em’s review published on Letterboxd:
‘bloodbath and flames upon the quiet yet deathly desert of the fury road.’
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After having finished this film, I really debated if I wanted to do a full review for it or not. The score speaks for itself, so its not a question about the quality or if it merits a review. So, why would I question such a thing? Well, I’ve seen this several times since it came out (as I am sure millions have as well), and everything about it has been said. It would be lying if I were to talk about it as something I have never seen before or a film that is entirely new to me because of that same reason, but it is in a strange way just that. Rarely does a film ever make me question how the hell it was made when I am watching it nowadays as I stare in wonder of what is happening on screen, and every single time I rewatch this that happens. If there is a single word to describe this film it would be a miracle. Decades after the disastrous third entry, George Miller decides to return into his beloved franchise (his baby one could even say) and deliver something big and explosive. In doing so, Miller has delivered one of the landmarks within the action genre, and I would not hesitate to call it a landmark within the entirety of filmmaking as well. Standing side by side with giants like Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Mission: Impossible- Fallout, The Matrix, T2: Judgement Day, Kill Bill, and so on, the fourth installment in this unique franchise breathes as one of the greats. Even so, why beat around the bush? Its production was hell, its stunts are out of this world, and everything about the film is bombastic perfection. Without a doubt in my mind, Mad Max: Fury Road stands out as perhaps being the greatest action film ever made. A humongous statement, but one that I consider to be truthful and undoubtedly deserving nevertheless. With such quality and respect, there is no way one can’t talk about it without never-ending praise, because it is just that magnificent all the way through.
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As I mentioned beforehand, I truly have no idea how they made a lot of this film. Sure, one knows how films are made and the technical aspects of it if you are passionate about filmmaking and constantly investigating, but I cannot wrap my head around the construction of this monstrosity. The visual feast, the designs, the world, the set pieces, the editing, every stunt, every explosion, the score, and so on. Miller famously designed the entirety of this film through storyboards and visual storytelling alone, and it clearly shows. With Hardy barely uttering any dialogue at all, Theron’s Furiosa being awesome without needing to speak a word, or any look in the film communicating more emotion and anger than any piece of dialogue would, this gargantuan achievement solely relies on its action and technical mastery to fully engage the viewer (which is undoubtedly achieved since the opening sequence). Fast with its unstoppable pacing, furious in its editing, and unapologetic within its madness and effects, every set piece just blends together into the biggest and most explosive film one could ever hope to experience. Every single choice is deliberate and planned, but also chaotic and all over the place. Calling it a controlled chaos would seem like a right choice, but I don’t think it completely hit the mark. A lot about it should not work. A ton of the editing, the shots that clearly utilize green screen, the messy flashbacks, and so on. However, they absolutely do as they also give texture and richness to every single second of the film in both giant action sequences and the rare quiet it offers in scarce moments.
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One could truly go on and on about why this is some of the best stuff to ever exist on the big screen, but one would also never be able to fully explain or describe just how incredible this is. It just needs to be felt. As idiotic and cheap as that statement sounds, its also just true. How can one explain how awesome the entire sandstorm chase is, how explosive every crash feels, or how the film manages to have nearly two hours of never-ending and loud action as it develops its characters completely without ever needing to show tenderness or intimacy above all else? From the outside, its so easy to criticize this as a gigantic action film with no story whatsoever; a soulless blockbuster that just sees people go from point A to B with loud explosions and blood everywhere. That could not be further from the truth. Miller clearly cares for the franchise that he created, and the one that has built up his name one could say as well. In an age in which studios return to their beloved franchises so they can milk money and every admiration from their fanbases, Mad Max stands apart because Miller clearly returned to his own vision out of love and passion. Everything about this epic smells like something he would create, and its impossible to deny its impact and just how much it elevates the original trilogy because of just how phenomenal of a job he did here.
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Did I say something new about this film that hasn’t been said in the years since its release? Probably not, but that wasn’t the goal. I find it impossible to not praise its very existence and everything within it out of pure excitement and just how euphoric one feels after finishing one of the most energetic films ever made, and so it feels necessary to do so. Simply put, Mad Max: Fury Road is a film that stands out as something completely unique, undeniably entertaining, masterfully put together, and as the definition of what a blockbuster should be. Its crazy, its big, its loud, its entertaining, and its also made with a ton of care and talent in every single detail and choice of what constitutes its insanity. Maybe many people find it a bit too crazy, and that is fine. To put it bluntly, Miller does not give a single shit about making this more accessible or friendly for those that were simply looking for a generic and enjoyable action film that has been made a thousand times before this one. He just flies high without any compromise whatsoever, never holding back in executing his vision in the most ridiculous yet awe-inspiring way imaginable. That is why if someone called Mad Max: Fury Road the greatest action film of all time it could never feel like a stretch or an exaggeration to me in the slightest. Every single decision and moment here is what a film should try to accomplish; something to share in excitement and enjoy without any limits. It never backs down, and there is absolutely no reason for it to do so. Not only does it earn the title, but the constant admiration and appreciation that almost everyone shows towards it is a clear indication that it stands in its own league alongside the greats, indicating that Miller created something completely special and breathtaking that will be loved and discussed forever. Oh man is it magical in every sense of the word, this is what films are made for.
