The long awaited 2024 follow up to Fury Road; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was perhaps a chapter we really did not need. Sure the film looks great but it was not really necessary to the Mad Max canon. And to be honest, it lacks the visual punch of Fury Road.
The title itself gives us a clue about this one. Furiosa is a prequel in all but name. Saga? Sure, the franchise started way back in 1979 was raw and different. *Mad Max also featured Mel Gibson and Joanne Samuel with dubbed American voices for the audiences outside of the outback. Old school film producers felt that Aussie accents were impenetrable outside of their home country.*
*Side note: The 1986 production of Crocodile Dundee faced similar problems. Star and writer Paul Hogan revealed that producers asked that the Australian slang be toned down in the script. Phrases like “Stone the bloody crows,” disappeared, as well as “He’s a bit crook.” Once again, the USA influenced a “foreign” cinema product.
The story
Furiosa is kidnapped from her family by biker gang leader Dementus. Thus begins her long road to becoming the “renegade” road warrior she is in the first film. Immortan Joe is still the big bad here, but no longer played by the late Aussie actor Hugh Keays-Byrne.
Along the way we learn that Furiosa may be related to Max.
The Main Cast
Anya Taylor-Joy is Furiosa
Chris Hemsworth is Dementus
Tom Burke is Praetorian Jack (Perhaps the nicest surprise in the film. I have been a fan since I Want Candy.)
Lachy Hulme is Immortan Joe – A brilliant replacement who honours Keays-Byrne with his performance.
Behind the scenes
George Miller, who co wrote the script with Nick Lathouris (Who played Grease Rat in the original Mad Max film.) says that while Fury Road was being made that the prequel was already story boarded.
It shows.
There is a lot of intricacy here. The Mad Max universe has always be a tad complex, at least after the first film, but this was an excellent look at the backstory of not Max, but Furiosa. A character that is now as popular as the Mel Gibson/Tom Hardy interpretation of the mad one.
It pretty much works
The only real complaint with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is Taylor-Joy. Not because she can’t handle the role but rather she looks nothing like Charlize Theron. While the South African actor gave her blessing to the casting choice, Taylor-Joy has those marvelously large eyes. It is her “showpiece” as it were. The two women are both stunning on film but really do not resemble each other at all. Despite the montage at the end of the film showing the further evolution of Furiosa with a new haircut.
Taylor-Joy, Hemsworth and Burke give us good value for our money. Hemsworth especially seems to revel in the role a lunatic bad boy.
It is Long
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga runs for an incredible 2 hours and 28 minutes. Despite this bladder punishing length, it still entertains. Despite the fact that it is not really necessary to the Mad Max verse, it is definitely watchable.
The Verdict
Just for George Miller alone, this is worth 4.5 stars. It loses a half star for not having that visual punch that Fury Road rocked our senses with. You can stream the film on Max.
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