Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the perfect example of a movie that should've been box office. On paper when you look at who made it aka George Miller this movie should've been box office. This is the type of movie that could've broken records and deserved a better response. Looking on the surface this movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth. They are two of the most sought-after actors in the business right now. Sure Thor: Love & Thunder was mid but Anya low-key is in everything. So you'd think people would have been coming out in droves to see this movie? Then you combine those names with the out-of-this-world visuals. This movie's cinematography and action scenes were on point. This movie should have been a bonified hit and in this review, I'm going to express why.
Now that we are all on the same page let me explain why this movie was better than I expected. If I’m being honest after watching the trailer for this movie, Furiosa looked like a tall task to make. One reason was that the crisp levels were off the charts. I mean this movie looks phenomenal. From the colors to the explosions and everything that comes with the world of Mad Max and The Wasteland. This movie was great to look at.
The biggest question I had going into the movie was if the story was going to match up with the visuals. Anybody could look at this movie and see that it looks fire but outside of that, the question remains. Am I going to care about what happening? The short answer is yes. This movie not only is entertaining but also has a compelling story. Not necessarily because it’s a one-of-a-kind drama or anything like that. It is because this movie is not only a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road but is also a part of a bigger world. A bigger story than just this one movie. It spans across time and has the foundational pieces to keep you invested from start to finish.
The pacing for this movie felt pretty long at certain parts. One of the reasons was that the thrill of this being a prequel kind of steals away some of the magic of the moment. This movie was also very pattern-driven. Even though they found innovative ways to progress without being too repetitive. The action scenes kept you on your toes and were full of shock value.
The lore on the other hand was extensive but not super overbearing. In a world of ruthless cutthroats, we get to see Furiosa from when she was just a little girl to the moment she becomes a legend. After watching this movie I finally understand the hype behind Anya Taylor-Joy. Granted she didn’t have a whole lot of lines initially for the sake of the plot but her actions said enough. Alyla Browne included both actresses imbodied Furiosa very well.
Chris Hemsworth also had a very good performance that actually grew on me as time went on. I’m so used to seeing him as a “good guy” it was nice to see him take on the challenge of being the big bad. Now the role came with more surprises than expected because let’s be honest The Wastelands is a crazy place. His character had a manic nature about him. That combined with his ambition and pride was just the right amount of crazy to make Dementus a dynamic villain.
Overall I think this movie is pretty good. I mean who doesn’t love a good revenge coming-of-age story? In a world with factions fighting over resources in a barren wasteland. Yes, it has its flaws and faults but that just comes with the territory. When you're making an action flick there are gonna be some moments that don't line up perfectly. I still think that joint went crazy which is why I gave it an 8/10 G-Files Score.
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to a taste type of thing. I just don’t think people are as interested in the world of Mad Max right now. To have Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and George Miller attached to your movie. The expectations just hit different. Or maybe people would rather just wait for it to drop on streaming. I don’t know what the solution is but I think it’s a fair thing to bring up. One thing I do know for sure though is that movies like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga deserve better.
