(film review) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

I still have not got around to watching the other Mad Max films from the 80's starring Mel Gibson, so my introduction to the Mad Max franchise was and still is, Mad Max: Fury Road. In my previous review I described Fury Road as amazing, a spectacle, a roller coaster ride from beginning to end with vibrant colours, camera angles and visuals, explosions, insane-looking vehicles, characters and appendages with soo many moving parts, it was truely insane. This film on the other hand is a prequel to Fury Road and is a story about Imperator Furiosa and how she came to be the person we saw in that movie. But having been a film that was released 9 years ago, does Furious recapture the feeling I got watching Fury Road? Is the film any good? Well, yeah...kind of. I'll explain.

As forementioned, Furiosa tells a story of a young Furiosa who lives in a place they called Abundance. She is kidnapped and when her people try to rescue her, she is kidnapped again by a man named Dementus where she spends a lot of time captured, only to end up with Immortan Joe where she plots her revenge on Dementus.

I think the only thing I did not appreciate about this film was the lack of spectacle. In comparison to the previous movie, I felt the film lacked the "roller coaster ride" and many moving parts to it. Maybe I will need to watch Fury Road again, but this film simply felt lacking. The story was not that clear, although made clear with chapter breaks letting the audience know where we are in the movie and Furiosa's life and her mindset, but I think fury road consisted more of a chase across the wasteland which was exhilarating to watch where this one, plays out very different, is slower paced and more methodical. Other than that, I really enjoyed the film as the insane visuals and colours were toned down, but still there. The crazy vehicles, explosions and characters, everything I know to be a Mad Max world, was there and it was great. Dementus riding a chariott being drawn by several motorbikes is absolutely crazy. The War Rig attack was crazy with a lot happening at the same time and furiosa trying to stay alive. All very captivating.

Although Anya Taylor Joy does not appear in the movie for a while into it, she is great as a young woman Furiosa. We see her wittiness and how she is able to think on the fly and manage situations as or before they come. She does a lot without saying a lot and emoting through her eyes. Eyes that have seen things. The younger actor playing Furiosa as a child and teenager (Alyla Browne) did the same and was brilliant. Both brilliant as their portrayal of Furiosa, but Chris Hemsworth as Dementus was Chef's Kiss. Crazy, demented, wild, his character had a few layers to him we got to see but ultimately, he was simply a guy trying to live nd thrive in the wasteland until essentially, things came crashing down. The fact he has a red "cape" channels a little of his character Thor from he MCU through but, Dementus was a smart, cunning and ruthless antagonist that showed (to me anyway) that he had a heart, somewhere inside there, somewhere.

The film dragged a tiny bit and I did find myself falling asleep a little. I am not sure if that was due to tiredness, but as I had previously stated, the hi-octane rump of Fury Road was not there, although still very entertaining to watch, visually, understand, storywise and listen to, musically. The story and angle with a character named Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) was great. His character was simply a decent person trying to get by in the wasteland and was a breath of fresh air in comparison to all the people around him, so the slight "love angle" was not necessary to me. Maybe it was not even that but it felt a little like it, but I guess, it was something to show that no matter what you have seen and have gone through, you can still find love and someone who will care for you? Maybe? No idea, but he was a great character, smart and capable. 

If you liked Fury Road, I will take on board what I have said in regards to the difference in the movie's story and pace, but this is still a good movie. If you have not seen Fury Road, nor a Mad Max movie, maybe you will enjoy dipping your toe into this crazy world. What I will let you know as a slight spoiler, as the movies is ending, the ending credits shows clips of the sequel Mad Max: Fury Road that really goes down a treat. It is tag-on to let you know that Furiosa's story has not finished, almost like an MCU post credits scene.

They call George Miller a mastermind, but from watching this and Fury Road, I understand why but I really wo or some other newly created characters. Go see it.