BRIAN VINER: Mad Max is a 1,000-watt jolt to the spirits... I loved it!

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (15, 148 mins)

Verdict: Max power 

The only letdown in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the fifth film in George Miller's Mad Max series, which began in 1979 and made a star of the little-known Mel Gibson, is that it won't propel anyone to stardom.

The two leads, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, have a high profile already, although the latter has never been better than he is here as the story's enigmatic baddie.

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, which remains one of the best action movies of the last 25 years. This one, similarly, is stunning on the eye, decidedly loud on the ear, and a thousand-watt jolt to the spirits. I loved it.

Taylor-Joy is fabulous in the title role, the warrior queen-to-be, likewise Alyla Browne who plays Furiosa as a girl.

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road

Anya Taylor-Joy is fabulous in the title role, the warrior queen-to-be

Anya Taylor-Joy is fabulous in the title role, the warrior queen-to-be

This one, similarly, is stunning on the eye, decidedly loud on the ear, and a thousand-watt jolt to the spirits. I loved it

But as ever the real laurels belong to Miller.

Read More

Anya Taylor-Joy reveals she was 'thrown into a car' and told to perform a WILD stunt for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga despite NOT having her driving licence

article image

The veteran Australian director, who doesn't just have oily-rag credits (he also made The Witches Of Eastwick and Babe: Pig In The City), is pushing 80 but is still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max.

At the start, a voiceover tells us that 'gangs are marauding like locusts across the land'. Frankly, it would be disappointing if they weren't. Miller needs marauding gangs like other story-tellers need star-crossed lovers.

Unsubtly, unabashedly, he feeds off classic Westerns such as John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers to set up the tale of spirited young Furiosa, abducted from a peaceful oasis by raddled Hell's Angels types who find her sabotaging their bikes.

Eventually, with her formidable mother (Charlee Fraser) giving frantic chase across a parched desert, she falls into the hands of the charismatic, messianic warlord Dementus.

[video_shortcode_video_html_5 src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2024/03/19/2386394335033605877/1024x576_MP4_2386394335033605877.mp4" itemprop="image" content="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2024/03/19/2386394335033605877/1024x576_MP4_2386394335033605877.mp4" data-src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2024/03/19/2386394335033605877/1024x576_MP4_2386394335033605877.mp4"]

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, which remains one of the best action movies of the last 25 years

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, which remains one of the best action movies of the last 25 years

At the start, a voiceover tells us that 'gangs are marauding like locusts across the land'

At the start, a voiceover tells us that 'gangs are marauding like locusts across the land'

A scarcely recognisable Hemsworth plays him like a post-apocalyptic Charles Manson, seductively charming when he wants to be, but a sociopath

A scarcely recognisable Hemsworth plays him like a post-apocalyptic Charles Manson, seductively charming when he wants to be, but a sociopath

Unsubtly, unabashedly, he feeds off classic Westerns such as John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers to set up the tale of spirited young Furiosa, abducted from a peaceful oasis by raddled Hell's Angels types who find her sabotaging their bikes

Unsubtly, unabashedly, he feeds off classic Westerns such as John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers to set up the tale of spirited young Furiosa, abducted from a peaceful oasis by raddled Hell's Angels types who find her sabotaging their bikes

Furiosa finds a courageous ally, Praetorian Jack (pictured left and played by Tom Burke), who pledges to teach her the secrets of 'road war' as she attempts to escape from this hell-scape and get back to her benign homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers

Furiosa finds a courageous ally, Praetorian Jack (pictured left and played by Tom Burke), who pledges to teach her the secrets of 'road war' as she attempts to escape from this hell-scape and get back to her benign homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers

I saw Furiosa last week at Cannes where it went down a storm as any film should that is a crazy hybrid of a Western, a biblical epic, a road trip, a sci-fi fantasy and, of course, Top Gear on steroids

I saw Furiosa last week at Cannes where it went down a storm as any film should that is a crazy hybrid of a Western, a biblical epic, a road trip, a sci-fi fantasy and, of course, Top Gear on steroids

The veteran Australian director George Miller (pictured), who doesn't just have oily-rag credits (he also made The Witches Of Eastwick and Babe: Pig In The City), is pushing 80 but is still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max

The veteran Australian director George Miller (pictured), who doesn't just have oily-rag credits (he also made The Witches Of Eastwick and Babe: Pig In The City), is pushing 80 but is still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max

A scarcely recognisable Hemsworth plays him like a post-apocalyptic Charles Manson, seductively charming when he wants to be, but a sociopath.

