Mad Max: Fury Road - Still A Lovely Day Five Years Later

Mad Max: Fury Road (8.5/10)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: George Miller
Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult , Hugh Keays-Byrne
Country: Australia/USA
Language: English
Year: 2015

Five years ago, I saw Mad Max: Fury Road in the theaters, and after five years, here's a look back at one of the defining films of the modern era. Mad Max is sheer madness for two hours and one of the best action films of all time. I was completely blown away for the entire duration of the film and almost felt like I was living in a different universe altogether, thanks to the vision of George Miller.

I saw an interview with George Miller, and he said that film is more of a visual way of storytelling rather than one with cheesy dialogues and narration, and once you watch the film you know exactly what he meant. The movie doesn't have any bullshit right from the word go and presses the accelerator from the very first scene.

Although one might feel that the movie isn't entirely about Mad Max, and he is more like one of the pivotal characters in the film. The character was kept simple and within limitations and wasn't depicted as a superhero, rather a lot of struggle is reflected in his character, and I feel the character of Charlize Theron takes a little upper hand.

Now coming back to the film, the action sequences are just too good, and the best part is that it relies more on practical stunts rather than CGI effects (believe me I watched the making videos) which makes it one of the best action films. A lot of times reboots feel a little unnecessary, and this is where Mad Max: Fury Road is special because it is re-imagined by the same person who brought Mad Max to the silver screen.

The production design is awesome, and the vehicle designs look exactly like they should in a post-apocalyptic world. The story is simple and not overdramatic with some excellent use of intelligent humor. The story shows Mad Max caught in a war between a ruthless ruler Immortan Joe and her former alliance Imperator Furiosa who is hell-bent in changing the course of the future.

To say anything about George Miller's direction will be a disrespect to him, so let's leave it there. In terms of acting, every character is rightfully justified by the actors. Tom Hardy proves his worth as the titular character and carries the legacy of Mel Gibson's Mad Max, who set the benchmark for the role. Charlize Theron never looked so tough in a film, not even in Hancock. Her character is a symbol of women's empowerment in a male-dominated world. Nicholas Hoult's character is exciting and funny, while Hugh Keays-Byrne plays the ultimate bad guy of the modern era. Even the supporting cast does an amazing job. The cinematography by John Seale explicitly captures the feel of a post-apocalyptic world in each frame.

The action and the stunt team deserve a special mention. Some of the action sequences are breathtaking, which still give me chills. The innovative editing and sound uplift the film to a whole new level. To end, if you haven't seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet, then you must be living in the world.