Mad Max movie review

 

 

(weekly fan art)

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) directed by George Miller presents a character with clear inner-struggles that is constantly revaluating the line between sanity and utter madness. The world portrayed in the movie is post-apocalyptic that is more than a harsh environment, it is a merciless place where cars and vehicles are worshipped and human life has no value. Diseases are everywhere and water is kept private as a currency and a way to control the population. As Brian Tallerico puts it: “As a reflection of more desperate times, Miller has updated the needs of his future world from commodities like oil to pure survival. Max has been reimagined as a fighting, driving machine, a man who “finds his own way,” moving forward in an attempt to outrun his ghosts.” (Tallerico, 2015)

The thing that stands-out immediately in this new production of “Mad Max” are the strong women characters and the complete equality with which they are represented. Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) plays a major role in trying to rescue the “breeders” and fight for their future.

Technically the film is perfectly executed it just makes you wonder, how was the camera operated in such a seamless way, where the flow was beautifully smooth and it creates an incredible feeling of scale and space. As Peter Travers states: “As Furiosa seeks redemption with Max at her side, Miller keeps the images coming at you like a meteor shower, from a ferocious sandstorm to war boys catapulting from vehicle to vehicle and the scalding sight of a dude shredding his guitar as the world burns. Miller downplays green-screens and digital effects. He wants it real.” (Travers, 2015)

What cannot be denied is that “Mad Max” is incredibly entertaining and the sheer realism of it is just fantastic. The attention to detail on every single design decision is amazing, creating a very believable world all the characters occupy.

In conclusion “Mad Max: Fury Road” is a great spin on an already existing franchise an exploitation film that offers so much to the genre. Definitely having a strong leading female characters who assert their independence brings the film to the new century and gives a lot of hope in those long needed changes that need to be brought in cinema today.

Bibliography:

Tallerico, B. (2015). Mad Max: Fury Road Movie Review (2015) | Roger Ebert. [online] Rogerebert.com. Available at: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mad-max-fury-road-2015 [Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].

Travers, P. (2015). Mad Max: Fury Road. [online] Rolling Stone. Available at: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/mad-max-fury-road-20150513?page=2 [Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].