Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

 Lady and Gentlemans, you want to get historic on the Fury Road?! Here your chance! George Miller is back at it with a new Mad Max movie, which don't continue the tale of Max Rockatansky, but instead tell us the tale of Fury Road's leading lady, Imperator Furiosa! What 'ya think of it, kitty?

And don't ya make me talk like that again.

Sorry, Baxter, it was just for a gag. Now, witness me!!! ... talk about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

We find the future Imperator (Alyla Browne) at the Green Place, one of post-apocalyptic Australia's last remaining fertile lands. She's stumbles upon, and is taken prisoner by, an errant biker gang. They're part of the larger Biker Horde of Dementus the ever-changing epithet (Chris Hemsworth). Dementus decides to raise Furiosa as his daughter/guide to the Green Place; he even kills Furiosa's actual mother Mary (Charlee Fraser). Furiosa is left with nothing but the desire for vengeance and home.

The Biker Horde takes a wrong turn and ends up at the Citadel of Fury Road's Big Bad Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). Dementus trades Furiosa and his aptly named Organic Mechanic (Angus Sampson) to Joe in exchange for control of the Immortan's refinery of Gastown. Furiosa (now Anya Taylor-Joy) eventually grows up to be one of Joe's trusted soldiers. She even falls for Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), the leader of Joe's supply-runners, who decides to help her escape. But Joe needs them to depose Dementus over at Gastown. Furiosa may finally have her revenge, but it won't be easy.

It rarely wastes any of its 148-minutes as it unfolds its motorized epic, which is told in five chapters with titles like "The Pole of Inaccessibility" and "Beyond Vengeance." You won't be underwhelmed by its explanations for aspects of Fury Road's status-quo. You'll care for Furiosa and Jack's relationship even though he's a non-entity in Fury Road. A "History Man" (George Shevtsov) gives us some compelling, yet sparse, narration. It even finds time for a quick cameo by Mad Max himself (Jacob Tomuri, Tom Hardy's stuntman for Fury Road). Let's not forget the car chases, for which there are plenty, but let's save them for the technicals.

But first, the villains. Hemsworth is clearly having a ball playing Dementus as a boisterous tyrant wannabe. He wants to take over the wasteland, but he grovels at Immortan Joe's feet. He maybe a joke of a ruler, but he's exceptionally cruel when he asserts his authority. His grandstanding is entertaining, and it helps that he has some decency underneath it all. Immortan Joe's rational villainy is surprisingly charismatic, especially when it's contrasted with the raging tyrant introduced in Fury Road. But you'll be reminded who he is long before you gravitate towards him. The villains are a wild bunch of freaks and mutants designed once again by makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt. A few highlights include Dementus's henchmen Mr. Norton (Elsa Pataky) & Rizzdale Pell (also Hulme), along with Immortan Joe's returning goons like the War Boys and the People Eater (John Howard). 

Remember Furiosa. Browne & Taylor-Joy's performances as Furiosa are so compelling that you may not notice how sparse their dialogue is. Their body language is just that good. Taylor-Joy, in particular, has around thirty lines of dialogue. Browne's sparser dialogue makes her first line to Dementus all the more powerful. Both actresses' performances blend together so seamlessly you might not recognize the moment Taylor-Joy takes over. But when she does, you'll easily recognize the modern heroine Charlize Theron originated so well.

In addition to Vanderwalt, Miller brings back several of his technical road warriors. These include Oscar-winners Colin Gibson (production designer), wife Margaret Sixel (editor, now joined by Eliot Knapman), Ben Osmo (sound mixer) and Jenny Beavan (costume designer). They, along with the new cinematographer, Simon Duggan and returning composer Tom Holkenborg, deliver more of the shiny and chrome action Fury Road popularized. That means plenty of massive car chases with spectacularly designed monster trucks and cars. On a smaller scale, having Hulme play both his parts when both villain factions negotiate, is an impressive feat. The CGI effects were mostly good, though a few bits of dodgy compositing nearly took me out of the film a few times. Other than that, this is a film that looks great and sounds great.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga's dramatic storyline is just as interesting as its massive car chases. It ends a little before Fury Road's story starts, but you'll understand it all even if you haven't seen its famous predecessor. It's a spectacular action film even if it may not be as madcap as its predecessor. See it on the biggest screen you can find, even if it's at home a few months from now. Either way, you'll have a lovely day. That's it for now.

To Valhalla?