Writer/Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke
‘Powerful Prequel’
Few franchises about mad emperors unable to relax are as beloved as Mad Max. Created by George Miller during the 1980’s, it achieved popularity by portraying women with fury. It achieved fortune through portraying women on dune planets destined to die soon. Through its heroine Furiosa, it inspired wonder in women during the modern era. On a personal level, I find the franchise relatable. At an early age, I bonded with a housekeeper showing courage. A person my family came to adore, she would pour her soul into every chore. Raised in Ethiopia, she would recall a country causing trauma. Like Mad Max’s wasteland, she faced a country where women couldn’t take a stand. It didn’t take long before I became fond of a housemaid with whom I formed a lasting bond. In a prejudiced country treating women without pride, she became a guide. I grew to value a housemaid adopting a feminist view. However, murder destroyed bonds forever. My dreams were shattered when my housemaid was murdered. Stabbed to death by her lover, she became victim of murder. In the wake of her death, my family faced heartache. In a state of denial, I couldn’t’ accept loss of a maid I came to appreciate. I mourned the sad absence of a promising young woman killed in violence. An unexpected loss, it left my family devastated. Looking back in nostalgia, Furiosa reminds me of a housemaid facing trauma. Years later, the furious character has become a reminder of my housekeeper.
Now, George Miller commemorates world-famous feminist characters reminding me of a housekeeper experiencing trauma in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”. Action-packed, empowering and thought-provoking, it celebrates a heroine. George Miller reimagines backstories behind an inspirational heroine in a powerful prequel. Boasting breathtaking production-design, extraordinary storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a commemorated prequel. Although “Furiosa” is furiously entertaining, it isn’t flawless. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment satisfying fans of the maddening franchise.
Set 20 years before “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Furiosa” tells origin stories of furious feminist women finding identity. Anya Taylor-Joy embodies Furiosa, a strong-willed warrior haunted by childhood trauma. At an early age, Furiosa witnesses her mother’s death by emperor Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) causing damage. Growing up to become a furious feminist warrior, Furiosa endeavors to avenge parents’ murder. Seeking vengeance, Furiosa experiences wastelands enduring violence.
George Miller admires mad emperors. His original “Mad Max” envisioned worlds where women driven mad rarely relax. With “Furiosa”, however, Miller crafts a prequel. It’s the filmmaker’s attempt reimagining feminist characters’ origin stories, but he succeeds. Visually, it’s a feast for eyes as breathtaking as wastelands Furiosa grows to idolize. Celebrating “Mad Max: Fury Road”, the filmmaker uses montages to demonstrate women with fury. Montages elevate the scenes where Furiosa faces war-torn wastelands. It sparked memories of a housekeeper telling harrowing stories about growing up in war-torn countries. Montages are tricky. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” demonstrated montages enhance medieval epics. As Joe Wright’s “Pride and Prejudice” suggested, montages elevate Austen adaptations. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Alongside cinematographer Simon Duggan, Miller honors warriors. Miller constructs wastelands demanding theatrical viewing.
If feminist warriors don’t attract you to the Cinema, however, there’s reasons to see “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”. From a technical perspective, you won’t see a Mad Max movie that’s as impressive. One area where the film surpasses predecessors is action. Alongside stunt-coordinator Tim Wong, Miller constructs action empowering women. For instance, desert landscapes elevate the chase sequence. During this nerve-wracking scene, Furiosa and her partner are chased across wastelands by a parachute that’s frightening. One acknowledges deserts’ reminiscent of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two”. Like Paul Atredies’ relationship with Chani on dune planets, Furiosa bonds with warriors. It reminded me of my relationship with a dedicated housemaid I appreciated. Furthermore, music is magnificent. Celebrating Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman”, music commemorates wonderful women. Through action, Miller celebrates furious women.
Another extraordinary aspect of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is storytelling. If “Fury Road” was criticized for lacking character development, the prequel finds balance between storytelling and action. Miller’s screenwriting strength is capturing women with trauma through flashbacks. Throughout the Mad Max franchise, movies rarely address hardships faced by mad women unable to relax. As a case in point: George Miller’s “Mad Max: Road Warrior” depicted women as victims of murder. Fortunately, however “Furiosa” avoids pitfalls. Evoking Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins”, Miller uses flashbacks to capture trauma impacting furious women. Like Bruce Wayne’s parents’ murder, Furiosa is haunted by the death of her mother. Through flashbacks, Miller constructs a strong female character audiences relate to. It reminded me of grief mourning murder of a housemaid whose brief presence provided relief. Flashbacks are complicated. Harry Bradbeer’s “Enola Holmes” suggested flashbacks elevate detective movies. As Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” demonstrated, flashbacks elevate literary adaptations. However, it succeeds. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Miller honors franchises.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a career-defining performance as Furiosa. Taylor-Joy achieved appreciation playing women in Jane Austen adaptations. It’s challenging portraying a furious feminist character, but Taylor-Joy succeeds. This is Taylor-Joy unlike you’ve seen her: intense, charismatic and menacing in her greatest role. Evoking Jennifer Lawrence in Gary Ross’ “The Hunger Games”, Taylor-Joy embodies a warrior facing wastelands where odds are against her favor. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures angst, bravery and determination of a furious woman. It’s an extraordinary performance.
The supporting cast is superb, sharing furious bonds. Chris Hemsworth is fantastic, capturing charisma acknowledgments of a mad emperor planning an evil agenda that becomes the nemesis of Furiosa. Tom Burke is terrific, capturing affection of a road warrior assisting Furiosa in an endeavor. Lastly, Charlee Fraser deserves acknowledgements. As Furiosa’s mother, she’s heartbreaking.
Finally, “Furiosa” earns appreciation for celebrating promising young women. Celebrating Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman”, it commemorates women battling sexism. It tackles universal themes including feminism, identity and trauma. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of the maddening franchise to appreciate it. Its heartwarming message impacts everyone experiencing trauma from an early age. Consequently, “Furiosa” is a blockbuster everyone would adore.
Despite its universal message, however, “Furiosa” can’t honor a furious feminist warrior with courage. If there’s one shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Miller’s decision telling stories using chapter structures is bold but hinders pacing. Therefore, scenes capturing Furiosa’s relationship with road warriors aren’t as engaging as quests to defeat emperors. Whereas this chapter structure elevated David Lowrey’s “The Green Knight”, it clashes with this blockbuster. As HBO’s “Game of Thrones” suggested, chapter structures elevate fantasy television series. Telling stories without distracting chapters may have made for a blockbuster that was more entertaining. Consequently, “Furiosa” falters.
Nevertheless, fans of the franchise will adore “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and so will audiences giving acknowledgements to feminism. A phenomenal prequel, it celebrates a furious feminist heroine which inspires wonder in woman. Nearly 40 years following the introduction of a precious franchise that gained prosperity giving acknowledgements to women that were furious, it could inspire individuals to celebrate larger-than-life institutionalizations women which are courageous.
A fantastic tribute to a furious feminist warrior, it’s a fabulous reminder of a franchise which achieved fame by portraying women facing frightening wastelands where the odds are stacked against their favor.
A dazzling celebration of a dark franchise depicting women on dune planets destined to die soon, it’s a rousing reminder of films that achieved fortune portraying furious women building a commune.
Like devastating deaths that cause Bruce Wayne to experience pain, it’s a rousing reminder of a franchise that hasn’t lost abilities to entertain by capturing women on wastelands driven insane.
As strong as Furiosa’s desires for vengeance, it has motivated me to move on many years after mourning the absence of a housemaid killed in violence by honoring a furious feminist heroine giving me strength to cope with a sad life experience.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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