Just back from Sheffield im£x. Had to see it on the biggest screen possible. (Sorry local independent.)
George Lucas needs to take lessons from George Miller about cinematic world building – and connecting the dots within your own universe.
What an incredible film though – I thought it was an absolute pulse pounding visceral cinematic achievement that had something the other Max’s don’t have – an emotional core.
I was expecting something less than Fury Road but this was a different level for me. Whereas Fury Road is just a chase this film elevates itself into the bigger, more 3 dimensional and interesting picture.
I was certainly expecting some dampening down of action – but the action that has been put on screen here to me is far far more involving than the showcasing of Fury Road. The stunt work coupled with new fangled ways of pushing the camera around has gotten to astonishing levels.
Pixel peepers needn’t not worry – I only noticed a couple of flaky bits (the VW type van going off the cliff is much better)- most of the stuff in the trailer has been altered or improved as you would expect. In fact the physics here I thought were better than Fury road. There was just something about the imagination and attention to detail of clunking metal.
They’ve definitely dialled back the crazy colour grading to something approaching a more realistic colour palette. Compare the sand storms to Fury Road – these seemed far more grounded in reality. That was welcome for me as I really didn’t like the sand storms in Fury Road.
Anya Taylor-Joy really does do a lot with minimal dialogue. And the characters are fleshed out a bit more this time. It feels like this film should have been made before Fury Road really.
Chris Hemsworth is pretty bat-shit as are many of the auxiliary characters. And they’ve really played up the violence, torture and squirm factor on this. Feels more like Max 2 in that respect.
Downsides? I thought the ending felt a bit like Gladiator in that it needed a big set piece to finish it off. But I really liked the coda of the film as it moves to Fury Road. Some of the supporting actors are given bumpy dialogue to say – which isn’t always filled with clarity.
I absolutely loved it and it delivered the perfect marriage of moving characters along and upping the game. It didn’t have that laboured franchise feel to it either.
The cinematography and editing is some of the best I’ve ever seen – placing characters in wide shots on the war rigs to close up in the same take. Outstanding editing too. Loved the score which never lets up.
Easily in my top 5 action films of all time and above Fury Road as a story and piece of cinema.
An almost certainty to be a huge hit and probably underrated in recent reviews.
It’s got that cult classic vibe to it as well.
You know it’s good when you haven’t a clue how long the film is. This is a big screen experience – as much as a cliché that is.
Brilliant. Jaw-dropping.
