Wonder Watchlist

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga explodes onto screens this weekend, serving as the prequel to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Director George Miller takes the helm once again, expanding his adrenaline-fueled franchise. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga delves into the origins of fan-favorite character Furiosa, as she embarks on a rage fueled journey for revenge. Miller leads audiences into new territories, introduces new characters, and continues to deliver thrilling cinematic moments. In a world of lackluster reboots and sequels, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a 2-hour-and-28-minute epic that displays incredible artistry from start to finish.

Wasteland Returns

Building on the story put in front of us in Fury Road with Furiosa battling the powers that be in the wasteland, rescuing the brides of Immortan Joe. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga makes Furiosa’s actions that much more impactful. A young Furiosa is abducted by the henchmen of Dementus, causing her mother to fight desperately to save her child and keep their home of abundance a secret. Rage fills Furiosa’s life when that which she loves most is taken from, placing her on a quest for revenge.

Beyond Vengeance

There is not enough praise in the world for Anya Taylor-Joy with her visceral, touching, and utterly bad-ass performance as Furiosa. Stepping into the shoes of the legendary Charlize Theron cannot be easy. Especially in such an iconic character such as Furiosa. When someone other than Theron was cast, I had my reservations. All of my doubts lifted from my body the moment Joy blessed the screen. Furiosa is a character burdened with the trauma the wasteland gave her, yet there always remains hope within her. What Joy does so well with limited lines of dialogue is shoving that trauma back into the world and making it answer for it. Guttural screams fill the air when she is thrown from big rigs, exclamations of wanting her old life back in the face of her captors echo throughout the wasteland.

Just as deserving of praise is Chris Hemsworth as the boastful, hilarious, and often menacing Dementus. Hemsworth was made for a role such as this, and it’s no surprise that this is the best performance. His charm flies off the screen, making you question if you should hate him or feel bad for him. His motivations for his villainy make you feel empathetic towards him, creating a complex and compelling character. As he spreads his chaos across the wasteland, he falls deeper and deeper into madness. Including a face off against Furiosa that has you on the edge of your seat. His portrayal of Dementus brings a depth to the character, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Beauty in Rage

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is primarily about revenge and the unique way women express rage. Miller has created an interesting backstory for Furiosa in this film, which adds depth to the plot of Fury Road. Understanding Furiosa’s past makes her motivations clearer, as she has endured a difficult journey in the wasteland. Despite experiencing heartbreak and years of battles, Furiosa adapts to every challenge. She uses her pain to navigate the wasteland, making her the most captivating character in the franchise. It seems like this is the story that Miller has always wanted to tell in his Mad Max Universe.

There is not a sequence or scene in this film that doesn’t have Miller’s artistic flair. Character designs match the work in previous films, and at times seem even more over the top. But it all works so well in the desert; the chrome of the big rigs contrasts well with the orange of the sand. Cinematographer Simon Duggan captures the beauty in the apocalyptic world well. Blue skylines pop along the dunes of the never-ending wastes, matched with a bombastic score by Tom Holkenborg. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a film that takes over all sense.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga achieves what few prequels do, enhancing its sequel beautifully. With outstanding performances from Joy and Hemsworth, and masterful work by Miller and his crew, this film stands as a modern masterpiece deserving of the biggest screen possible.

Synopsis & Rating

5/5

“Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.”

Watch my spoiler free review here!