Unconventional and Genuinely Insane

Rating: 9/10 (25 May 2015)

The Action genre has always been mixed, ranging from trashy profit- searching rubbish to thrilling, adrenaline fuelling epics (see Terminator 2 and Aliens).
Mad Max: Fury Road thankfully fits into the latter category, but it is fundamentally and wonderfully different. Out goes the usual CGI, explained back story and lack of enough good characters, and in comes a truly insane thrill ride, that somehow manages to make 2 hours of following a truck one of the most enjoyable things to watch in recent times.
Let's go over the one thing that I disliked about this film (and honestly, dislike is a fairly strong word in this case): The exposition. Or rather, lack of it. The extreme pace of the film results in details seemingly whistling by, meaning it can leave you wondering whats going on. But then again, the actual story foundations for the film are so small that really, it doesn't matter that everything isn't explained. So long as we know the names of the characters and where they're heading to next, nothing else really matters.
What it chooses to focus on is an excellent cast, lovely cinematography and wondrous, wondrous carnage. Practical effects take the lead role here, with amazing vehicles, well timed explosions and constant tension and thrill. The benefits of this are best seen with the big crashes and the huge fuel tanker explosion towards the end of the film; it ends up looking stunning. The Polecats really make the most of this, adding an extra layer of danger while cementing the realism that the film thrives off of.
I also particularly loved the sheer attention to detail; every car is different and exceptionally well designed. Sound work is equally amazing, with the soundtrack being entwined with vast array of engine noises, explosions and, in the case of the Doof Wagon (which I'm now calling one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a movie, ever), live rock music.
Performances from the cast are excellent. Tom Hardy's Max is very much the usual gritty, rock solid hero that Gibson portrayed all those years ago. Charlize Theron's Furiosa (isn't that just the best name you've ever heard?) really stands out for me, balancing out Hardy's character with a strong and bold performance. And for once, it's a female action hero who hasn't been raised or taught by other men - she's a real self empowered super lady. Nicholas Hoult's character is also a personal favorite, while the Brides and the Many Mothers created an ensemble of female characters that don't get wasted like they so often do in other action flicks. Everyone gives an enthusiastic performance, and it only adds to the quality of them film.
There's plenty more to praise here, but I'll highlight some of my personal favorite aspects from the film: The make-up and costume departments did an incredible job here, giving us a massive range of extras that really diversify the entire film. There are plenty of great names and phrases used in the film, including "Bloodbag", "Immortan Joe", "The Organic Mechanic" and "The Bullet Farmer". The film seemed to obey the laws of physics for the most part, and was especially good at ridding any infinite-ammo guns or strangely enough, unnecessary explosions.
In conclusion, I can't say anything that is inherently negative about Fury Road. It's fresh, bold and so well made that you can't help but be enthralled by its insanity. On the face of it, it's nothing more than a overly long car chase, and yet it isn't. It adds just enough complexity right where it's needed - the characters, vehicles and action. Combined with the great array of characters, sheer attention to detail and wonderful cinematography, it's actually unusually diverse, and its humane undertones only help to differ it from normal action films. And in that respect, it's one of the best films in recent history.