Mad Max - Fury Road

Mad Max - Fury Road

Non-spoiler information

Date watched: 5/15/2015

My rating: 8/10

The count of times I have seen this at time of this review: 1st

Likelihood that I will watch this movie again: Certainly

I classify this as a sci-fi movie with a post-apocalyptic setting

Marginal movie of this genre that I rate above this: hard to decide, I will go to general sci-fi and select Aliens.

Marginal movie of this genre that I rate lower then this: Blade Runner.

This is an action packed movie from start to finish, with the exception of a few small moments of dialogue and reflection. This movie does an excellent job of conveying its story without dialogue, based on imagery, themes, symbols, and pathos.

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Spoiler information

The first few moments of this movie establish the theme, story, and feeling quickly. There is the narration to establish what happened to the world and why. Then we focus on Max. Several things are quickly conveyed without words: mutation is part of this world (the two headed lizard), Max is a wanderer in a wasteland (the customized car, Max taking a leak close by, Max eating the aforementioned lizard). Since Max consumes the lizard, it is clear that "beggars can't be choosers" as far as food stuffs are concerned. Then, Max detects enemies, jumps in his vehicle, and is quickly chased down and captured. This encapsulates about 3/4 of what occurred in The Road Warrior, in a couple minutes of screen time.

The next several scenes establish that this society captures victims they encounter in the wasteland, subjects them to ritual and branding, and assimilates them into their warrior society, with analogs to Jannisaries or perhaps Stockholm syndrome victims. Despite a super human effort by Max, he is unable to escape because of strictly geographic reasons - he is trapped high up in a fortress of rock. Even if he was able to escape, it is hard to believe he would remain free for long.

Also established quickly is that there is a genuine organization based upon the necessities of life: food, water, and shelter. These were never clearly established in the previous three movies. Then, a trade envoy is sent out. It is clearly a trade envoy, as the cargo includes water and "mothers milk" (more on that later). However, in this violent world, the trade caravan is heavily guarded with a battery of fanatics (again, more on that in a bit). The trade destination appears to be another establishment that specializes in fuel.

Much of this information is obtained visually by careful observation. Some dialogue and ritual reveals this information as well. For instance, it is established that the warlord that controls this society (Immortan Joe) has a local monopoly on fresh water (it is established later that much of the surface water supply is contaminated by radiation; Immortan Joe has overseen the construction of a deep water well). This monopoly not only provide trade material with neighboring civilizations, but also provides control of the local populace. Now, one thing that bothered me was when the water was released, the rag tag populace orderly walked forward to receive the truly overwhelming need of water - without water, humans will quickly die in an arid location. To perpetuate this incongruity, Immortan Joe give some speech about not trusting in water. I am pretty sure that the general population would care less and they would be rabid for water, which I didn't see evidence of. Sure, they all came forward, but not with the urgency I would expect, especially with the duration that the water was turned on for them (about 30 seconcds maybe, in a rabidly falling waterfall, with no obvious basin to receive it - the receivers must hold out bowls to catch as much as they can, or I suppose dredge up water from the mud and sand).

On the other hand, Immortan Joe's monopolies on a couple other "resources" are more easy to understand, but they are more repugnant as well. First, Immortan Joe controls many human wet nurses, who he milks like cows. They are seen relaxing while this is happening. Then, a bottle of product is handed to Rictus Erectus (who is Immortan Joe's younger son). He smells and then samples the milk and seems to deem it as good. A later scene of Max discovering the "mothers milk" in the trade tanker, finding out what it is, and then drinking it further establishes that there isn't a lot of discretion in dietary intake in this world. It also further establishes that not only is the "mothers milk" used to support the local population, but is a valuable trade commodity (or perhaps a ration for the convoy members).

The other resource that Immortan Joe controls with an iron fist is reproduction of children with untainted (by radiation) women. This becomes the crux of the whole story, the rescue of these women from the control of Immortan Joe, with the original goal being the delivery of these women to a "promised land". The delivery from the cruel chastity belts symbolizes the terror, humiliation, and slavery that Immortan Joe held over these women.

I have already covered much of what I enjoyed about the movie. There is a back story that is implied and for me, quickly absorbed to bring color to the flight of the wives and their savior, Furiosa. Now, my biggest concern with this movies are some incongruities. Max is probably somewhere between 35 - 45 years old in this movie (Tom Hardy himself is 38). The disaster happened sometime in the past, enough that new societies, understandings, and so forth could occur. For the group controlled by Immortan Joe, it was enough time for a religion to be constructed that binds the warrior tribe closely to Immortan Joe. It was enough time for many of these "war boys" to be born and conscripted into the ranks, with the strong brainwashing that makes them fanatical to the cause they are serving.

Also, Furiosa was kidnapped when she was a girl from the location they are attempting to flee to, and apparently named Furiosa at that time. Now, it is possible that she was named that before the disaster, but it seems unlikely. Therefore, lets presume that she was born after the disaster. She appears to be somewhere in her 30's  (Charlize herself is 40). Therefore, it is difficult to reconcile Max being born and living before the disaster, in fact a Police bull (so presumably at least 18) at the time of the disaster.

The other concern I have with the movie is Nux, who is a war boy that is driving Max out to battle. At first he appears to be an adversary to Max. Then he seems to treat him as a fellow brother. Finally, when he fails Immortan Joe, he quickly joins the group after befriending one of Immortan's wives. I found his quick change of heart a little difficult to swallow. However, it is somewhat explained by what he perceives happens to one of the other wives, and also his failure to carry out his mission, which he clearly believes to be a holy mission. Perhaps these revelations cause him to have a rapid change of heart.

To conclude, I found this movie to be a multi-layered cinematic feat. I usually am quite bothered by super action flicks, but this one has a soul, with so many layers that made it believable and cathartic to me. I do not want to live in a land like this, and so I want to do what I can to avoid this kind of catastrophe.