Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, John Howard, Angus Sampson, and Charlee Fraser.  Released on May 24, 2024, the film has a young woman battling through the Wasteland to return to her homeland.

The film was directed by George Miller, who also directed films such as “Mad Max”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Happy Feet”, and “Three Thousand Years of Longing”.  It is a spin-off and prequel to “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise.  We’ve heard many tales of a loner traveling across a futuristic wasteland and battling unhinged adversaries following his family’s death.  These legends originated from the mind of cinematic auteur George Miller and became known as some of the best action classics in cinematic history.  “Mad Max” is an old-fashioned yet highly violent and riveting tale of vengeance that launched Mel Gibson’s career and highlights Miller’s approach to practical action and style.  In 2015, Miller made a long-awaited return to the franchise that started it all with “Fury Road”, a groundbreaking cinematic achievement that gained several Oscars thanks to its gripping story and miraculous action sequences.  It showcased Tom Hardy’s marvelous portrayal of the title character and introduced audiences to another character who’s as much of a badass as Max was.  Her name…was Furiosa.  

Brought to life by the talented Charlize Theron, Furiosa impressed audiences with her layered and tough-as-nails attitude, establishing herself as more than just a sidekick to Max.  This resulted in her receiving the same treatment as others like Puss in Boots and the Minions: a spin-off involving a supporting character on their own adventure without the protagonist hogging the spotlight.  However, this “little” side adventure is also a prequel that further examines Furiosa’s tragic life before she encountered Max. So, if you were hoping for Theron to get dirty and ruthless again as the character, I’m afraid that’s not happening.  On the bright side, though, we can see if Anya Taylor-Joy could carry a big-budget, IP-based blockbuster as the main lead.  However, the important question is whether this story is as groundbreaking as its quality and action.  Let’s return to the Wasteland and find out. 

The story takes place years before the events of “Mad Max: Fury Road” during the early days of the Wasteland.  Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) is a young woman suddenly snatched away from her homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers.  She is taken to be enslaved by the Biker Horde, a vicious group of raiders led by its warlord leader, Dementus (Hemsworth).  Now grown and fueled with vengeance, Furiosa embarks on a cross-country journey through the desert-like terrain, confronting many daunting trials as she seeks to escape captivity and enact revenge for her mother’s death.  Amid her adventure, she gets caught in a war between Dementus and Immortan Joe (Hulme) for dominance over the Citadel.

“Fury Road” was my first exposure to the “Mad Max” franchise, and just like everyone else, I loved every element that came from the two-hour car chase through the Wasteland.  Yes, that includes Charlize Theron’s fiery performance as Furiosa, which indicated her status as a badass action star outside her dramas and comedies.  So, when I heard about the Furiosa prequel, which was written during the development of “Fury Road”, I became curious about how it’ll expand the post-apocalyptic universe without its protagonist and even Theron as the hard-knuckled soldier.  Fortunately for me, I didn’t mind Anya Taylor-Joy taking over the role for the prequel as she has an impressive track record in her filmography. When it comes to spin-offs, they often show that supporting characters are better off staying as supporting characters in the main series, with a few exceptions like "Puss in Boots." So, George Miller had much to do to persuade "Mad Max" fans that Furiosa's story was worth telling on the big screen. Knowing Miller's passion for this world, I never doubted that he would do justice to this intriguing character.  But what really matters is whether the quality is just as invigorating as its technical aspects, similar to “Fury Road”.

The "Mad Max" installments are known to be post-apocalyptic dystopian action movies filled with hopelessness, survival, and vengeance in a barbaric wasteland plagued by war and resource shortages. The protagonist, Max, takes audiences on a thrilling and deranged journey through an isolated desert as he wanders aimlessly through a once-peaceful civilization. "Furiosa" aims to capture that familiar essence without the title character, although he does make a small appearance in one scene.  Of course, the only concern that could falter its chances is its comparison to “Fury Road”.  That movie, which served as both a continuation and a reintroduction to the franchise, is described more as an action-packed chase movie with characters driving through the Wasteland for two hours straight.  It’s pretty straightforward but also well-crafted and consistently exhilarating due to the mesmerizing stunt work and Miller’s unique vision.

