“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (also known as simply “Furiosa”) is a prequel to the long-running “Mad Max” franchise. Marking the fifth overall movie to date, director George Miller returns to the helm to focus on the breakout character of 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
The film acts as an origin story for the title character, following her from being taken from her home as a young child to rising to the rank of Imperator as an adult (Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Witch”). Throughout the film’s 148-minute duration, she clashes with all manner of adversaries in the wasteland, the most notable being the wandering despot Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, “Thor” series). The result builds upon the acclaim of previous installments and ranks among the most compelling.
The combined skill of two editors and acclaimed cinematographer Simon Duggar builds on the familiar blend of vehicular chaos that remains a franchise staple. Though some digital effects are used for compositing and touch-ups, Miller puts the primary focus on location shoots and practical special effects to give multiple layers of real filmmaking spectacle.
Real people, real cars and real thrills are the driving forces of the movie. Composer/disc jockey Tom “Junkie XL” Holkenborg returns to make a musical score that helps pump the adrenaline as much as a fuel run to Gas Town.
While you will definitely get more out of “Furiosa” as a fan of the previous installments, the movie is able to work as a standalone story. By focusing on the breakout character of the previous film, Miller has crafted what is easily the best “Mad Max” installment since the classic “The Road Warrior.”
Whether or not you’re a longtime fan or this is your first trip to the Bullet Farm, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a highly-recommended masterwork of maximum madness.
At a glance:
Written and Directed by George Miller (based on characters created by George Miller)
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Lachy Hume, George Shetvsov and Angus Sampson
Rating: R
My Rating: *****/5
