A lesson in action movie making

Rating: 10/10 (14 May 2015)

Max swings in front of the camera, holding for dear life to a pole, while vehicles that would even look out of place at a monster truck derby blow up behind him, like an orgasm after one of the many action sequences that make this movie. The scene reminded me of the one with the ladders and trains in The Lone Ranger, another recent film to get action right.
However, unlike LR, Mad Max Fury Road does just what its title promises : it races straight on, leaves you next to no time to breathe or look at your watch. In a way, the movie made me think of an opera. Grandiose almost to the verge of ridicule, but epic enough to sweep you along for the ride. Characterisation and plot are there and something rare happens, the story actually continues to unfold as the action goes pedal to the metal, instead of taking a break while you look at all the beautiful explosions. What about the action? you ask. Well, forget your shaky cams and frantic editing to make up for the lack of actual skill involved. The set pieces are fast and all over the place, but you never once wonder where you are, what's happening, and where the protagonists are in all this mess. After such a magnificent love letter to action thrillers, one can only hope some of them action-makers take a notepad with them when they go watch this one.