Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

by Mike McGranaghan

Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Furiosa is not Mad Max: Fury Road. How could it be? That 2015 Best Picture nominee was an absolute game-changer in the action genre. Films like that don’t come along very often, and they certainly can’t be intentionally duplicated. Franchise mastermind George Miller seems to know that, and so he does what he’s done all along – tell a kick-ass story set in the world he created back in 1979.

The first section provides background on young Furiosa (Alyla Browne). Her mother is killed by wannabe conqueror Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Years later, Dementus has a plan to take over the wasteland, which entails wrestling control of Gastown, the Bullet Farm, and the Citadel from dictator Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). The now-grown Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) gets stuck in the middle of their war. She wants revenge against her mother’s slayer and this creates a perfect opportunity. Her secondary goal is trying to get back to the “place of abundance” where she grew up in order to plant a special seed she’s been entrusted with.

Miller has always provided the Mad Max series with a hint of weirdo humor. That’s the case with Furiosa, too. Hemsworth is excellent as Dementus, a guy whose head is so far up his own backside that he has no idea his “evil” comes off as buffoonery. Of course, being a buffoon can make someone dangerous in a whole other way. The actor captures that quality nicely. Other amusement comes from Immortan Joe’s sons, hilariously named Scrotus and Erectus. Touches like these help the movie feel radically different from the self-serious action fare we frequently get.

The chief selling point, obviously, is the vehicular mayhem. Furiosa does not disappoint on this count. The desert-set chases are breathtaking in their scope. Miller brings back the tricked-out war rigs and cars, then adds new elements, such as Dementus’ chariot, which is powered by motorcycles instead of horses. Best of all is a long sequence where a war rig is attacked from above by warriors riding parasails and paramotors. It’s so exciting that I felt a bit giddy watching the chaos unfold. Many of the stunts were done practically; CGI was understandably needed for the most dangerous bits. By and large, it all looks real. Only once or twice can you tell that CGI was used.

If Anya Taylor-Joy had any nervousness about stepping into a role made famous by Charlize Theron, she doesn’t show it. Her Furiosa is credibly tough. The actress doesn’t have a ton of dialogue in the film, yet she never fails to make an impression by giving the character an undeniable forcefulness. For viewers, watching another performer take over a role can be jarring. In this case, the transition is as seamless as can be.

The stunning cinematography that’s always been a major part of the franchise is present again. From a purely visual perspective, you can enjoy the manic action and the intricate way it’s photographed. George Miller has always been working on his own level. His vision for the Mad Max movies is as distinct as it is original. Even in his late ‘70s, he still has the temerity to pull off action extravaganzas that would make directors half his age green with envy. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is more than a thrill ride. It’s a thrill ride while you’re already on a thrill ride.

Scroll down for a look at the Blu-ray bonus features.

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Blu-ray Features:

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on August 13. A complimentary copy of the Blu-ray was provided to The Aisle Seat for the purposes of this review.

The box is slightly misleading, as there appear to be only two bonus features. In actuality, what’s here runs about 70 minutes in total and offers plenty to satisfy fans of the Mad Max universe.

“Highway to Valhalla: In Pursuit of Furiosa” is a nearly hour-long making-of documentary. It covers pretty much the entire spectrum – conception, casting, production design, stunt work, etc. The major participants are on hand to discuss how this complex motion picture was brought to life. Rather than being a mere PR showcase, the emphasis is on helping viewers appreciate the attention to detail director George Miller and his team brought to Furiosa. Seeing how the various pieces came together to fulfill Miller’s vision is entertaining. You walk away with admiration for the spirit of the production, which was very much aimed at giving audiences a unique experience, even though the film is part of an established franchise.

“Stowaway to Nowhere” focuses exclusively on the Stowaway sequence, explaining how the complex – and dangerous – stunts were pulled off. Miller and crew members talk about the challenges involved, especially the desire to keep everyone safe while still staging ridiculously insane physical mayhem. Anya Taylor-Joy also appears to weigh in on Miller’s unique directorial process in action scenes and how she adapted to that as an actor.

Picture and sound quality on the Blu-ray are top notch, and a digital copy is included in the pack. To purchase Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Amazon, click here.