Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Review

Read Time:5 Minute, 18 Second

It was hard to know who was more crazy, me or everyone else?” asked Max.

Infused with striking visuals and Oz-pera metal riffs, Fury Road was like a 3-minute progressive death metal anthem itself—with excessive drum solo and versatile guitar distortion. It was straight-forward, violent, but philosophically enticing.

Over three decades, Max Rockatansky finally returns in a more dollar-imposed Aussie post-apocalyptic wasteland packed with nuclear-mutated lizard and deformed human, which out-of-sudden drove me crazy in just 10 minutes. I was just recalling the dystopian excitement of doing a throwback Mad Max trilogy marathon when I realized that George Miller brought back his stylish-but-lavish world from the 80s to a vibrant 2015 palette.

Captured by pale-skinned bald scavengers, Max (Tom Hardy; bye, Mel) refused to take an instant reboot to his own story but rather pick a period during his lone vagabond—planning to escape from a post-nuclear-war primitive tribal led by Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne, previously portrayed Toecutter)—who took Scandinavian influence to his followers and promised Valhalla to them. Meanwhile, a turncloak, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron)—Immortan’s most trusted, planned an escape with her pack of belle-in-desert girls. Then, there he goes—a long, devastating chase scene with high-octane car-nage. Full throttle.

I would say that the plot was simple and straight-forward, yet, the script was well-penned—bringing back some B-movie elements from Mel Gibson era with satire to world’s paranoia. Yet, it’s deep as a film to depict how human connects to each other following the apocalypse. It starts off very brief before Miller’s exhibition of hardcore destruction starts with Immortan Joe and his War Boys chased Furiosa and reached the climax with a most visually striking sandstorm. After that, there was a let-off that was never really a checkpoint to rest, but another setup to a more exhilarating adventure.

Hardy as Max might not have Mel Gibson’s grief and loss; but he embraced the regret very convincingly and turned it into an enemy that always held his back. Max, as a loner, connected to people better here although Hardy had a different aura to portray the titular character. His character was only as good as Charlize Theron portraying the bionic Furiosa—fortunately, Theron was this film’s biggest gem.

With Furiosa got most spotlight and Max helped as her shadow, Fury Road explicated the woman and man relation better than any relationship depicted in previous three movies. Though it had the tendency of being misandrist (or a misleading misogynist?), the film found its fuel on that controversial matter. Yet, having a feminist treatment never meant that Fury Road is merciful cause it’s not George Miller’s way.

With well-written straight-forward narrative and characters that went impressive, Fury Road is a worth 3-decade waiting. In a world where sequel were anticipated with low expectation, this film spit it out—making your first viewing an exhilarating, jaw-dropping moment and making your second viewing—after adjusting your level of expectation—a car-gasmic bravura.

VERDICT: Fury Road is a hardcore comeback from a long-hiatus franchise with straight plot but all the most exhilarating things a Mad Max sequel should be.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure Directed by: George Miller Written by: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris Starred by: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Nicholas Hoult Running Time: 120 mins Rated R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images

IMDb | Official Site



Dipenuhi dengan visual yang mencolok mata dan riff metal gaya Oz-pera, Fury Road terasa seperti lagu death metal progresif selama 3 menit—dengan solo drum yang kilat dan distorsi gitar yang meraung-raung—hanya saja dengan skala yang lebih besar. Filmnya sendiri tanpa basa-basi, brutal sekaligus filosofis.

Setelah 3 dekade, Max Rockatansky akhirnya kembali di dunia post-apocalyptic Australia lengkap dengan kadal mutan dan manusia yang deformed. Kembalinya dia ke layar langsung menggoda iman saya hanya dalam waktu 10 menit pertama. Saat saya masih mengingat excitement menonton trilogi Mad Max ketika saya sadar bahwa George Miller bukan hanya memindah gaya B-movie 80an-nya ke layar, namun mengadjustnya dengan palet 2015 dan jutaan dollar pendukungnya.

Max (kini Tom Hardy) mengawali comebacknya dengan tidak mulus: ditangkap oleh para War Boys botak berkulit pucat pasi; namun, ia menolak reboot instan, ia lebih suka menempatkan kisah ini sebagai salah satu periode pengembaraannya. Max mencoba kabur dari suku primitif post-perang nuklir yang dipimpin Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne, Toecutter di Mad Max original)—yang mengajarkan ajaran Skandinavia pada pengikutnya. Sementara, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron)—orang kepercayaan Joe malah membelot, membawa kabur satu harem penuh istri Joe. Kemudian semuanya jelas—kisah kejar-kejaran panjang yang super destruktif dengan car-nage beroktan tinggi (maaf Furious 7). Tancap gas.

