'Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)' is simply spectacular. This visually stunning action film totally reinvents the aesthetic of its series, injecting it with chrome-infused blood and gleefully watching it run wild. George Miller makes everything he's done before seem decidedly quaint, swapping the tactile griminess of 'Mad Max 2 (1981)' for something altogether more unhinged and unreal. Yet, for all its purposeful aesthetic absurdity, the picture remains remarkably tangible, a near perfect blend of practical and visual effects that crafts a seamlessly sweaty, sandy, petrol-soaked world that feels as though it's been baked in the post-apocalyptic sun for so long that every last morsel of it has gone certifiably insane. This is an incredibly impressive picture, the kind of thing that seems incomprehensible to dream up, let alone actually create. It's basically one long chase, but it ebbs and flows so nicely that it never even threatens to outstay its welcome. Filled with colourful characters, creative vehicle designs, and jaw-dropping set-pieces (the image of Max dangling from a pole as a huge orange explosion lights up the background is still seared in my mind), the feature remains entertaining from its first frame until its last. The ominous yet exciting music gets you pumped up for the edge-of-your-seat action, which is so high-octane that it's a miracle you can follow every single second of it as well as you can. It's truly a thrilling picture that puts so many of its peers to shame. It's an unconventional experience in many ways, and its weirdness makes it all the more enjoyable. It really is a blast, the best in its series by far. If you haven't seen it in a while, you'll have forgotten just how stunning it is. It's glorious. What a lovely film!
Review of Mad Max: Fury Road
