Birthed in 1979 with the inaugural picture, the Mad Max franchise has grown to become a cinematic achievement adored by many. Following the groundbreaking release of Mad Max: Fury Road, the series has returned once more with a prequel story on an epic scale. Directed by George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is another jaw-dropping trip to the wasteland. Some technical faults aside, this brilliant film delivers exceptional worldbuilding, wonderful character development and unforgettable action sequences.
Kidnapped from her home, a young Furiosa embarks on an action-filled odyssey of violence and revenge. The title character is played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne. She is joined by Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke and Lachy Hulme.
Due to its nature as a prequel, it’s quite natural to compare Furiosa to Fury Road. Despite this new release being less of an action film and more of an adventure story, one can’t help but put both against each other. Mad Max: Fury Road is not only the greatest action movie of all time, it’s an all-time classic for any genre. Furiosa is not at that level but it’s almost incomparable when you consider that it is a different kind of narrative that is notable in its own right.
Getting the primary negative out of the way, Furiosa features many moments of poor CGI usage. For a film of this calibre, it’s unfortunate how much of it looks so “fake”. With this in mind, the movie is still a visual masterpiece due to its gorgeously twisted imagery and intricate character/costume designs.
Visiting this harsh world is once again a wonderful experience thanks to the lore that George Miller has crafted. Every character, even those who are minor, is given either memorable lines of dialogue or an interesting item of clothing that adds an extra layer of believability to the story being told. Although the environment being depicted is harsh, it is a joy to watch these deformed individuals make their way through the barren desert.
Taking over the role of Furiosa from Charlize Theron, Anya Taylor Joy has been perfectly cast to portray a younger version of the character. Her voice and physicality are a perfect match to Charlize’s, honouring the performance that came before. However, through some acting and visual choices, she has added some new elements to her character, ensuring that she made it her own.
Alongside her, Tom Burke portrays Praetorian Jack. Quite surprisingly, he has established another iconic individual in the franchise. A tough road warrior, his character steals most of the scenes that he is in. Finally, when it comes to the film’s many wild personalities, we would be remiss not to highlight the villain played by Chris Hemsworth. Simply put, Dementus is destined to become a classic bad guy in the world of cinema. Goofy, terrifying and arrogant all at once, Hemsworth has delivered a character that despite being exceedingly evil, is an absolute joy to witness.
Even though this is not necessarily an action film, there are still many moments of vehicle-fueled spectacle. Once you get past the CGI issues discussed previously, you can’t help but be fully immersed in these operatic sequences of well-choreographed combat. The truth is, nobody else can depict action as remarkably as George Miller.
It may not be as good as Mad Max: Fury Road but Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga tells a story that stands on its own while still tying itself neatly to the larger world of Mad Max. While its CGI is certainly subpar, this is a film that sticks in your mind due to its immense quality in every other area.