits out year after year, Fury is the kind of movie that stays with the viewer and demands repeated viewings. A true classic that is sure to be watched for generations to come. It's also my favorite movie of 2014 (Guardians Of The Galaxy drops to #2).