“Furiosa” was more of a post-apocalyptic action epic that examines the title character’s journey that made her who she was in “Fury Road”, ranging from her childhood to being promoted as Joe’s “Imperator”.  It’s a tale of vengeance similar to Max’s journey but with a few elements from "Fury Road".  So, if you expect this film to be like “Fury Road” in terms of structure, you might be slightly disappointed with what it offers.  However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching.  When looking at it as its own movie, “Furiosa” is a riveting, albeit imperfect, revenge-filled thrill ride that honors the quality and impact of the iconic action franchise. With Miller back in the director’s chair, the film maintains the kinetic, immersive, and artistic presentation that made the previous installments worthwhile experiences, especially “Fury Road”. From the remarkable production designs to the superb cinematography and editing, the film delivers another series of isolated madness and gritty violence that's full of cinematic artistry and visual supremacy.

Unfortunately, the movie didn’t quite reach the same consistency of excitement as “Fury Road”, mainly due to its runtime and several missteps in its emotional depth.  “Furiosa” is nearly two and a half hours long, thirty minutes longer than the previous installment.  While that usually means more thrilling action scenes, it also came with some pacing issues that slowed its momentum down for me.  Fortunately, I didn’t find myself completely bored, as George Miller managed to invigorate my interest with his visual style and energy repeatedly. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s another blockbuster that’s bloated for the sake of spectacle, except the spectacle was more grandeur than mind-numbing. The story was filled with intriguing characters and world-building, making its vengeance-filled plot stand out, especially Furiosa, who is driven by rage due to Dementus's actions. Although it doesn't deliver a strong emotional impact, the film's script by Miller and Nico Lathouris strikes a great balance that is neither too complicated nor too straightforward for both fans and casual moviegoers to enjoy.

Another element that held “Furiosa” together was the cast, especially the main leads.  Anya Taylor-Joy has been impressing me left and right with her filmography since her feature film debut in “The Witch” in 2015, proving herself to be another superstar in the making.  So, of course, I was intrigued to see her assuming the role of the title character, let alone a main lead in an action blockbuster.  While carrying Charlize Theron’s torch as Furiosa proved daunting, she took the chance and quickly came out on top.  Anya Taylor-Joy's performance was remarkable as she adeptly captured the character's profound inner struggle and fiery persona, akin to Charlize Theron's portrayal in "Fury Road". Equally impressive was Alyla Browne's portrayal of the younger version of the protagonist, a role that surprisingly afforded her more screen time than anticipated. This showcases Taylor-Joy's ability to carry a major film as the lead and emphasizes the importance of a well-suited script for her talents.  Chris Hemsworth delivered a striking and distinctive performance as the deranged Dementus, showcasing his ability to portray heroes and villains effectively. He portrayed the warlord as an imposing yet unhinged force of nature that's impossible to resist.  Tom Burke also did very well as Praetorian Jack, the commander of the Citadel’s first War Rig.

Finally, we have the pieces of resistance, the glue that holds the franchise’s epic scale together, and that’s the action sequences.  The installments, especially “Fury Road”, are known for providing thrilling violence from its car chases and gruesome imagery.  However, they also benefitted from Miller’s energetic vibe and the practical stunt work, adding to the intensity of their raw violence without showcasing a lot of gore.  Unsurprisingly, “Furiosa” is no different.  Despite not matching the similar heights of its previous installment, “Furiosa” delivered another satisfying mix of suspense and realism in the action, especially the car chases.  However, that doesn’t mean the film is 100% practical, as a couple of sequences used CGI and green screen effects.  While noticeable at times, they didn’t deteriorate the spectacle of the hard-working stunt team responsible for delivering the film’s stunts.

Overall, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” packs enough fury and madness to continue revving the engines of George Miller’s classic action franchise.  Regarding its storytelling and emotion, the film didn’t quite match the expectations introduced in “Fury Road”, mainly due to its pacing and bloated runtime.  However, it’s able to maintain the quality and impressive technical aspects that made the previous installment a spectacular action-packed experience.  As a result, it became another stellar prequel that didn’t treat itself as a money-making piece of quantity.  Instead, it expands upon the franchise’s world-building while making the characters residing in it matter.  Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth were superb show-stoppers amid a crowd of suitable actors, and George Miller continues to prove himself as a visionary artist through his direction and presentation.  Along with its engaging narrative, visual effects, and thrilling action, the spin-off/prequel shows that it’s another lovely day to admire this maddening Wasteland.

B+