SILVER TONGUED SILVER SCREEN: MAD MAX ~ FURY ROAD

Best damn movie of the year. Done.

I suppose I should back-up that statement with a little more... but what else do you need to know? Already this year we've had a few highly anticipated sequels with the likes of FURIOUS 7 and AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and with more to follow (JURASSIC WORLD and STAR WARS 7). Sometimes the hype can be a detriment to these movies. Avengers I feel shot itself in the leg somewhat by Marvel Studios releasing to the world their plans for PHASE 3. As a result Ultron felt more like a necessary stepping stone to get where we need to go and not an event itself (which is actually in keeping with the comic book event of the same name. The Age of Ultron comic was immensely disappointing FYI).

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD has the great benefit of having little hype in comparison and rather low expectations. Some of the best movies are total surprises. Films you never thought would be good or films that seemingly came out of nowhere. The Mad Max franchise has been dead for 30 years. THIRTY YEARS!! And with Mel Gibson's growing popularity... in being unpopular, the likelihood of another film in the series seemed slim and possibly just a bad idea altogether. Add to that director George Miller's last several films were either kids movies like HAPPY FEET and BABE: PIG IN THE CITY  or dramas like LORENZO'S OIL and he hasn't directed an action film since 1985. All this doesn't exactly give one a lot of hope.

Holy shit, this movie is AMAZING! George Miller, I salute you for giving us one of the most creative action films since CRANK and one of the most visually enthralling films I've ever seen. And that's saying a ton! The movie is set in a desert wasteland... lots of dirt and more dirt and dirt colored sand and more dirt. And yet this film beats the pants off of all those CGI heavy visual spectacles with no soul and no substance. The action in this movie is either insane physical feats you've never or seldom seen or reminiscent of an era of filmmaking long thought dead.

The movie is an even 2 hours long. Once it starts it doesn't stop. There's maybe two moments in the film where things even vaguely slowdown. At moments the film is sped up giving it a rushed adrenaline fueled feel. It's noticeable, but not distracting, instead it adds to the tension. Having said that, the camera work in this movie is nigh incredible! The camera knows when to zoom in and when to take in the full scope of the action. It moves fast, but not jerky or erratic to where you can't tell what's going on. It's the perfect balance of fast camera motion without losing the audience (for a bad example of this watch THE BOURNE SUPREMACY). Many movies have tried this approach and finally one film has perfected it.

The acting and character designs are a feast for the eyes. The movie is SPOILER ALERT post apocalyptic. The remaining human beings have degenerated into tribal factions. Immortan Joe and his Warboys  all have a distinct skeleton appearance (through makeup and costume) and a wild and furious disposition. These dudes are crazy! Charlize Theron's character Imperator Furiosa is practically bald, one armed, and half her head painted in black grease. Miss Theron's acting is incredible, reaching an emotional level that pulls you in and makes you feel all the more for these people. Her eyes alone are stunning. She does an exceptional job and so does everyone else in the film.

The vehicles in this movie are characters all their own too, from Max's classic Interceptor to Furiosa's War Rig to Immortal Joe's monster truck and even Nux's little dune buggy. They aren't just cars and trucks, they're Frankensteined vehicles loaded to the teeth and ready for war! In many ways they're extensions of the characters themselves. The vehicles either represent the character's own physicality or are a physical manifestation of their spirits. The different tribes of this desert wasteland all have distinct looks for their vehicles that are totally alien from one another. These vehicles alone are a wonder to behold. And I haven't even told you about the best one, the car that makes this movie absolutely metal!

Max. I'm a fan of the original trilogy. THE ROAD WARRIOR is one of my top ten films of all time (there's another one for those keeping track ;). Personally I would've preferred seeing Mel Gibson in the role once again or at least his character passing the torch and moniker to another character. As it is Tom Hardy channels Gibson's essence and character from those earlier films, the Road Warrior in particular. The way he delivers his lines (what few he actually has) and his mannerisms are spot on exact to Mel's performance in The Road Warrior. I miss Mel and wish he had been a part of this film, but I'm pleased with Mr. Hardy's performance.

That's brings me to my last point. The Road Warrior is the high point of the original trilogy, one of the finest action movies of all time. Fury Road learns from the past and utilizes many of the set pieces from Road Warrior. It strives to turn the final twelve minutes of Road Warrior into a full movie all its own and does it wonderfully. That being said, this movie is not a remake by any means. It is a full on sequel, another chapter in the life of Max. I much prefer another chapter than a remake. Good call, Mr. Miller and bravo.

All that being said, this movie isn't for everyone. It's fairly niche in its subject matter, fanbase, and presentation, but perhaps this film will be the gateway for many others to fall in love with these kinds of movies, expanding the fanbase. Let's also not forget how amazingly metal this film is. If you're not a fan of this type of fair, after watching it you will be.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 3 out of 10