Focusing on the character of Imperator Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy),” Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” serves as both a prequel and spin-off to “Fury Road.” Our JP has his take on the fifth adventure in the “Mad Max” film series.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Warner Bros. Pictures
- Directed by George Miller
- Written by George Miller, Nico Lathouris
- Based on Characters by George Miller, Byron Kennedy
- Produced by Doug Mitchell, George Miller
- Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
Studio Synopsis:
Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world he created more than 40 years ago with the seminal “Mad Max” films. Miller now turns the page again with an all-new original, standalone action adventure that will reveal the origins of the powerhouse character from the multiple Oscar-winning global smash “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The new feature from Warner Bros. Pictures is produced by Miller and his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”), under their Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner.
As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.
J.P.’s Take:
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller that roars on the big screen like a gasoline-thirsty V8. And it does so with an in-depth origins story that ties together “Fury Road” coherently.
George Miller’s exhilarating prequel to “Fury Road” brings forth a valiant warrioress with boundless resourcefulness, while taking us back to her early years for an emotional tie-in. Set against a desolate Australian wasteland, “Furiosa” boasts bristling action sequences and stunt work in the style Miller is known for. This time around writer / director Miller and writer Nico Lathouris (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) add a bit of mysticism to the bleak tale, as we discover the only place on Earth (or at least in Australia) where vegetation and water exist, The Green Place of Many Mothers. If you’ve paid close attention to the storyline of “Fury Road,” you’ll see where this is going.
As with its sequel, “Furiosa” is a snarling, loud, thunderous thrill ride and relentlessly violent. Yet, that doesn’t overtake Miller’s unique world-building, which is sprawling and immersive in scope. It also helps that each segment is broken into chapters, making the storyline more digestible. If you’re familiar with Miller’s bizarre and mesmeric style of filmmaking, you’ll catch on quickly to “Furiousa’s” idiosyncratic imagery, with its regressive lingo, barbaric combat style, and ravaged costuming. The vehicles are just as iconic bearing slapped-together and ratty, but death-dealing exteriors.
The characters are larger than life, especially that embodied by the doll-eyed and razor-sharp Anya Taylor-Joy in the titular role. The mythical Furiosa is seen as a Joan of Arc figure in a world that has lost its humanity, as she battles her way to freedom and liberates those held captive from her homeland of The Green Place. Alyla Browne plays the young Furious and has a striking resemblance to Taylor-Joy.
Chris Hemsworth plays the egotistical yet vulnerable, Jesus-like character Dr. Dementus, a warlord hell-bent on controlling the wastelands. Lachy Hulme returns to the role of Immortan Joe, a wise warlord of immense power. Hulme has a double role as Rizzdell Pell, Demtentus’ lieutenant.
Also joining the main cast are Angus Sampson as the Organic Mechanic, Charlee Fraser as Furiosa’s mother Mary Jabassa; Nathan Jones as the dim-witted, muscle-bound son of Immortan Joe, Rictus Erectus; and Josh Helman as Immortan’s Joe not-so-bright second son, Scrotus. Additionally, Jacob Tomuri doubles as Max Rockatansky in a scene you’ll recognize from “Fury Road.”
I’m no less awe-inspired by George Miller’s timeless, off-the-cuff visual style and storytelling. The “Mad Max” saga went from a low-budget cult fave to a mega box-office smash in its 45-year stint on the big screen. It still lands its mark with post-apocalyptic sci-fi lovers across the globe. And you can bet that another sequel is on the way, especially with an ending that suggests the next chapter. I’ll be standing in line to capture that splendidly bizarre moment.
“Furiosa” is raucous good fun.
Official Site: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
