Mad Max: Fury Road

By
⭐10/10

I watched this years ago, committing the vile sin of watching this purely sensory movie on an airplane. I had exactly zero memories from it besides a distinct guilty feeling of watching a movie that felt decidedly demonic. And yeah! This is not exactly a movie I'd watch with my parents, but my tastes have very much changed to the point where this movie is very much my jam. 

So the movie is very simple in that it's a deplorable post-apocalyptic world in which this slice of Australia is ruled by some cult leading god-head, and one of his soldiers is trying to free his concubines. The entire movie after that is... Well it's just one wild chase scene that lasts two hours. It is the most unabashedly badass action movie I have ever seen.  It is nonstop and the action is completely mind melting, a 2 hour fever dream capped off with an electric guitar player strapped onto a war machine. 

I love that this movie was clearly made with absolute joy, like a bunch of guys got together and thought about excuses to record hundreds of explosions in the Australian outback. I haven't researched this movie, but I would wager that there is limited CGI, everything looking super authentic. It is a celebration of badassery. 

A few more highlights:
-The names! Immortan Joe, Nux, Rictus Erectus, and of course Imperator Furiosa!
- this movie doesn't offer much for world building, essentially zero straight exposition, and yet you get a terrific understanding of it. "Do not get addicted to water." Also the word "Guzzoline." That's all you need!
- Mad Max is actually not very central to this movie, and Hardy isn't particularly good here. On the other hand, Theron is incredible, and what versatility from Hoult to be able to play both a cultist, and, you know, JRR Tolkien. 
- the music. Again, double necked electric guitar

I love movies like this. It reminds me a lot of DOOM where the plot is secondary and we just want to see explosions, blood, and... cultists drinking spray paint? I was enthralled for 2 straight hours. There are maybe some nitpicks, and the sexualization of women is questionable (though it makes sense), but overall this is an all-you-can-eat for action lovers who can stomach this type of violence. I came a skeptic but left a believer. Next up: Furiosa!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

By
⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Watched this for the first time because we wanted a comedy, and it was fine. I laughed a couple times, mostly at Paul Rudd, whose character was amazing. Otherwise its just a 2000s raunchy comedy. These Apatow movies are way too long for comedies, and the feel-good endings take too long to get to. I liked the idea of a fake NBC show that Kristen Bell stars in, and those clips made me laugh. Jason Segel is fine, and he fits the depressed guy thing they are going for here. I will never understand why the two women in this movie are so beautiful and the two guys are pudgy idiots. I guess I do understand, given the target audience for these movies. Another thing, they clearly were in Hawaii for filming a bunch of this, but then there are a couple scenes that are clearly using a green screen for the background. Pretty weird, since I assume they were in Hawaii, so maybe reshoots? Felt kinda cheap. Anyways, good for a couple laughs, don't ever nee...
Read more

July Reading Favourites

By
Image
Look at that cover! This is a YA horror book written by a trans Canadian author that knocked my socks off. A small town has secrets it's trying to hide, and after the death of a boy and a newcomer arriving, things start slipping out of control. It's a book about being trans or queer and living in a small town, and how a community creating a facade of a perfect town can backfire. Also maybe closing your eyes to anything that's "not your business" is not good actually! It's violent and full of rage, and I loved the way it played with time and perspective. Check the triggers, but if you're interested in reading it, I'd recommend going in blind without looking at reviews or a longer description! This is a short book of essays about ableism and disability justice, specifically relating to technological advances for disabled people. Most of the essays focus on a different type of technology for different disabilities (prosthetics, hearing aids, cures for aut...
Read more

Magdalene's Favourite Books of 2024

By
Image
In 2024 I read another ABSURD amount of books, and I will not be commenting on what that says about me, my decisions, or the state of my mental health. So I'm just going to go straight into my favourite books of the year! I've posted about a lot of these in my monthly faves, but now you get to see which ones made it to my favourites of the year list! They're in no particular order. A Pacific Islander-inspired fantasy with unique, refreshing vibes. Hanalei returns to her home island, Her childhood best friend is looking for a dragonfruit to heal his mother, and Hanalei will use her connection with the seadragons to help. Lucier has a pretty simple way of writing, but the story was fun and beautiful, and it really took me on an adventure. Sid is a Korean adoptee living in a very white town that is over a crack where magic can get through. One day a Guardian falls, releasing magic and zombies, and it becomes a fight to survive. This is such an interesting blend of fantasy and ...
Read more