MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

(2015) 120 Minutes, Rated R

A.C.'s Review:  Mad Max returns to theater’s for the first time in over 30 years…with the director of the original film no less but controversial Mel Gibson is nowhere to be seen. Stepping into the shoes of the Road Warrior is actor Tom Hardy. He is joined by Charlize Theron playing an equally tough warrior named Furiosa.

From a technical standpoint this film would have to be considered a masterpiece. Outside of a CGI dust storm/tornado sequence it appears that his film was done with practical real world effects. I cannot even begin to fathom how much work must have gone into putting these action scenes on film. Nearly the entire running time of the film is one long chase/and battles as Max and Furiosa seek to spirit away the lovely and comely wives/breeding stock of the hideous ruler of land known as Imortann Joe who holds sway over an apocalyptic landscape from his fortress  The Citadel. Joe controls the only source of water and thus the people.

The realistic nature of the action pretty much trumps a lot of the CGI action (most notably the battle in the snow during the opening) of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON. The story is thin though as the above description of the escape from the Citadel is pretty much the content of the entire film. There are a few breaks in the frenetic action but all in all its pretty nonstop.

Tom Hardy  easily replaces Gibson but his fans may be disappointed. Hardy is not given much to do for the first quarter of the movie as he is a helpless prisoner of Immortan Joe and his ”War Boys” with a mask covering most his face he is virtually mute throughout.

The biggest strike against the movie is that there are a ton of characters but outside of Max, Furiosa and Joe I don’t think we get any of their names. I looked up the cast list on the internet and they all have pretty fanciful names but the movie doesn’t slow down to get to know who these people are and their relationships to one and the other.

Best scene:  Anything involving the “Biker Grannies” they were great characters (with no distinguishable names alas)

A.C.’s rating:  Matinee

Bean's Review: Quite the road race escape.  The action was just about non-stop.  The action sequences kept the movie from being unwatchable, as I did not like the story line.  The characters are too bizarre and as such it is difficult to relate to them.  The constant killing and bloodiness was over the top and the blood giving and milking concepts were just unpleasant.  Most of the characters are down-right “yucky”.

As opposed to being centered on Max, played by Tom Hardy, the movie seemed to be about Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron.  I would have liked to see development of the Max character and also less time with him wearing the stupid face mask.

Best scene:  Max telling Imperator that she needs to accept and deal with the past, or she will go crazy

Bean’s rating:  DVD – I would not see this movie again.

Mike's Review: After all the hype and and waiting...This Mad Max lives up to the "Car"nage it created.  I agree with A.C. and Beans reviews on the point that this movie needed more character development and more of a story line then just going after some "escaped breeders". But having said that I think this movie was more about the cars, car chases and all of the over the top destruction and "road rage" that you can think of.  

I saw this movie more along the lines of Crank with Jason Statham.  A high octane over the top demolition derby with everything throw in and at you.   Don't go to see this movie thinking its going to win an Oscar for the plot or acting.  See this movie just to see stuff destroyed and blown up.

Best Scene: There were some incredible live action stunts and the vehicles were so over the top it was insane.  I think I even saw a "ripsaw" tank dressed up with a car body

Mike's Rating: Worth the price of the ticket.