'Mad Max: Fury Road'

In cinemas now!

I’m going to cut straight to it - rather in a similar fashion to George Miller’s new epic. You know those brilliant action films that build and build and build to that one epic climax? Well 'Mad Max: Fury Road' is a two hour long epic climax, only once or twice slowing down to stop for gas. And yes, a literal metaphor there.

To give a little context before I rant and rave, we follow the titular Max (Tom Hardy) in a dystopian wasteland world, where humanity is no more and it’s inhabitants fight for the necessities of life. Everybody in this brilliantly crafted world is either mindlessly mad, a sociopathic incestuous warlord, missing limbs, or great at killing. Max crosses paths with Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who definitely ticks at least two of those boxes, and they team up to fight everyone who ticks the former two boxes.

I could have sworn I’d, as one usually would, entered a regular, run-of-the-mill cinema to watch this film. But before long I realised, no, I’m rather happily sat inside the violently motoring jet engine of an aeroplane, surrounded by every drum kit on the planet being relentlessly smashed to bits. On fire. And of course I mean that in the best way possible. It was immersive. The opening sequence was incredible - completely unforgettable - with Tom Hardy’s earthy and jagged voice supporting in-at-the-deep-end insane visuals, and a hugely imaginative chase scene, just to warm you up. That’s one thing I feel needs to be reiterated somewhat; the imagination behind every frame of this film.

For years, with exception to some more recent triumphs such as The Raid, most action films have been so formulaic, predictable, and prosaic, it’s brilliant to have a film so artfully crafted and exciting as this released. From the previous Mad Max films, we all know that it’s going to be absolute chaos from the off, but there are points in this movie that top expectation. Like seeing Tom Hardy fight a rabid-looking man, who’s madly playing a double-necked electric guitar, that also doubles up as a flamethrower, on top of a speeding war machine. For example. I didn’t want it to end. But for others like me, we have sequels to anticipate. Oh and I will anticipate. I have no idea how they’re going to keep building and bettering themselves, but I’m betting that they will.

Just to rein it in a little, I need to mention how brilliant the music is throughout. The now reliable and popular Junkie XL helps to provide an immensely epic - that word again - score. And a special hats off to the vast stunt, pyrotechnic, and art teams behind this film. I stayed to watch the credits and my face was constantly illuminated white by the seemingly never-ending list of names devoted to those departments. I loved the actors in this film but the stunt workers really shine through. The only thing I would have liked a little more of is gore. But that’s just a personal preference and I’m not moaning because of the gore that there was, it was great and vile and juicy.

Go and see this film. It’s absolute chaos. One of the best, raucous, and erratic action films I’ve ever seen. It’s everything your wild subconscious brain would want this film to be, and masses, tonnes, litres more.

Review by Peter Imms.

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