One of this year’s most anticipated movies held its Australian premiere this week, and it sounds like it’s going to be another blockbuster hit for 2024. George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga continues the post-apocalypse action movie franchise nearly a decade after the massive success of Mad Max: Fury Road. In this prequel, Anya Taylor-Joy portrays the title character, previously played by Charlize Theron, with Chris Hemsworth co-starring in a villainous role. According to film critics who’ve seen Furiosa, Miller’s still got it, though it’s debatable whether the movie reaches the heights of Fury Road.
Here’s what critics are saying about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga:
Is this another great entry in the Mad Max franchise?
Furiosa is a BLAST!
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
Great news, Furiosa is a masterful examination of one of the greatest characters of the last 20 years.
– BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm
It brings me great joy to report that Furiosa is really, really f–king good.
– David Ehrlich, IndieWire
Furiosa engulfs you. At times it almost seems to exceed the canvas of the IMAX format it is THAT big – and yet at times has a deeply affecting intimacy. Echoing cinematic elements from the ‘50s through the ‘80s, it’s a rich, smart vision the cast revels in.
– Simon Thompson, The Wrap
Furiosa is myth-making at its finest… a powerful, moving, gritty tale of revenge in the middle of a world gone wild.
– Bill Bria, Slashfilm
It was great.
– Esther Zuckerman, Bloomberg News
All hail George Miller.
– Josh Horowitz, MTV
Furiosa is epic, beautiful, and everything I wanted for my queen.
– Rachel Lesihman, The Mary Sue
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
How does Furiosa compare to Fury Road?
Made in the spirit of Fury Road, it’s still its own beast that thrives on exaggerated action and characters.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
A phenomenal, powerful shift in approach from Fury Road that continues to prove Miller is the master of the modern myth.
– BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm
It operates in an extremely different gear than Fury Road (in ways that I suspect will frustrate some people), but also manages to make that movie even richer while carving its own legend in the wasteland.
– David Ehrlich, IndieWire
It’s an antithesis to Fury Road in that where that film is sparse, this is verbose and epic, and where once was a nigh silent film is now a massive canvas of dystopia, despair, and glory.
– David Crow, Den of Geek
Furiosa is not Fury Road, and that’s ok. It’s not trying to be. What it is is something uniquely gnarly and yes, epic.
– Josh Horowitz, MTV
This won’t match up to Fury Road’s splendor but it also doesn’t need to.
– Therese Lacson, Collider
It’s one of the most brutal Mad Max films yet.
– John Nguyen, Nerd Reactor
(Photo by Jasin Boland/©Warner Bros. Pictures)
How is Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa?
Sensational.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Fantastic.
– Josh Horowitz, MTV
Anya Taylor-Joy makes Furiosa her own in an often silent yet deafeningly loud physical performance (while still paying l more than a little homage to Charlize before the end).
– David Crow, Den of Geek
Anya Taylor-Joy owns.
– Bill Bria, Slashfilm
What about Chris Hemsworth’s villain?
This is Chris Hemsworth’s chance to prove his worth as a character actor.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
Chris Hemsworth chews every piece of scenery in sight.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Hemsworth was born to play bad guys. LET HIM!!
– BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm
Chris Hemsworth is like a villainous Thor with his red cape and long hair.
– John Nguyen, Nerd Reactor
Chris Hemsworth is leading his best life as Dementus: Lucifer if he had an Aussie accent.
– David Crow, Den of Geek
Hemsworth kills.
– Bill Bria, Slashfilm
(Photo by Jasin Boland/©Warner Bros. Pictures)
How does it look?
Furiosa is two-and-a-half hours of colorful mayhem.
– John Nguyen, Nerd Reactor
Furiosa is a visual feast and spectacular marvel.
– David Crow, Den of Geek
Gorgeously shot and the action sequences are mind-blowing.… The CGI is often ghastly.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Another epic world-building experience from the chaotically creative George Miller, the overt CGI may irk some, but there’s no denying the fascinating opportunities he’s created further in this universe.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
Any complaints about the script?
Much of the film struggles with inconsistent pacing due to the segmented story.
– Therese Lacson, Collider
The narrative lags considerably.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
(Photo by ©Warner Bros. Pictures)
Does it leave us wanting more?
I would and could easily watch 15 hours of Anya Taylor Joy and Alyla Browne as Furiosa.
– Therese Lacson, Collider
I can’t wait to see it again and again and really dig in.
– Josh Horowitz, MTV
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in theaters everywhere on May 24, 2024.
Thumbnail image by Warner Bros. Pictures
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