The film of 2015, and that's saying something.

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2016)

Mad Max: Fury Road as explosive and high-octane of a film that it is - and it really is, ceases to surpass this blood-pumping novelty that draws the masses each time a film drops, with the much-needed structural pretext and development a world as intriguing and terrifying as this inherently demands. It ought to just be called 'Fury Road', because I just cannot see any of Mad Max in this.
The normally hard-as-nails Max lacked the context, dialogue and gritty propensity that was manifested in the lead character in previous titles. He felt as empty, and overly solemn as the wasteland he traversed, and left a characteristic power-vacuum that was taken up only by the assertiveness of Furiosa, something that eviscerated the burning impetus that ultimately once defined this series; the brutal skin-of-the-teeth fight for survival - something this films' lethargic, near vegetative Max could never realistically confront.
The over-reliance on flame-throwing guitars; as cool as they are, feels like a comedic misplacement in a film that is allegedly post- apocalyptic. It seems too kid-friendly, with marketability that is appallingly and obviously aimed to accommodate the widest possible audience without completely eliminating the essence of the series; that unfortunately means a big cut-down on the lore and back story; components that are farcically underestimated in modern Hollywood film sequels and remakes, and dare I say even most new titles? The new mentality is that which will blow the box office to smithereens, forget originality.
Alas, the film does not suffer utter disintegration, I'll cede that the art style feels distinctively Mad Max, the cars, locations, sheep skulls, and so on, it is admittedly visually astounding. The chase scenes masterfully choreographed, the deaths gloriously vicious... the only pressing question left to be asked is; where is Mad Max himself?
One day he may return.
8.1/10