Plotnya memang terkesan sederhana dan lugas, namun, skripnya sangat rapi—membawa elemen B-movie dari era Mel Gibson dan menambahkan simbolisme serta satire untuk dunia yang paranoid. Awalnya sangat padat dan berisi sebagai pembuka pameran hardcore Miller yang puncaknya adalah badai pasir super mencolok. Setelahnya, film ini seolah baru mulai bercerita—menambah kesan bahwa badai pasir tadi belum apa-apa.

Hardy sebagai Max mungkin tak memiliki pancaran rasa kehilangan dan kesedihan Mel Gibson; namun, ia bisa menyampaikan rasa bersalah Max dengan sangat meyakinkan, menjadikannya musuh dalam selimutnya. Max yang sebatang kara mampu menjalin hubungan dengan orang lain lebih baik di sini meskipun Hardy memiliki aura tersendiri dalam memerankan sang anti-hero. Karakternya pun terekskalasi dengan hadirnya Theron sebagai Furiosa—yang menurut saya, karakter paling penting di film ini.

Dengan Furiosa disorot habis-habisan dan Max menjadi bayangannya, Fury Road menegaskan hubungan saling melengkapi pria dan wanita—sama seperti 3 film lainnya menampilkan hubungan interpersonal yang unik. Meskipun sering kali terasa sedikit misandrist (atau malah misogyny?), film ini justru dibumbui dengan matang lewat kontroversi itu—karena, meskipun nampak feminist, Fury Road bukanlah film yang penuh ampunan. Not Miller’s way.

Dengan narasi lugas yang terstruktur rapi serta karakter yang impresif, Fury Road menandai penantian 3 dekade yang terbayar tuntas. Dalam dunia di mana sekuel ditunggu dengan ekspektasi serendah-rendahnya, film ini malah memuntahkan semua pendapat itu—karena film ini mampu membuatmu ternganga saat pertama kali menonton dan mencapai car-gasm saat menonton kedua kalinya (bahkan dengan ekspektasi yang sudah disesuaikan).

14 responses to “Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Review”

  1. iza Avatar
    iza

    salam pecinta film.

    permisi, saya mau promosi blog review film juga.

    [ iza-anwar.blogspot.com ]

    mohon tambahkan dalam daftar blogroll Anda dan follow juga blog saya.

    maaf bila review saya masih amatiran dan saya ucapkan terima kasih sebelumnya :).

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Siap kak! Sukses selalu utk blognya!

  2. mediocrenick Avatar
    mediocrenick

    I firmly believe that Fury Road is one of the best action oriented sci-fi of the decade!

    https://motionpictureaficionado.wordpress.com/

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      And that belief, I guess, makes the two of us!

  3. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    Another rave. I can’t wait for this movie!

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      I hope you’ll like it eventually!

  4. Jenna and Allie (@FlickChicksBlog) Avatar
    Jenna and Allie (@FlickChicksBlog)

    Great review! I saw this kind of against my own will but absolutely loved it. Probably the best action film I’ve ever seen!
    – Allie

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Thanks! Glad that you liked it that much, Allie!

  5. Tri Fajar Avatar
    Tri Fajar

    Benar2 berasa di Valhalla

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Road to Valhalla!

  6. Tri Fajar Avatar
    Tri Fajar

    Valhalla-nya film aksi, apalagi cara pengambilan gambar dan aksi gila2an yg bikin makin enjoy nonton di layar besar daripada Avengers 2 yg filmnya lebih enak ditonton di layar tv karena pengambilan gambar yg terlalu dekat ke aktor.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Setuju! Sinematografinya emg istimewa kalau dibanding Avengers

  7. Tri Fajar Avatar
    Tri Fajar

    Hahaha Fury Road borong Oscar, 6 kemenangan. Padahal ini film bukan Oscar Bait kan?

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Could’ve been more 🙂 tapi emang Oscar bait sama engga kadang ngga ada bedanya… Toh dulu Return of the King juga menang Oscar, BP lg

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!