Topic: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

[SCB]

Mad Max is one of those few late 70's/early 80's films I never got around to seeing and I tried watching them recently and really couldn't get into them, despite my love for the 80's and Mel Gibson. So I have no attachment going into this film and turns out I didn't need any to enjoy it.

This opens with Max as a prisoner to this cult like group, lead by this warlord who controls the water and the only few pieces of green land left in the world. The real story however starts when one his followers/soldiers, I'm not sure what she is, Furiosa, goes rogue and takes off with all the sex slaves of the cult. Max somehow hitches a ride and we have a two hour epic car chase.

That's basically the plot of the movie. I'm being vague on purpose on some details I want you to discover for yourself, but an epic two hour car chase is really the plot and it's maybe the best epic two hour car chase ever filmed.

I said at the start I didn't need to watch any of the original Mad Max films because Mad Max isn't really a character in this film, he's almost a prop inserted so the title can sell the real movie of Furiosa, George Miller's spin off female character who is a complete bad ass. She's bald, mysterious, one armed, has a steam punk robotic arm, and a mysterious past. And even then, you don't get too deep in character with her.

The real character and plot are the cars, the background, the set pieces, George Miller's vision for this world, and the overall spectacle. It's one of the best looking films I can remember. There's a lot of those out there, but I think the visuals in this movie are really unique and tell it's own story like a silent movie would. Another film that depends on visuals like the Tron sequel feels lifeless and lacking a soul, not this this. Every action and stunt just comes to life in these chase scenes through the desert wastelands.

I don't ever do this, but I'd actually recommend spending the extra money on 3D or IMAX on this. George Miller kills it visually and I don't think you'll get the same experience at home. Even the sounds and score of the film tell it's own story, so it goes beyond the silent film aspect because he delivers on that front as well.

One surprise for me was Nicholas Holt in the film (young Beast from the new X-Men films). In the trailer he's advertised as some kind of psycho and he brought the most heart in the film character wise.

I really enjoyed this movie and found it to be a great experience. I'm not going to call it great, but really good and memorable. Yeah there's no plot, but it didn't need one. Supposedly there's a trilogy planned with Tom Hardy. Not sure what Miller's got planned, but he really sold me on Furiosa. If he needs to keep using Mad Max in the title for the studios to fund him to make Furiosa films, I'm all for it. Either way, I love the world he's created.

Yep, see it.

[BlackLight]

I also just watched all the Mad Max films for the first time. Of the three, I think only 'Road Warrior' was decent. The first 'MM' was pretty dull (it seemed pretty clear that nobody had considered taking the post-nuclear war angle until talk of a sequel came around), and "Beyond Thunderdome" was basically two completely different movies pasted together.

[Torgo]

You may not call it great but I f'n will. It's great. The action scenes set to that pulsating score are just OUT OF THIS WORLD. The 80s hair metal guitarist in front of that truck...holy shit man, I didn't think we'd ever see anything like that again in a motion pictures. With so much action and seemingly so little character, it's amazing how much the movie gets you attached to Theron and even Nicholas Hoult. It definitely did something right. Not to mention it's just WEIRD AS FUCK. As weird as Thunderdome, and with the highly praised action of Road Warrior taken to the NEXT LEVEL!

I've seen all of them. I'll be honest the first two did nothing for me. Road Warrior is a highly praised film, and I got shat on when I said it didn't do much for me on here back in the day (by that no good bastard Linus, RIP). Thunderdome, the one I was supposed to hate, was actually my favorite of the first three. It's just so bizarre that it's good.

But this one...this one. Whew, I tell ya. It's the best pure action movie of modern times. I don't watch a ton of modern action movies, but this has to be the best one. It has to be. It's so action packed and insane. Makes Road Warrior look like BORED WARRIOR!

[SCB]

I think I would have called it great, but the one thing missing for me was any emotional attachment to anything or anyone. Loved Furiosa as a bad ass character and Nicholas Hoult brought any resemblance of a heart in the film, but like I said, the real characters of the film is the art direction, George Miller's unique vision of this world, the cars, the clothes, and the scenery. Those were executed extremely well.

Maybe if they brought back an old man Mel Gibson as Max, he would have added the human character to the film, but that's obviously not what this movie was about.

