As of this month, the long awaited prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road known as Furiosa has finally been released to the world. Starring the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character and Chris Hemsworth, the film has proven to be a strong contender for the Mad Max franchise with notable critical acclaim and a modest opening weekend at the time this is being written. Usually, when prequels or spin offs of popular blockbuster movies come out, their reception is usually underwhelming at best. So how does this film stand as an ambitious inclusion into George Miller's insane saga?
Set roughly 15 to 20 years prior to the events of Fury Road, the film chronicles Furiosa's heartbreaking life from being kidnapped as a child by the forces of warlord Dementus to her seeking revenge as an adult on the warlord for the loss of her mother. In just under 2 and a half hours, this film manages to detail just enough of Furiosa's dangerous upbringing, whether by struggling as a slave under Dementus's control, or becoming a trusted lieutenant under the Citadel's cult leader, Immortan Joe, to yearning for her own home of the Green Place where life prospers amidst the war crimes over water, food, weapons, and gasoline. By keeping the storyline largely straightforward without using unnecessary flashbacks or jumping ahead too soon, Furiosa largely works as a character driven journey thanks largely by the character herself. Anya Taylor-Joy looks and comes off surprisingly similar to Charlize Theron's performance, but Alyla Browne's largely mute performance captures Furiosa's trauma and anger with such a vigorous drive that keeps the first half on its toes.
Speaking of the cast, Chris Hemsworth makes for an effectively ruthless presence as Dementus, complete with a mix of cunning ham and callous malice that makes him and his crew thoroughly loathsome. In addition, returning from Fury Road is the aforementioned Immortan Joe, his war crazy sons Rictus and Scrotus and the Organic Mechanic, all of whom play their own roles with such ferocity without going completely mad, at least in the case of Joe who's mere nuanced presence makes him arguably scarier than his more bombastic sons. Some characters in the film might be hard to truly know who to root for or be against, but the commander of the Citadel's war rig Praetorian Jack is arguably the most sympathetic aid of Furiosa due to his vulnerability deep inside a tough exterior and a humanesque performance courtesy of Tom Burke. Although most people will come in to see Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth work off of each other, and indeed they do, the supporting players are what make the entire feature truly harrowing and engaging to watch from start to finish.
In continuing the insane world-building and top tier stunt & effects work from Fury Road, the filmmakers managed to up the ante while still keeping some scenes more low key in contrast. With much of the crew from Fury Road returning, including composer Tom Holkenborg, costume designer Jenny Beavan, editor Margaret Sixel (Miller's wife), and co-writer Nico Lathouris, the world of Furiosa feels much more expansive to the post apocalyptic Australian wasteland with elaborate set locations, intense car chases, near impossible stunt work, post punk jaggery costumes, and an overall feeling of complete madness. To keep the flow going through so many different plot points, the insane effects and stunt work is saved for the more life threatening sequences, thus allowing the more human moments to play out as long as they need to. Other Mad Max films have done this as well, but this is the longest installment in the franchise, so you really feel the weight being lifted once a quieter scene comes into play. There's much to appreciate from these filmmaking vets nearly 10 years later.
It's often a miracle when a prequel to a beloved feature in an already well established franchise turns out good if not great in the end, and thankfully Furiosa delivers quite well. Thanks in large part to some stellar performances, a concisely multilayered storyline, and phenomenal filmmaking qualities, this film works well as a spinoff without feeling like a nostalgia bait cash grab. If you're a fan of the Mad Max series or you're in the mood for some substantive blockbuster fun, then this is a must watch for the summer movie season. It's incredible how even nearing 80 years old, George Miller still has it in him.
Set roughly 15 to 20 years prior to the events of Fury Road, the film chronicles Furiosa's heartbreaking life from being kidnapped as a child by the forces of warlord Dementus to her seeking revenge as an adult on the warlord for the loss of her mother. In just under 2 and a half hours, this film manages to detail just enough of Furiosa's dangerous upbringing, whether by struggling as a slave under Dementus's control, or becoming a trusted lieutenant under the Citadel's cult leader, Immortan Joe, to yearning for her own home of the Green Place where life prospers amidst the war crimes over water, food, weapons, and gasoline. By keeping the storyline largely straightforward without using unnecessary flashbacks or jumping ahead too soon, Furiosa largely works as a character driven journey thanks largely by the character herself. Anya Taylor-Joy looks and comes off surprisingly similar to Charlize Theron's performance, but Alyla Browne's largely mute performance captures Furiosa's trauma and anger with such a vigorous drive that keeps the first half on its toes.
Speaking of the cast, Chris Hemsworth makes for an effectively ruthless presence as Dementus, complete with a mix of cunning ham and callous malice that makes him and his crew thoroughly loathsome. In addition, returning from Fury Road is the aforementioned Immortan Joe, his war crazy sons Rictus and Scrotus and the Organic Mechanic, all of whom play their own roles with such ferocity without going completely mad, at least in the case of Joe who's mere nuanced presence makes him arguably scarier than his more bombastic sons. Some characters in the film might be hard to truly know who to root for or be against, but the commander of the Citadel's war rig Praetorian Jack is arguably the most sympathetic aid of Furiosa due to his vulnerability deep inside a tough exterior and a humanesque performance courtesy of Tom Burke. Although most people will come in to see Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth work off of each other, and indeed they do, the supporting players are what make the entire feature truly harrowing and engaging to watch from start to finish.
In continuing the insane world-building and top tier stunt & effects work from Fury Road, the filmmakers managed to up the ante while still keeping some scenes more low key in contrast. With much of the crew from Fury Road returning, including composer Tom Holkenborg, costume designer Jenny Beavan, editor Margaret Sixel (Miller's wife), and co-writer Nico Lathouris, the world of Furiosa feels much more expansive to the post apocalyptic Australian wasteland with elaborate set locations, intense car chases, near impossible stunt work, post punk jaggery costumes, and an overall feeling of complete madness. To keep the flow going through so many different plot points, the insane effects and stunt work is saved for the more life threatening sequences, thus allowing the more human moments to play out as long as they need to. Other Mad Max films have done this as well, but this is the longest installment in the franchise, so you really feel the weight being lifted once a quieter scene comes into play. There's much to appreciate from these filmmaking vets nearly 10 years later.
It's often a miracle when a prequel to a beloved feature in an already well established franchise turns out good if not great in the end, and thankfully Furiosa delivers quite well. Thanks in large part to some stellar performances, a concisely multilayered storyline, and phenomenal filmmaking qualities, this film works well as a spinoff without feeling like a nostalgia bait cash grab. If you're a fan of the Mad Max series or you're in the mood for some substantive blockbuster fun, then this is a must watch for the summer movie season. It's incredible how even nearing 80 years old, George Miller still has it in him.
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