Review: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

Channeling the spirit of the great Sergio Leone in its dust-covered final 20 minutes, George Miller's "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" is a visually stunning and breathlessly paced origin story of a character who managed to steal the thunder of the director's previously most iconic figure - Max Rockatansky - in 2015's acclaimed "Mad Max: Fury Road."

That character, of course, is the titular one - Furiosa (played with ferocity by Charlize Theron in the previous film and by Anya Taylor-Joy this time around), a young woman stolen from her family by a roving group of bandits who becomes one of the Australian Wastelands' most fierce warriors. While I typically find that origin stories can be a bit of a snooze - they mostly reiterate information that we already know - this one has earned its existence.

Much like "Fury Road," Miller's latest saga is one long series of vehicle pursuits across desert terrains, occasionally broken up by gruesome fights or scenes of torture. It's a grim movie but the film's incredible style, terrific camerawork, stunts, and scenery make it easier to swallow. People toss around the word "visionary" somewhat loosely these days - but if you say nothing else of Miller's five Mad Max films, "vision" is one that feels appropriate.

At the film's beginning, Furiosa the girl is kidnapped by the bandits and pursued by her mother, a pretty fierce warrior herself. However, her mother dies at the hand of Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), the bandits' leader, and the girl is taken in as part of the clan. Dementus plans for his clan to overtake the Citadel, operated by "Fury Road" villain Immortan Joe, as well as Gas Town, where fuel for the vehicles that are at the heart of the film's many battles are likely supplied.

As she becomes a woman, Furiosa seeks vengeance against Dementus, playing both sides and becoming friends with Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), Immortan Joe's lead driver. He takes her under his wing and she tells him of the land of abundance from which she once hailed and to which she intends to return. Much of the rest of the film involves Furiosa and Jack trying to stave off Dementus' marauding bandits while also planning a means of escape from everyone involved. Numerous exciting and well-choreographed car chases ensue.

"Furiosa" doesn't reinvent the wheel. Stylistically, it's similar to "Fury Road" - and narratively, it's a pretty straightforward origin story (and yes, we get to see how Furiosa lost her arm). It's the execution that makes this film so immensely watchable. The "Mad Max" films create an incredible sense of place and display a mastery of style and tone - so, it's no wonder that Miller and audiences would want to return to this world. This is a summer blockbuster with purpose and eye popping visuals to spare.