Read More

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Spencer was five years old when he was set on fire by his dad in an unforgivable act of revenge. The brave boy survived - and now he's realised his dream

article image

Furiosa finds a courageous ally, Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), who pledges to teach her the secrets of 'road war' as she attempts to escape from this hell-scape and get back to her benign homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers. But she also has a violent grudge against Dementus, not that he knows it.

Anyway, he has his hands full dealing with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), whose army of petrol-heads is a match for his own as they both seek to control the Wasteland, as it is quite reasonably known.

I saw Furiosa last week at Cannes where it went down a storm as any film should that is a crazy hybrid of a Western, a biblical epic, a road trip, a sci-fi fantasy and, of course, Top Gear on steroids.

A longer review of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ran last week. Furiosa, Hit Man and Garfield are in cinemas now.

OTHER NEWS

22 minutes ago

Sophia Bush and girlfriend Ashlyn Harris have the look of love at the Woolf Works premiere in NYC

25 minutes ago

Canada make a statement with win over Peru at Copa America

25 minutes ago

This Is How Boeing Will Pay for Supplier Spirit Aero. It’s Smart.

25 minutes ago

Aussie rookies to take over Paris

25 minutes ago

Russell Wilson's Offseason Transformation Triggers Online Buzz

25 minutes ago

Mortgage servicing costs, rent, gas prices all up

25 minutes ago

Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo goes on 15-day injured list with blister on a finger of his pitching hand

25 minutes ago

Boomers embrace Paris challenge

28 minutes ago

Video shows man randomly attacking bystander, bar employee in Downtown Dallas

30 minutes ago

Jeremy Renner Says He Doesn’t Have “Energy” To Play “Challenging” Roles After Snow Plow Accident: “I Can’t Just Go Play Make-Believe Right Now”

32 minutes ago

Fans marvel at Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's daughter being a dead ringer for BOTH of her famous parents in new TikTok video

32 minutes ago

Abbie Chatfield receives a VERY personal X-rated gift for her birthday from boyfriend Adam Hyde

32 minutes ago

Cabramatta shooting, Sydney: New details emerge as gunman remains at large

33 minutes ago

Green Lantern series Lanterns about 'two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery' moves from Max to HBO with eight-episodes

33 minutes ago

More embarrassment for scantily-clad Democrat judge Christina Peterson, who was arrested for 'hitting cop' outside Atlanta nightclub

33 minutes ago

Christine Baumgartner discount shops at Jenni Kayne in Montecito... after her three children support ex Kevin Costner at Horizon premiere

33 minutes ago

Justin Bieber puts his hand on pregnant wife Hailey's growing belly as they share a kiss during lake trip

34 minutes ago

Voters have just hours left to apply for ID certificate for General Election

34 minutes ago

Lainey Wilson Thought Reba's Grand Ole Opry Invite Was Just a Birthday Gift

34 minutes ago

Julian Assange a free man after pleading guilty in US court

34 minutes ago

City of Houston makes dozens of cooling centers available Wednesday amid Heat Advisory

34 minutes ago

‘I didn’t realise we were last’: Dylan Brown finds out about Parramatta’s horror demise while watching game on TV

34 minutes ago

‘7ft on his Hind Legs’: World's Tallest Dog Dies After Setting Record

34 minutes ago

Rep. Jamaal Bowman loses primary to foe George Latimer

34 minutes ago

How property owners are turning the tables on squatters

34 minutes ago

Pentagon chief speaks with Russia's defense minister via phone for first time

34 minutes ago

Ahmadreza Djalali: Swedish-Iranian prisoner starts hunger strike

34 minutes ago

Disappointed Connor McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy

36 minutes ago

Joey Ortiz homers and Bryse Wilson pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers defeat Rangers

39 minutes ago

Cabramatta shooting, Sydney: New details emerge as gunman remains at large

39 minutes ago

Video: England send fans and WAGs into despair with bore draw against Slovenia - as supporters sleep, families WEEP and Gareth Southgate is pelted with booze (and boos)... but his side win group so avoid Germany, Spain, Portugal or France until the final

39 minutes ago

England's big name players have not brought their true selves to this stage - they look lost and are a team waiting to be beaten, writes IAN LADYMAN

40 minutes ago

Ger Brennan’s holistic approach has Louth dreaming big as they take on Donegal

40 minutes ago

Fort Worth native loses home in New Mexico wildfire

40 minutes ago

House Democrat becomes the first Squad member ever defeated in a primary battle

40 minutes ago

Why Jamaal Bowman Lost

40 minutes ago

Sheri Biggs wins South Carolina GOP primary runoff election to succeed Rep. Duncan

40 minutes ago

David sinks Peru to keep Canada alive in Copa America

40 minutes ago

Waymo Opens Driverless Rides to Anyone in San Francisco, No Wait List Needed

40 minutes ago

Explained: The rules for first US presidential debate