Mad Max: Fury Road

Rating: 7/10 (4 December 2016)

Mad Max: Fury Road
An action movie that sets the standard for all that follow, Mad Max: Fury Road sets the pace very fast and doesn't let off the gas pedal at all. Set in post-apocalyptic Australia, Max (Tom Hardy) is a drifter whose being sought after by the tyrannical forces that rule the land. He gets mixed up in the fate of Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a rebel woman looking for her home-land. A group is formed with these two, seemingly, as the leaders among a radical worshipper and a group of female prisoners. The party of misfits travel across the Martian looking terrain, coming across hordes of criminals under the tyrannic ruler, Immortan Joe.
While Mad Max is a really fun and enjoyable experience, it most certainly has its flaws. My first and main problem with this film is the paper-thin plot. While most viewers across the nation are satisfied with the brilliant action sequences and lack of story, I am not so easily pleased. I admit that I am a huge sucker for a great story (who isn't?) so I may have somewhat of a bias on this topic of conversation, but Mad Max falls extremely short of any sort of intricate plot. The film sprinkles bits and pieces of plot points among the influx of action scenes, but leaves way too much time in between plot points to really connect them and form a flowing story line. Story aside, the characters themselves seemed a bit transparent as well. With his name headlining the title of the movie, you would think the camera would shine the spotlight on Tom Hardy This is not the case. Hardy stays extremely quiet throughout the whole film. Now, I understand that Max's character is a big, bad, silent, brooding tough guy but why would you waste Hardy's immense talent on such a role that would have sufficed with almost any other tough guy actor?! It just seems like a ploy to have a popular actor as the lead role in an effort to fill seats in the theaters. With Hardy's performance fairly wasteful, Charlize Theron as Furiosa seemed more like the main character than Max. Furiosa's character is explained in much more detail and she is given somewhat of a backstory. While Max has these visions throughout the movie that are literally never explained! It's simple things like that which make the plot feel very choppy and superficial.
With my plot-rant out of the way, it's time to begin my praise for how magical the visuals, setting, and action sequences are in this stunning film. I'd like to start with the amazing setting in which this journey unfolds. The landscape shots in this film are an absolute treat to the eyes and leave you wanting to explore this barren wasteland in your own killer vehicle. Since I already brought up the vehicles, I must say they are one of my favorite parts of the movie. Every car and truck brought on screen is designed to be an off-road fighting machine! Mad Max focuses more on practical effects than CGI, much unlike other action films these days. This somewhat risky approach absolutely pays off in originality and creativity, making this movie a bright example of what action films should be in the future. As far as the actions sequences go, they are second to none. With stellar editing and proper framework, Mad Max showcases the action exactly how you want to see it. While there are an obscene amount of explosions, (it's an action movie, what do you expect?) they are a bit more tasteful than some of the other movies we see these days *cough* Stahhhp Michael Bay *cough*.
Personally, Mad Max: Fury Road didn't really cut it for me. The lack of development for the plot did not sit well with me at all. With more attention to detail, I think this could have been an amazing film. That being said, I can't say I didn't enjoy the beautiful landscapes, creative costumes and the rugged vehicles. With stellar visuals and unprecedented action sequences, it's no wonder Mad Max was a huge hit and undoubtedly one of the best films in the genre. Mad Max: Fury Road sets the foundation for how action films should be made in the future. If you enjoy action movies or just like seeing stuff blow the hell up, go watch this movie! If you really liked it, get ahold of me and I'll sell you my copy!