Mad Max: Fury Road

Having never seen a Mad Max film before, the news of a sequel for the 21st century didn't exactly grab my attention. With other post apocalyptic films such as the dismal Doomsday and better films such as The Road, I Am Legend and The Book of Eli, I found it to be an interesting genre but one that can fall into cliche and become a little too routine. News then came that Mad Max: Fury Road was undergoing reshoots and being upgraded to 3D that delayed its release, which is rarely a good sign.

But once released I was quickly proven wrong with it becoming a fan favourite with the public and critics alike, and has now been nominated for 10 Oscars. Following the high praise, it seemed about time I finally saw this and see what Mad Max is all about.

The premise is a simple chase film where Max escapes captivity and goes on the run with an unlikely companion in the shape of Imperator Furiosa and her mysterious cargo. In the hands of another director the simplicity could have stopped the film dead but George Miller delivers one of the best action films this century. In a time when the genre is being watered down by naff 12a sequels and straight-to-DVD/on-demand dingy action films, Miller has created something refreshingly different.

Where I expected gratuitous violence and exhaustingly mundane chase sequences, Fury Road is smart in its variety and a lot of that comes down to the characters. The dialogue is surprisingly minimal, particularly from its lead, but it just works. While I would have liked to have seen more of Tom Hardy's portrayal as Max, Miller's restraint works to the film's advantage. About A Boy's Nicholas Hoult and Hugh Keays-Byrne both standout and deliver top-notch performances but the real star is Furiosa herself, played by Charlize Theron. While fans have complained at the lack of recognition by the various awards, Furiosa is certainly one of the most interesting characters but let's not do a Wolverine and ruin it with a spin-off.

Where I had found other apocalyptic films to be drab, Miller and cinematographer John Seale deliberately went for a strong visual style and it looks great. The added use of practical effects with CGI enhancements are also a treat and keep the action grounded.

If I was to fault the film, it would only be for the additional 3D elements. I have only seen this in 2D and unless 3D really takes over, the moments where something pops out at the screen doesn't always work in the spirit of the rest of the film. That said it is only a minor blip in an otherwise totally enjoyable experience.

Mad Max: Fury Road has been regarded by many as one of the best films of 2015, and while I haven't seen enough from last year to truly support that, it is a fantastic film and one of the best in the action genre. Now I think it's finally time I checked out the original Mel Gibson series.