 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
May 15, 2015 - 12:52 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Francis
(Member)
|
SPOILER HEAVY!!! BEWARE
I loved it as well and I've been thinking about it quite a lot today. I like how they kept Mad Max's face obscured for most of the first act, and that moment where he finally takes off that contraption was a great moment. The whole breeder harem concept was great as well, I mean what a contrast when you see that shot of those gorgeous women standing in the desert surrounded by basically post-apocalyptic scum. That was great. There is some excellent social commentary going on throughout the movie, the whole "Valhalla" ritual with the war boys and what has to be the most late stage fetus kill I've seen in any movie and them inspecting the fetus to see how pure bread it is... Not bad for a movie which reportedly has "no script and just pure action". I disagree of course, there are quite a lot of ethical issues as there are in a universe like that of Mad Max, where ethics take a backseat to survival and where one choice can mean the difference between life or death.
I also felt the movie handled exposition and dialogue so well, more than often Theron and Hardy would just glance at each other and you got the message. That's all it takes in film really. There are also so many classic film devices at play as Miller is of course an expert in; that scene where Max has to decide wether he'll take the girls with him and you see that convoy in the background closing in, it's a race against time and how they stretch that moment (and on other occasions as well) creates so much tension. The look of the movie is also very strong and I love how they didn't go all orange for the daytime desert scenes and kept it true, and that night sequence with the blue lighting was great. Overall, the car chases and the action looks so impressive and that whole opening chase with Max tied up as a blood bag (excruciating to think about it), Miller is brilliant at coming up with such torturous hurdles, I cringed many times.
I was also thinking how this would have worked with Mel in it; It would obviously had to have been made a decade ago as I can't see him doing some of the stunts now, but perhaps that is why Mad Max is more along for the ride as opposed to Furiosa who often call the shots. It would also have been much more epic when his face got revealed. Given Theron's "Ellen Ripley" look, I also fantasized what it would have been to have both Sigourney Weaver and Mel Gibson in this movie. Again, a decade ago. 
I'm thinking about going to see this one again, and I haven't done that for a movie in a looooooong time.
P.S. I forgot to mention the awesomely cool baddy shredding a flame-throwing electric guitar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
May 15, 2015 - 3:45 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
henry
(Member)
|
SPOILER HEAVY!!! BEWARE
I loved it as well and I've been thinking about it quite a lot today. I like how they kept Mad Max's face obscured for most of the first act, and that moment where he finally takes off that contraption was a great moment. The whole breeder harem concept was great as well, I mean what a contrast when you see that shot of those gorgeous women standing in the desert surrounded by basically post-apocalyptic scum. That was great. There is some excellent social commentary going on throughout the movie, the whole "Walhalla" ritual with the war boys and what has to be the most late stage fetus kill I've seen in any movie and them inspecting the fetus to see how pure bread it is... Not bad for a movie which reportedly has "no script and just pure action". I disagree of course, there are quite a lot of ethical issues as there are in a universe like that of Mad Max, where ethics take a backseat to survival and where one choice can mean the difference between life or death.
I also felt the movie handled exposition and dialogue so well, more than often Theron and Hardy would just glance at each other and you got the message. That's all it takes in film really. There are also so many classic film devices at play as Miller is of course an expert in; that scene where Max has to decide wether he'll take the girls with him and you see that convoy in the background closing in, it's a race against time and how they stretch that moment (and on other occasions as well) creates so much tension. The look of the movie is also very strong and I love how they didn't go all orange for the daytime desert scenes and kept it true, and that night sequence with the blue lighting was great. Overall, the car chases and the action looks so impressive and that whole opening chase with Max tied up as a blood bag (excruciating to think about it), Miller is brilliant at coming up with such torturous hurdles, I cringed many times.
I was also thinking how this would have worked with Mel in it; I would obviously had to have been made a decade ago as I can't see him doing some of the stunts now, but perhaps that is why Mad Max is more along for the ride as opposed to Furiosa who often call the shots. It would also have been much more epic when his face got revealed. Given Theron's "Ellen Ripley" look, I also fantasized what it would have been to have both Sigourney Weaver and Mel Gibson in this movie. Again, a decade ago.
I'm thinking about going to see this one again, and I haven't done that for a movie in a looooooong time.
P.S. I forgot to mention the awesomely cool baddy shredding a flame-throwing electric guitar
I'm so glad you like it Francis! I'm going again tomorrow with my parents. BTW, did you see it in 2D or 3D? I saw it in 3D, it had very good 3D.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mad Max: Fury Road
Made 30 years after the last one, in a totally different part of the world (Namibia rather then Australia) and has a different actor playing the title role, yet somehow it feels totally like it's a proper part of the franchise. And yet it doesnt feel like an 80's throw back. This is a modern film.
