Endless deserts, loud cars and black leather. From threatening sandstorms that swallow herds of muscle cars and hot rods effortlessly to edgy fashion that includes goggles and facepaint, Mad Max is as aesthetically pleasing as it is loud.
Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth installment of the Mad Max franchise, follows Max (Tom Hardy), an ex cop living in a post apocalyptic world where the water supply dwindles and gasoline has become king. The lack of overall necessities and the increasingly bleak landscape spurs the formation of primal gangs focused on merely surviving another day in the desolate landscape as well as increasing their arsenal of weapons and vehicles. Politics are skewed in a land where pretty much anything goes and a group of discontented female slaves imprisoned under the fearsome Immortum Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) decide to escape via giant rig to a lush place from Imperator Furiosa’s (Charlize Theron) childhood.
Mad Max: Fury Road is entertaining with an almost endless array of back to back fight scenes and car chases. The film carries itself very well and in my opinion, nothing to compare to the Fast and Furious franchise which tends to be shallow and focused on only cars. The Mad Max expansive universe begs for a more in-depth study, all characters completely three dimensional and interesting. The inventive and creative film makes a name for itself and sets itself apart from other post apocalyptic movies and furthermore, other movies with cars that play a central part in the story telling. Flame throwing electric guitars screaming as two opposing sides begin battle, cars stacked on top of each other, hot rods adorned with metal spikes, and the usage of rather impressive devices which allow the daring to climb and swing their way to other cars, are all things that stay unseen when it comes to other post apocalyptic movies.
Mad Max definitely has a certain style to it and is completely arresting in its beauty. The film successfully keeps the audience’s attention, which could easily be lost in a seemingly vacant and redundant landscape. Amazing, inventive cars and gritty attire catches the audience’s attention with ease and the litany of explosions and violence keep them there. Whether it be for entertainment or admiration, Mad Max: Fury Road is guaranteed to satisfy.
