Movie | Mad Max: Fury Road | Really Liked It

Superb. Envisioned initially as a one long chase scene, the story line was linear and simplistic but that was thoroughly appropriate in this case. Visually stunning, of course and all the little details were incredible. The acting was great. Every time I see Charlize Theron's name on the marquee, I cringe a little. Not because I don't like her, it's just that she's overexposed. Well, just like every other time, she blows me away. In fact, this movie is as much about her character as Max. More, in many ways. And Theron was just fantastic at it; she's a lead actor, there's absolutely no doubt about it. Diverse, on top of it, too.

Hardy did a great job as usual and I'm looking forward to more installments with him in it. I started critiquing him as I was watching, often finding that he chose to mimic Mel instead of inhabiting the role and making it his own. But that was a mistake and it's an impossible job, inhabiting such an iconic role. In the end, he also knocked it out of the park, just like everyone else.

It's a crime that we'll probably never see Nicholas Hoult in another Max film. He's an amazing actor, for a guy in his early 20s when they made this film. That being said, there's very little chance that we don't see outstanding work from him in the future. One to watch, for sure.

What a delight it was to see Hugh Keays-Bryne back on the screen. As magnetic as ever, it's a downright shame American audiences don't know more about his work. Of course, he's nearly unrecognizable in this film, with the costume nearly consuming him. But there's no mistaking those eyes and his acting. Unreal.

The cast is rounded out with so many interesting actors, it's insane. It includes the grand-daughter of Elvis.

There were the copious expected references to the previous films, including the signature increased film speed during action scenes, as was expected and welcomed. But there were other nods to other films that were also fabulous; I spotted shout-outs to Doomsday, Star Wars, The Book of Eli and Akira. There were probably more that I missed. Connections to the previous movies were throughout and the continuation, as opposed to a prequel, of the premise was wonderfully laid out for all to see.

The trivia about the connection between the euphoric chrome spray and Amazon is hilarious. Look it up.

So, can you tell that I loved it? I did. They did a marvelous job of capturing what I was worried they wouldn't; a sense of suicidal hopelessness in the characters in everyone except Max, of course. Why? Because he can't die - his name is in the title...although, that would be an interesting creative direction. There's a theory floating around that he actually isn't Max, but The Feral Boy from the third movie. We'll see...

Here's my main gripe, which isn't a new one; if one more person starts talking at me about "the films of George Miller", as if he's done nothing more than the Max movies, I'm gonna lose my mind. Miller doesn't have a huge body of work but he's done a lot more than that. Not only the stuff he's directed but he's also co-directed...folks, see a movie every now and then!

But that has nothing to do with anything other than people running their mouths about something they know nothing about. If you loved the other Max movies, then you're going to love this as much as I did, hopefully.

To the V8 and Valhalla!