Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

[Quark Blast]

A "saga" huh? Well ok then, I'm in!

This is getting good word of mouth and early reviews. Apparently this movie will rival Dune 2 for sound editing at the Oscars.

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

We will probably see it this weekened.

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

We did indeed see it this weekened, and we enjoyed it.
It's not as good as MM:FR, so temper your expectations accordingly.
The music was not as prominent as in FR and the CG a tad more noticable. There were a few continuity glitches (or at least questions) and some other minor oddities but on the whole if you enjoyed FR you will in all likelyhood enjoy this one.

[Aberzombie]

I've heard this is a pretty decent flick, with lots of great action sequences. Also heard that Chris Hemsworth is great in his role. I doubt I'll spend money to see it in a theater, but I'll most likely watch it once it drops to streaming.

[Thomas Seitz]

...And this is why we will not see much more Mad Max films because theater is a dying art form apparently...

[DeathQuaker]

I saw it yesterday--had the day off, went to a Tuesday matinee. Which is the most low activity day for theaters, but it was still kind of sad (though nice in its own way) that I was one of two people in the theater--if only because I worry for the future of the nice historic theater I like to go see movies in.

Box office intake this month (and basically since September or so, I think?) is just low all around and I don't think it's a comment on the movies' quality. I think it's a comment (at least in the U.S.) on wage-expense gaps and, particularly, the ever-rising prices of food and housing. I think a lot of folks spent a ton of money last July to go see Oppenheimer and Barbie (as they should have) but then were shocked to realize how much that ate into their petty cash budgets and just decided it wasn't worth going to the movies with very rare exception.

It was a very good movie, and I agree that it wasn't as good as Fury Road--it lost sight of its stakes somewhere in the middle as it got caught up in spectacle. The fight at Bullet Town took way too long. The soundtrack felt lacking.

But the overall plot arc worked well and went smoothly. All the performances were amazing. I am not a big Chris Hemsworth fan and I've always hated Thor, but he was really good in this.

I had completely coincidentally the day before watched 2020's Emma with my dad, so it was hilarious to realize I was watching the same lead actor. I'll give this to Anya Taylor-Joy: she's got range. I think I liked Charlize Theron better in the role, but Taylor-Joy was still incredible (and made sense to play the younger version of the character). She had to do a lot of performing without dialogue (Furiosa doesn't say a lot through much of the movie for various reasons) and carried that out beautifully.

[Thomas Seitz]

*loves Thor and Chris Hemsworth* I just wish they'd make MCU Thor hew A LITTLE closer to comics Thor some times.

[DeathQuaker]

You, Thomas? With the avatar with the guy with the glowing eyes and the Norse looking helmet? I never would have guessed you liked Thor. ;)

(And I should add, it is specifically MCU dudebro Thor I do not care much for. I know a lot of folks like him and that is not a judgement on their persons. :) )

[Thomas Seitz]

I get the dudebro problem, with the MCU Thor. But I guess with the fact I'm loving Al Ewing's run on Immortal Thor...and the fact I keep HOPING we'll find a way to make a Thor that gives him the gravitas he deserves (not saying change actors! just scripts!!), makes me want to see what comes next. (Currently the rumor is Feige and Chris want George Millar to direct Thor 5. COME ON MANGOG!!!!)

(Also I chose the avatar because I needed a good paladin. But yes, the winged helmet helps)

[Quark Blast]

To DQ's comments:
Yes! Inflation is pounding the *bleep* out of the box office receipts. Without a promotion I got at work late 2022, my effective buying power today would be about -20% what it was this time in 2020. COLAs in name only it seems.

In fact, the theater I saw this movie at (I was traveling last week), is for sale. Ha! Wouldn't own that for free my friend.

As for my own thoughts regarding the movie:
If not for Chris' performance, this would be one to wait for streaming. I liked the young Furiosa backstory, great new-to-me actress (who looks remarkably like ATJ) and that part is NOT too long, but they really could've shaved 20 or 30 minutes from the rest of the film. There were three times when I metaphorically looked at my watch.

Unlike Dune 2, the soundtrack for this movie pales in comparison to Fury Road, despite the same composer. If you take out the parts directly lifted from Fury Road, there's very little here to make you want a second listen.

There are some stunning shots, if a bit CGI-y in places. This looks like an OK movie made from the prep-work of a really great movie, which, it turns out, it was.

Overall, I might see it again someday incidentally. Also, it's hella depressing! Teddy Bear notwithstanding.
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