Mad Max is a 1,000-watt jolt to the spirits… I loved it!

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As a dedicated cinephile with decades of film-watching under my belt, I can confidently say that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a cinematic triumph that leaves a lasting impression. The fifth installment in George Miller’s iconic Mad Max series, this film doesn’t disappoint.

Verdict: Max power 

In the fifth installment of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise, titled Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (which began in 1979 and launched Mel Gibson into stardom), there’s a drawback: it won’t catapult anyone to fame.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, the two main actors, are well-known figures in the industry. However, Chris Hemsworth delivers an exceptional performance as the mysterious antagonist in this story that surpasses anything he’s done before.

As an obsessed fan, I can’t help but rave about this new film that feels like a brilliant prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road from 2015. With its visually stunning landscapes and deafening action sequences, this movie is a thrilling ride that leaves me on the edge of my seat. The adrenaline pumping through my veins is at a thousand watts, and I simply can’t get enough. I’m hooked!

In natural and easy-to-read language: Taylor-Joy shines brilliantly in her portrayal of the future queen character, while Browne impresses as the young version of Furiosa.

But as ever the real laurels belong to Miller. 

An experienced Australian filmmaker, known for works like “The Witches of Eastwick” and “Babe: Pig in the City,” despite approaching his eightieth birthday, remains firmly at the helm of the gritty, gasoline-soaked dystopian universe he established 45 years ago through the original “Mad Max.”

In the beginning, a voiceover sets the scene by stating that “gangs roam the land like destructive locusts.” It would be unsatisfying if this weren’t the case. For Miller, marauding gangs are as essential as star-crossed lovers are for other storytellers.

Directly and without shame, he draws inspiration from timeless Western films like John Ford’s 1956 creation “The Searchers” to establish the story of defiant Furiosa, who is kidnapped from a tranquil oasis by rough Hell’s Angels gang members as she sabotages their motorcycles.

Over time, as her powerful mother (Charlee Fraser) relentlessly pursued her through the scorching desert, she was captured by the captivating and enigmatic warlord Dementus.

In a barely noticeable transformation, Hemsworth portrays him as a post-apocalyptic version of Charles Manson. He exhibits an alluring charm when desired, yet beneath the surface lies a sociopath.

In her quest to flee from this nightmarish landscape and return to the peaceful Green Place of Many Mothers, Furiosa discovers a brave companion in Jack the Praetorian (Tom Burke). He vows to share his expertise in survival tactics with her. However, there’s an unspoken grudge harbored by Furiosa against Dementus, which he is unaware of.

In spite of this, he is kept busy handling Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and his band of gasoline enthusiasts. Both men are determined to rule over the Wasteland, a name justly given to describe this area.

Last week at Cannes, I had the chance to see Furiosa. This movie left quite an impression – a wild fusion of a Western, a biblical epic, a journey, a sci-fi adventure, and an exaggerated version of Top Gear.

Last week, a more detailed analysis of the film “Furiosa: A Mad Max Story” was published. Currently, you can catch “Furiosa,” along with “Hit Man” and “Garfield,” in theaters.

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2024-07-19 13:55