Like the previous three its paints it's world with broad strokes. A post apocalyptic nightmare that still had some semblance if civilization in Mad Max, bit slowly descended into hell as the world became divided in tribes of man, preying on each other too survive.
From Toecutter, to Lord Humongous to Auntie Entity to Immortan Joe, who rules his patch of the world like a tyrannical God. Claiming ownership over all who live in his region. Which causes several of his wives to try and escape, aided by Emperator Furiosa played by Charlise Theron.
Mad Max gets involved by accident, as usual as he is caught by a gang of war boys and used as a blood donor one one of them.
The film starts out as a very long chase sequence, where very little is explained and like Max, we are thrown into the mix with only a little bit of context as to whats going on.
This demands the viewer to pay some attention as characterizations are fats and loose, but slowly the film gets a grasp on who it's characters are, and why they are on the run.
Like the previous three films Fury Road doesn't depend on three dimensional character development, but rather of broad and effective, and often very short scenes where we get to know the players a bit. The actors are vital in this to help establish a bond. So we know who to hate and who to cheer for.
Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max from Mel Gibson, who could never have done this film. Because he is now too old to be able to perform the very psychical demands this film poses on the character. And because his credibility as a leading star have been forever tainted by his alcoholism and anti-semitic comments.
Tom Hardy felt right for the role from the get go,a nd he fills it in perfectly. Taking some aspects from Gibsons Max, but never straying into imitation. Hardy uses an Aussie accent, but it;'s low and grumbly. More akin to Russel Crow's the Gibsons.
His Max also seems less bitter and angry, and more broken and mad. Hardy plays him slightly more eccentric, even fragile maybe. His natural charisma really helps a film that have only a few moments of meaningful dialogue. Tom Hardy plays exactly the Max this film needs.
He isnt the best character though. Charlize Theron, who is not only one of the most beautiful and striking woman in the world shows here that she's possibly the most bad ass. Forget Scarlett as Black Widow. Theron's Furiosa kicks ass in a way that very few female characters ever have on screen. The best action role since Weaver's Ripley or Hamilton's Sarah Conner in T2.
Largely stripped of her glamor, with a crew cut, an amputated arm and motor grease on her forehead Theron probably looks more impressive then ever. She also provides the emotional angle of the film as her character tries to rescue a few girls, only to find out that the sanctuary has gone. After the long chase, there are a patch where the film does spend some time on its characters, leading to the deeply impressive shot of Furiosa screaming in the desert winds.
Nicholas Hoult actually brings some humor and poignancy to the role of a Warboy, dying of some disease and wanting to go out with a bang in the eyes of his God.
But ultimately this is an action film, and makes no apologies about it.
The only true way to describe the film is with the word visceral. In it's own way Miller's action rivals that of James Cameron it's it's total conviction. It's impossible, preposterous, yet for some reason it never lacks weight or substance.
I will watch it again for its action. So many breathtaking shots.
I'm sure the film uses plenty of CGI, it must have taken hundreds of man hours just to remove all the safety wires. But it all looks so authentic.
These days CGI can look 100% flawless in films, yet somehow very often it doesnt carry the same weight. Miller made 3 movies where he blew up a bunch of cars using proper old fashion stunt techniques, and this one feels absolutely like that. There are things going on that are just as impossible as the Hulk battled Iron Man in a Hulk buster suit. But because they looked like they were shot for real;, rather then created on a computer, I believed them.
As pure action movies go, this is in a league of its own.
The 3D wasnt always very effective IMO. It worked well in the long distance shots, but less so in the brutal and relentlessness close quarter action.
Still this is a good looking film. The teal and orange isn't as pronounced as in the posters, though as some points its definitely there. But again. it all feels like a real environment. Dirty, dusty, downtrodden.
Tom Holkenborgs score is good, More then just pounding drums and guitars, which are actually a form of source music rather then underscore in several parts of the film. Some soaring string elegies, and solid orchestral action music, plus some classical music homages. A very different animal to the works of Brian May, and Jarre, but totally fitting in its own way.
I had high hopes for this film and it didn't disappoint.
Btw, interesting that Fury Road ends in exactly the same way as The Dark Knight Rises. a new hero on a platform, risen to a new destiny....
**** out of ****
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is R rated thankfully, but never abuses that rating. It has some hard hitting visuals, but never goes for the gross out factor or violence porn.
It's levels of violence is pretty much like the first 3 films when it comes to bloodiness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
