Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

George Miller took a nine-year hiatus after Fury Road dabbling in a less exciting romantic fantasy, before returning to deliver one of the best action films in recent years. Furiosa is an absolute blast, albeit different from its predecessor. It tells the epic tale of Furiosa’s relentless quest for revenge in one of the most brutal cinematic worlds ever created. The film oscillates between sheer brutality and absurdity, keeping the audience entertained despite the mind-boggling moments that seem to defy imagination. At times, it felt like watching a Tarantino flick on steroids, especially during the meticulously planned revenge in the second half. Chris Hemsworth shines in his role, clearly having a blast. Anya Taylor-Joy and her younger counterpart Alyla Browne are also fantastic, but it was Tom Burke who unexpectedly stood out to me in this harsh world. Each actor contributes to a story that is gritty, thrilling, and occasionally illogical, yet not as shocking as Fury Road. I have a feeling this will be one of the standout films of 2024. (2024-06-04)

A desert adventure for big boys and fiery girls. While the snippets from Fury Road during the closing credits recalled the tank scene from The Last Crusade, what came before was Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, missing only Bravestone in a buggy and a flock of aggressive ostriches. But I won’t complain about the special effects, given how charmingly frantic, energetic, rule-free, and playful the details were in the costumes, masks, and auto-moto park (like the cut-outs in Immortan Joe's advisor’s suit, used to stimulate his nipples, or the extension of Tom Burke's real scar above his lip). The finale, where Dementus Hur, without his team but still with a nose covering half of New South Wales, was chatting with his Nemesis, only underscored George Miller's creed that dialogue slows down a film. “Ladies and gentlemen! Start your engines!” (2024-07-26)

The story of Furiosa and her anticipated revenge, with more looks into the Citadel, is dramaturgically richer than the endless chase in Fury Road. Despite that, it’s not emotional even in the cruellest scenes and hints of feelings. And mainly it doesn’t have Tom Hardy. However, the character of Furiosa, who since childhood has been shaped by violence, inhumanity and filth, is a strong enough draw, the film’s dynamics are incredible from the opening scene and, together with the visuals and the details contained in them, those insane masks and costumes are absolutely amazing. A filmmaking highlight of scenography and creation of an original fantastical world. But I had trouble fully believing Chris Hemsworth as the demented villain. (2024-06-05)

After nine years, the spin-off prequel to the fourth installment of the established franchise from a nearly 80-year-old geezer... If it weren't for the Mad Max franchise and the old-timer George Miller, one would have expected a mess. But that series is Mad Max and that old man is the visionary Miller, or once again, a peculiar, lavish, audio-visually polished spectacle, brimming with ideas in literally every scene. My only criticism is that the running time is too (especially in one particular chapter). It teeters on the edge of "more of the same" vs. "more room for characters and world building but not more of the same". Which isn't necessarily a criticism, but a more pronounced lean to one side might not be out of place. Either way, they are just minor details. (2024-05-23)

An excellent flashback to Fury Road. It lacks Max Rockatansky, it lacks the frenetic pace, but the story is more substantial. Furiosa explains the laws of the imagined world. George Miller seems to realize that he skipped over a lot of things and presented them as fact without showing them. He describes a fragile symbiosis that is disrupted by Chris Hemsworth's Dementus, one of the best creations of his career. If it's true that the previous Mad Max was mostly about Furiosa then Furiosa is mostly about the foxy Dementus. He's the one who shows the world turning into an oil-soaked desert. Anya Taylor-Joy is good, but the little girl who plays her when she was young is even better. Weaker music and slightly worse visual effects. Still, very good. (2024-05-24)