Perhaps I'll say this, it's a great movie for what it is and what it sets out to do. If they tried to come up with a plot for this, it might have come off too stupid or ridiculous. It sticks to it's boundaries and excels at it. I think I brought up Tron Legacy as an example of a movie like this, but fails horribly because it feels lifeless. This movie on the other hand is full of life, even if you take away the human elements. This movie has a soul.

[Torgo]

I think I would have called it great, but the one thing missing for me was any emotional attachment to anything or anyone. Loved Furiosa as a bad ass character and Nicholas Hoult brought any resemblance of a heart in the film, but like I said, the real characters of the film is the art direction, George Miller's unique vision of this world, the cars, the clothes, and the scenery. Those were executed extremely well.

Maybe if they brought back an old man Mel Gibson as Max, he would have added the human character to the film, but that's obviously not what this movie was about.

Perhaps I'll say this, it's a great movie for what it is and what it sets out to do. If they tried to come up with a plot for this, it might have come off too stupid or ridiculous. It sticks to it's boundaries and excels at it. I think I brought up Tron Legacy as an example of a movie like this, but fails horribly because it feels lifeless. This movie on the other hand is full of life, even if you take away the human elements. This movie has a soul.

I definitely felt an attachment to the main three characters. Tom Hardy may not look a lot like Gibson but he brought the same exact thing to the table. He felt like the same character to me. I think the fact that they got as much character as they did in a movie that pretty much never stops having action for more than 5 minutes is a huge achievement. The fact that this could play on a double bill with something like El Topo is an even bigger achievement. This movie is just flat out awesome. It should really be kicking everything's ass right now.

[Jef Leopard]

This movie was a fucking piece of shit.

Went home and watched Attack of the Clones.

Blatant fucking cash grab bullshit.

This movie was fucking retarded and unreal.  I love the Mad Max movies.  this wasn;t a Mad Max movie.   It was a fucking video game

I guess its part of Millenial culture to enjoy watching other people play video games, but I dont fucking get it.   There's no tension in the action scenes that are just video game characters doing video game shit.

Filmmaking is a collaborative effort and its clear (much like the SW prequels) that when you remove from the equation those with the balls to question fucking stupid decisions, you end up with a pile of rubbish.
M

I hated the 300 but it's not like Zach Snyder tried to make a movie that looked like or aped Mad Max.  Peter Jackson wasn't trying to rip off Mad Max when he made LOTR.  Why does Miller need to ape theses guys to make a Mad max movie.   This was The 300 meets LOTR meets james Bond as done by Tarentino.   Cash grab lowest comon denominator garbage.  Aside from some obvious Blade Runner homages, the Star Wars prequels are stylistically original.  Which is WAY more than I can say for Fury Choad.

I havent seen the new Avengers yet, but I'm sure I shouldve went to that instead.

[Freakshow]

 

[Jef Leopard]

 "The last thing I wanted to do is another Mad Max, but this script came along, and I'm completely carried away with it." - George Miller


This shit had a script?

[Torgo]

This movie was a fucking piece of shit.

Went home and watched Attack of the Clones.

Blatant fucking cash grab bullshit.

This movie was fucking retarded and unreal.  I love the Mad Max movies.  this wasn;t a Mad Max movie.   It was a fucking video game

I guess its part of Millenial culture to enjoy watching other people play video games, but I dont fucking get it.   There's no tension in the action scenes that are just video game characters doing video game shit.

Filmmaking is a collaborative effort and its clear (much like the SW prequels) that when you remove from the equation those with the balls to question fucking stupid decisions, you end up with a pile of rubbish.
M

I hated the 300 but it's not like Zach Snyder tried to make a movie that looked like or aped Mad Max.  Peter Jackson wasn't trying to rip off Mad Max when he made LOTR.  Why does Miller need to ape theses guys to make a Mad max movie.   This was The 300 meets LOTR meets james Bond as done by Tarentino.   Cash grab lowest comon denominator garbage.  Aside from some obvious Blade Runner homages, the Star Wars prequels are stylistically original.  Which is WAY more than I can say for Fury Choad.

I havent seen the new Avengers yet, but I'm sure I shouldve went to that instead.

Thanks for reminding me why I have you on ignore. I've been clicking "Show Me the Post" way too much lately.

[Jef Leopard]

I'll be honest the first two did nothing for me.

Makes Road Warrior look like BORED WARRIOR!

Grit, realism, plot and characters are BORING.

