Mad Max: Fury Road

Scott Hardie: “It ruled.”

What's not to love about this gonzo post-apocalyptic extravaganza? The trailer that won the Internet accurately summarizes what the entire film is like: An insanely stylish and relentless chase through the desert on dozens of motored vehicles, with no romance or character development to slow it down. It's a glorious achievement in action cinematography and art direction (so many great costumes and sets!), as if the Hollywood artists behind it have been caged up making carbon-copy superhero films and more clones of Die Hard and Taken, and they were exhilarated to make something fresh and bold for a change. The movie has all kinds of subtexts if you want to read in to them, but the wild spectacle on the surface is more than entertaining enough if that's all you want out of a summer movie. Don't miss this.

− July 8, 2015 • more by Scott • log in or create an account to reply

Scott Hardie: Here's taking a moment to praise Junkie XL's terrific soundtrack, which I've been enjoying on Spotify for the last week. Some of the best tracks work equally well as action-movie score and dance club mix. − July 11, 2015 • more by Scott

Aaron Shurtleff: I want to see this movie. Question: Can a sequel really be called "fresh and bold"? Wouldn't it almost, by virtue of being a sequel, be old hat? ;) Maybe when I see it, I will understand. − July 11, 2015 • more by Aaron

Scott Hardie: The tone can be fresh and bold even if the material isn't. I haven't seen Jurassic World yet, but I have heard multiple people criticize it as a tired, warmed-over rehash of its predecessors with few original ideas of its own, which is what most sequels and remakes are. Consider other movies from this summer: Poltergeist, Furious 7, Pitch Perfect 2, Insidious: Chapter 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and more. Fury Road inhabits the same setting as its predecessors, but its specific details are imaginative and exciting, and the movie feels energetic and fleet instead of lazy. Some of its ideas don't work out as well as others (Max's hallucinations have been done better in other films), but on the whole it feels like one of the best takes on old material in a long time. − July 12, 2015 • more by Scott

Samir Mehta: Aaron, I think the trick is that the movie is barely about Mad Max and includes completely new stories and characters. It is NOT a retread. − July 12, 2015 • more by Samir

Scott Hardie: This reply contains spoilers. Reveal it. − August 9, 2015 • more by Scott

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Samir Mehta: “It ruled.”

It's hard to discuss this movie without going to hyperbole. It is singular and magnificent. While it is a sequel, it is a wholly new creation. It's bold, innovative, and full of ideas. For a movie that has very limited dialogue, it is rich with subtext. And Charlize Theron gives an acting performance that joins her with Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver, and Linda Hamilton as the best in action movie history. The movie could really be called "Furiosa" but it would hurt the box office. See this.

− July 12, 2015 • more by Samir • log in or create an account to reply

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Erik Bates: “It sucked.”

This is not going to go over well. I'm bracing myself for the backlash.

I did not enjoy this movie one single bit.

Disclaimer: I haven't seen any of the other movies in the franchise, so I didn't know what I was getting into. I suppose I was expecting plot, and not 2-hour car chase with it's own mobile rock band.

− December 25, 2015 • more by Erik • log in or create an account to reply

Scott Hardie: No backlash here. I loved the widely-hated Aloha so I'm in no position to quibble with you about this. :-)

I haven't seen the other Mad Max movies either. One of the many things that I appreciated about this was how you didn't need to have seen the other titles at all. This "sequel" works perfectly fine by itself. − December 26, 2015 • more by Scott

Samir Mehta: Care to expound a little bit more on why you disliked it?

(Side note: I think Mad Max is a movie that benefits enormously from viewing in a theater. I'm starting to realize this divide is big in certain genres. I'm convinced I'd think Paranormal Activity and It Follows were better than terrible (my current view) if I saw them in a movie theater. I do believe Mad Max is so dense with ideas that I'd like it anywhere, but I think it may play best in a megaplex.) − December 28, 2015 • more by Samir

Erik Bates: I don't really know how to expound on my dislike. It's just...

yeah...

Maybe it's seeing it on the small screen that had an impact on my enjoyment. I think I wanted more plot and less car chase... and definitely less of the rolling rock concert.

I'm willing to say that I may need to see it again to fully appreciate it.

I will agree 100% that the action and the cinematography were great. I just felt as if there was a gaping hole there that needed to be filled in order for it to be a fully enjoyable movie for me. − December 29, 2015 • more by Erik

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