Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga That Rages On
Furiosa is the long-awaited follow-up to 2015’s Fury Road. Rather than a sequel, Furiosa is a prequel and an origin story for its titular character. The setting and production design are every bit as stunning as Fury Road, but the pace of this installment is quite different. While Fury Road was all gas and no brakes, Furiosa takes its time, weaving a much larger narrative. It delves into the Wasteland Wars and the intricacies of post-apocalyptic politics.
The vehicles in the Mad Max franchise have always symbolized power. Furiosa is the first film in the series that broadens the perspective, showcasing the vastness of the wasteland in all its brutal glory. While the story centers on Furiosa’s origin, it also invests in developing several other characters.
Chris Hemsworth's performance as Dr. Dementus is particularly noteworthy. It’s quite possible that he will be remembered more for this role than for his portrayal of Thor. At least, I’ll remember this one longer. He manages to be both silly and menacing, creating a vibrant villain who fits perfectly within the world of Immortan Joe’s Citadel, The Bullet Farm, and Gastown.
Nearly every frame of this movie is breathtaking. I love both Furiosa and Fury Road so much that it saddens me to think movies like this are too rare. There is creativity and true craftsmanship at every level—from the acting, costumes, sets, and effects to the stunts. While there are plenty of digital effects in Furiosa, a significant portion of what you see involves real cars on real sand, moving at real speeds. I cannot wait to watch it again.