Plus Road Warrior looks like it was a pain in the ass to make.  Everybody looks hot and unhappy.  Seems like they had to work really hard.  All that 'art through adversity' shit has been finally debunked thanks to Miller's brilliant masterpiece and it's comfortable, sterile, computer generated awesomeness.   

The courage and bravery of Miller to not know or care when his move takes place, or whether Hardy's character is the Gibson Max character or The Feral Kid or some other shit is almost overwhelming. 

When did Miller start working for The Asylum anyway?  And does this mean I can look forward to a Sharknado/Babe 2: Pig in the City mashup?

[BobbyR]

Thanks for reminding me why I have you on ignore. I've been clicking "Show Me the Post" way too much lately.

Because he disagrees with you? 

[Torgo]

Because he disagrees with you? 

No because he's a troll.

When you're taking a critically acclaimed movie and comparing it to Attack of the Clones and talking about how the Star Wars prequels are better, than you're clearly looking for shit. Then add in saying it's meant to appeal to the lowest common denominator, which is absolute fucking BULLSHIT, then you got yourself an asshole who should be living under a bridge without an internet connection. Plus he's annoyed me for years with his creepy vendetta against Punk in the wrestling forum and now Steve Austin. Fuck this clown. He can eat a cock. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

[Jef Leopard]

Brainless fucking explosions and no characters or plot ARE the lowest common denominator, Torgo.

When I say this is a Mad max movie for people who don't like Mad max movies, it's not hyperbole. 

Mad Max is one of those few late 70's/early 80's films I never got around to seeing and I tried watching them recently and really couldn't get into them,

I said at the start I didn't need to watch any of the original Mad Max films because Mad Max isn't really a character in this film, he's almost a prop inserted so the title can sell the real movie

Of the three, I think only 'Road Warrior' was decent. The first 'MM' was pretty dull

I'll be honest the first two did nothing for me.

When I say there's no plot, I'm not trolling just for the sake of it.

an epic two hour car chase is really the plot

Yeah there's no plot

If they tried to come up with a plot for this, it might have come off too stupid or ridiculous.

When I say there are no characters....

so much action and seemingly so little character

And even then, you don't get too deep in character with her.

I call it a heartless fucking cashgrab because it so obviously is.

If he needs to keep using Mad Max in the title for the studios to fund him

When I say Miller doesn't know or care when the movie takes place in relation to the other films, and he doesn't know or care who the Hardy character is, it's beacause this is shit Miller has ACTUALLY said.  But hey, he felt like the Gibson character to you!

He felt like the same character to me.

Let's compare this to, I don't know, let's say, Wreck-It-Ralph.

Wreck-It-Ralph is a movie made by computers and is about video games.   However it doesn't feel like you are watching a video game.  Feels like you're watching a movie with a plot, characters, and a point beyond making money off a previously established franchise.  While Wreck-It-Ralph definitely engages in some of the cliche tropes of Pixar style movies, it's development can't be directly defined by what animated films came out the years previous to it.   Unlike Miller's Happy Feet which was clearly a post Finding Nemo cash grab in the vein of Madagascar, Rio, Ice Age etc.   

Kubrick used virtually no artificial light when filming Barry Lyndon.  There are incredible scenes filmed by candlelight.  That shit is hard to do and requires dedication and artistic reasoning.  Contrast with Fury Road where all the night scenes were filmed during the day in front of a green screen, then computer colored to look like night.  So everybody could get home by 5, I assume.

If Fury Road came out 10 years ago it would have looked a lot like The Matrix.  People would have been wearing sunglasses and trenchcoats, and the would have been lots of computer stuff going on.  Computer hacker biker gangs and such.   But it came out in 2015 in a post Game of Thrones, Lord of the Hobbits, The 300 world, and so it looks like all that instead.


Maybe I troll Punk and Austin related threads with my unwelcome opinions.  But I don't follow you around trolling every post you make on the board, Torgo.  I could give a fuck about you or your shitty opinions.



I have long held the opinion that the amount of noise anyone can bear undisturbed stands in inverse proportion to his mental capacity and may therefore be regarded as a pretty fair measure of it.
                        --The World as Will and Representation (1819), Arthur  Schopenhauer

[BlackLight]

Saw this last weekend. It was a'ight for me, dawg. I also didn't get why everyone was raving about the "feminist overtones" - like this movie did something we have never seen before.

Honestly, I think the guy with the flaming guitar on the front of the death machine was just put in there so people wouldn't start taking the movie so seriously, looking for anything besides car crashes and explosions.