Furiosa - A Mad Max Saga Movie Review: Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth’s Film Is an Exhilarating Wild, Wild Ride Not to Be Missed! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movie Review: It takes an hour for Anya Taylor-Joy to make her appearance in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a film named after her character. Yet, this is a testament to George Miller's mastery in recreating a spectacular post-apocalyptic world filled with strange, vicious characters and immersive imagery. Not to mention, he sets up a solid hero origin story that ensures you don't miss her absence. It helps that Alyla Browne, who plays the younger version of Furiosa, is a fine actress, too. Additionally, Chris Hemsworth delivers a scenery-chewing performance as the demented yet inept antagonist while also providing the film's funniest lines. Altogether, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is quite a blast! Anya Taylor-Joy Stuns in Chic and Daring Red Dress for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Promotion in New York City (View Pics).

As a child, Furiosa is kidnapped from her hometown, the Green Place of Many Mothers, by Dementus' 'mortifiers.' Her mother (Charlee Fraser, who leaves a lasting impact in her brief screen-time) is killed while trying to rescue her. Dementus wants to know where Furiosa's land is, having heard of its abundant resources. She refuses, but tattoos the coordinates on her hands.

Watch the Trailer of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga:

In time, she is passed on to Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), the main antagonist of Fury Road, to be one of his child-bearers. However, Furiosa escapes that life and works as a crew member for Joe's sons, disguised as a boy. All the while, she looks for the opportunity to escape to her homeland and to seek revenge on Dementus.

Blockbuster Cinema!

I keep reading the phrase 'cinema is back' on social media whenever someone is impressed by a film that draws crowds. The initial reactions to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Cannes 2024 also used that phrase a lot. Well, I'd like to tweak that phrase and shout out, ' BLOCKBUSTER CINEMA IS BACK, BABY!' I'm glad George Miller managed this without falling for the studios' cheap measures of compromising on the details.

Though I should never have doubted the 79-year-old director's vision, prequels or sequels often come with a sense of distrust these days. With Charlize Theron, our original Furiosa, not returning and the first trailer being unimpressive, I had my doubts about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Well, I told myself to suck on those doubts as I emerged from the theatre, fully blown away by this prequel. It is as good as Fury Road, if not better in crafting a humane story around the protagonist that makes you back her completely, even when knowing only despair awaits her in her final goal (as seen in Fury Road).

Anya Taylor-Joy is Furiosa!

Yes, I missed Theron before watching the movie, but once Anya Taylor-Joy appears on screen, it’s hard not to think she was born for this role. She is absolutely stunning as the action queen despite her scrawny frame that keeps being pointed out to us. Furiosa here gets the Mad Max treatment from Fury Road – she hardly talks, but when she does, she makes her words count. More importantly, her actions speak volumes. I did wish her relationship with Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), the commander of Immortan Joe's convoy and one of the rare good men in the Wasteland, had more depth amidst the chaos, but that's a minor gripe.

Some of the Fury Road characters return, like Immortan Joe and his war boys, and their return doesn’t feel like fan service (though a cameo does) but is well integrated into the narrative. The film explores more of the politics and factions of the Wasteland. Miller's excellent production design team ensures that these factions' lairs, like Joe's Citadel, Gastown, and the Bullet Farm, along with the many vistas of the unforgiving desert, remain memorably ingrained in your mind even after the film is over. The costume design also deserves credit for making each tribe look so distinct.

The Spectacular Action Scenes

But, of course, we all come for the huge, sprawling action set pieces, and if you're among us, you're in for a treat. Miller marries practical effects with the latest visual technology, and while I found the CGI a little unrealistic in a couple of scenes, this blend is otherwise fantastic. If you ever doubted Miller could not pull off what he achieved in Fury Road, the opening act dispels those doubts with a rescue chase across the sands, complete with sniping and a sandstorm. Even the scene where Immortan Joe is reintroduced at his Citadel, showing Dementus why he’s not to be trifled with, is a great moment. Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga Review: Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth’s Film Garner Positive Response From Critics.

While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is not a relentless chase like Fury Road, it boasts several enthralling chase and fight sequences that left me in awe. Standouts include a longish convoy hijack attempt, which puts Furiosa at the centre of the action for the first time and has her team up with Jack and the Bullet Farm attack. There were moments I truly wondered how the team pulled off these scenes, and I don’t want to ruin the 'magic act' by finding out the answers. The sequences are so electrifying and heart-pounding that I even overlooked Tom Holkenborg's thumping score, though his skills shine in the film's last act.

Simon Duggan's excellent camerawork brings the Wasteland to life, capturing the action and the grisly consequences (there are some brutal deaths) in wide, sweeping shots. Dune Part II, you have major competition at the Oscars next year.

Final Thoughts on Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a relentlessly exhilarating thrill ride that elevates the legacy of the franchise with expertly shot action set pieces, fantastic technical values, and incredible performances, especially from Anya Taylor-Joy, Alyla Browne, and Chris Hemsworth. The real hero is, of course, George Miller. It is rare to find filmmakers so in love with the universe they have created that you can see it brimming in every frame, and back it up with enough momentum that we also get sucked into that world. Do check Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga at your nearest IMAX screen.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2024 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).