Five-Word Review: Jaw-dropping, Perfect Action, Creative, Different

Rating: 9/10 (13 March 2016)

Director George Miller picks up his 30-year dormant trilogy for a fourth instalment which replaces Mel Gibson with Legend star Tom Hardy as 'Mad' Max Rockatansky. Co-starring are Charlize Theron (Monster) and Nicholas Hoult (Kill Your Friends).
If you, like me, have never seen any other Mad Max films, the basic idea is that, in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, fuel and water are scarce commodities and humanity has regressed to a tribal, dangerous race desperate to survive. As Fury Road begins, hideously scarred dictator Immortan Joe is ruling the desolate populace with an iron fist and cruelly controlling their water access, indoctrinating men to become cannon fodder known as 'War Boys' and stealing healthy young women as 'breeders'. When Furiosa, an 'Imperator', saves 5 of these women, (called Toast the Knowledgeable, The Splendid Angharad, Cheedo the Fragile, Capable, and The Dag, these are some of the most normal names in the piece.) she attracts the full force of Joe's war crew, including a prisoner named Max. This plot setup all happens within 10-15 minutes, and from there the action begins, continues, continues, and continues, and never lets up. It is, in effect, a gargantuan car chase with a few short act-breaks in between. And it's the best goddamn car chase I've ever seen.
Calling Fury Road mad is like calling Lord of the Rings epic fantasy. Well, yes, it is, but it's also basically the definition of the word. It's been in development for many a year, and it shows: the intricacy of every aspect of this film is mind-blowing. With 6 deserved Oscars including editing, costume design, and production design, the look of the film is unique and spectacular. Instantly iconic, characters will be cosplayed for years to come, and images such as Max with the muzzle, Furiosa's shaved pate, Nux's emaciated visage, and Immortan Joe's classic appearance will not be forgotten soon. The effects, largely practical and stunt-based, with appropriate and non-distracting CGI, are top-notch and, despite the Academy's decision, are simply better than those of Ex Machina. The wasteland is flawlessly depicted as harsh, ruthless, and an environment which demands that only the best survive. Acting? Top-notch. It says a lot about Theron's performance that she overshadows the title character, but as effectively the main character, she carries both her in-film cargo and the actual film itself, conveying her pain and desperation expertly, and she was definitely passed up for Best Actress by many awards. Not that Hardy is bad - he is truly mad, with few lines, yet that makes them better, with his sub-woofer voice and unexpected comedy ("first they take my blood, now they take my car!") in addition to increasing his serious survivor's instinct. And speaking of quotes, those from Fury Road are truly magnificent. Predictably mad, yet often wonderfully, darkly funny, there are far too many to list. They're certainly not MEDIOCRE. But the best part of the film is undoubtedly the action. This is quite possibly the greatest action film of all time, with octane going through the roof and edges of seats sat on more often than not. A visual feast for the eyes, ears and general senses, with an unexpectedly progressive feeling that the new Ghostbusters could only dream of: female characters are represented properly and fairly, without making it the sole focus. You really can't rave about it enough.
I feel there's very little bad to be said about this film, though due to the incredibly high pace the slower moments make the pacing seem slightly off, though only trivially. And while it is marvellously quotable, the dialogue amongst the brides is less inspired. There's not a great deal of character development, either. However, these are small complaints in an otherwise flawless masterpiece, which Mad Max: Fury Road is. Also, shout-out to musician iOTA as 'The Doof Warrior', my new favourite character, who redefines what it means to be metal, playing his awe-inspiring flaming guitar through thick and thin and leading Joe's war charge along with the drums of war, adding to a fabulous, pulsing soundtrack. Overall, it's a 94/100.