Mad Max: Fury Road.

[rhythmaning]

This afternoon, I went to see Mad Max: Fury Road.

Since this might contain spoilers - though frankly anyone who is likely to go will already have gone - I'll make some general points first and continue below the fold.

The gentle humour and in-depth characterisation, coupled with subtle dialogue that allowed the fascinating story to slowly unfold.

Ok that was just sarcastic, but I assume that FB is now showing the "More..." icon.

I'm trying to imagine to first script meeting.

"I know, let's have a chase!"

A moment later... "And then... Let's have a chase!"

This is a film of two halves, chase one and then chase two.

There is barely any dialogue, no character development, no exposition. It makes no sense whatsoever. The scene is set with an opening narrative, which falls away.

Max is mad. Furiosa is furious.

The special effects are apparently mostly physical rather than digital, and as others have said the while look of the movie is basically awesome. It looks amazing, a whole dessert rally of incredible steampunk vehicles, and has jaw dropping stunts.

The movie has one gear, which is foot-down fast. It is fun, in a mindless, smash 'em movie way. Which is fun. It is also utter, utter nonsense.

I say through to the end of the credits - well, nearly to the end, because the usher wanted to clear the cinema. The credits are hilarious. In Gravity, the digital special effects credits went on and on and on and on. In Mad Max, there were hardly ten lines of credits for digital special effects. But the list of mechanics scrolls on and on, and there are whole departments responsible for building vehicles and maintenance. There was a department responsible for "skulls and wheels".

The story of making the film as told by Wikipedia is fascinating - it has basically taken twenty years to get to the screen, and was filmed in Namibia when the Australian desert suffered some unexpected rainfall, and became green and fertile. (At least for a bit.)

Basically, it was everything I expected, and was fun, but wasn't a very good film.

Comments

[andrewducker]

Nux gets character development. Everyone else goes out with the character they went in with (although Max has changed a bit).

Not sure which bit didn't make sense to you. I thought there was a lot of great worldbuilding done through implication, and it was fantastically well put together.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Actually, Nux falling for one of wives made no sense whatsoever! You don't stop becoming blood thirsty (literally!) psychopathic member of a death cult just because an attractive woman shows a little compassion. (Though I must admit at this point I don't have any personal experience of this.)

And I didn't think her behaviour was in character, either!

[andrewducker]

Before he gets to that point he goes through a bunch of stuff, including the argument about why he's doing what he's doing, where they tell him that everything he's been told is a lie.

You can argue that he believes it a bit too easily, but he's clearly a very damaged person who has been clinging onto anything that makes him feel worthwhile.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

You could! And I would...!

[andrewducker]

I'd agree with this:
http://redshoesnblueskies.tumblr.com/post/121366065834/malibujojo-becausedragonage

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

...whereas I wouldn't... ;)

Well actually, it is a valid point: it was an oddessy of sorts.

But aside from the non-stop action throughout the film, not much happens, except they chase to the west, and then chase to the east.

Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed it for what it was; it looked superb - the steam punk car were very impressive.

It has also lingered in my mind - all sorts of questions, mostly on the detail, and quite a lot of "how did they actually do that?!"

[andrewducker]

"But aside from the non-stop action throughout the film, not much happens."

So, other than all the stuff that happens, not much happens.

I'm not sure what you mean by "happens" in this case. I'm truly baffled. Huge amounts of stuff happened.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree!

Action isn't enough - for me. It was a film of four parts:

• capture
  
• chase
  
• decision
  
• chase

I didn't feel the characters developed through that, though others disagree.

It was very comic book or computer game, neither of which are genres which hold any interest for me.

I enjoyed it, it was awesome, and it left little with me except unanswerable questions.

The fact that we are debating it shows it had depth. But having seen it, I'm done.

(Actually, maybe not true. I think a sequel might be more interesting. Furiosa establishes a vegetarian colony but has to deal with warlike cities around. Nux crawls back, creates a dynasty with the wife (I know they had names, but I only got that from the credits). Max meets Tina Turner. Oh hang on...

[andrewducker]

Pure action isn't enough for me either. But I saw this as having more than that. Clearly we'll have to disagree on that :->

And yes, it does a great job of setting up a world with lots of stuff in it. Interesting locations, fascinatingly odd people. Lots of things to build on there if you wanted a sequel.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

...Or a prequel...

How did Furiosa lose her hand?
Why is Mad Max tortured by visions? (Possibly answered by Mel Gibson, but that's twenty years ago and I was probably too drunk to remember.)
Why were the Wives so pristine when everyone everyone else was so grubby?
Where did the milk come from?
Why did the huddled masses not stage a revolt?
How did dictator Immortan Joe And again I only know his name because of the credits) take and retain power when he is clearly an emotional and maybe physical cripple.

And thinking about it further, the post equating it to a Greek tragedy works. And as I said, it has clearly for me thinking!