Film Review - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Fig. 1 Mad Max: Fury Road (Film Poster, 2015)

Set in post-apocalyptic Australia, Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth in the Mad Max series of films and tells of the struggle between the poor people of the citadel and their crazed ruler, Immortan Joe (fig. 3), who is played by the same actor (Hugh Keays-Byrne) who played bad guy Toecutter in the original Mad Max film from 1979. Main character Max (fig.2, played by Tom Hardy) is being used as a live blood bag for one of the warriors, Nux (Nicholas Hoult) but finds himself wrapped up in a chase across the desert with renegade Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron). Furiosa is smuggling Immortan Joe's 'wives' (fig.4) who were imprisoned in order to produce him a 'perfect' son and heir. This chase dominates the majority of the film and is a clear example of the Carsploitation genre which has been present in all of the Mad Max films.  

Fig.2 Max (Film Still, 2015)



Fig.3 Immortal Joe (Film Still, 2015)

Quite clearly an Exploitation film, Mad Max: Fury Road could also be classed as 'Ozploitation', though maybe not so obviously as its older counterpart, which ticks all the boxes of being a low-budget, action movie filmed in Australia. What is markedly different in the 2015 film, however, is the strong role of females. Furiosa, the Wives and later on, The Vuvalini of Many Mothers. This is very refreshing and Furiosa in particular reminds us of Ripley in Alien or The Bride in Kill Bill.  In his review of the film, Roger Ebert says "When one of Furiosa’s wards goes into labor and still defends herself and her yet-to-be-born child (after being shot no less), it’s hard not to see “Fury Road” as an answer to the macho nonsense that so often defines the action genre." (Ebert, 2015). Out of all of the memorable points of this film, the role of women is by far the strongest and has been praised by feminists worldwide.

 

Fig.4 The Wives (Film Still, 2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road  has a very simple storyline and although packed full of action, not an awful lot happens from start to finish. Despite a difference of over 30 years since the original was made, the film still has the same feel and excitement about it, which is a credit to standing Director George Miller. Miller has commented that he has two more sequels in mind due to the success of the 2015 movie.



Bibliography:

Ebert, R (15th May 2015), Roger Ebert.com review, At:http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mad-max-fury-road-2015
(Accessed 11.11.15)



Illustration List:

Fig.1 - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) [Movie Poster] At: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MgYnKu8RYAU/maxresdefault.jpg
(accessed 11.11.15)

Fig.2 - Max (2015) [Film Still] At: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hEJnMQG9ev8/maxresdefault.jpg
(accessed 11.11.15)

Fig.3 - Immortan Joe (2015) [Film Still] At:http://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/MadMax-FuryRoad-ImmortanJoe.jpg
(accessed 11.11.15)

Fig.4 - The Wives (2015) [Film Still] At: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/slTH9lFJjKU/maxresdefault.jpg
(accessed 11.11.15)