The Mad Max movies have been proving to be one of the best action franchises since 1979. 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road blew the minds or moviegoers when it hit theaters and is often considered one of the best action flicks around. Now, a direct prequel to Fury Road, titled Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has made it to the big screen to expand on that epic tale. Is this new film in the series something glorious to witness, or is it as flat as a tire? Let’s speed on to find out.

The Good

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga explores the character of Furiosa and the world of this wasteland more than ever. The audience learns so much more about her character, her backstory that made her who she is, and what makes her tick. Similarly, more details about this unique world are explored. For those wondering more about how the rules of this world work or more about Furiosa as a character after seeing Fury Road, there’s so much more to learn in this installment, and it’s all great.

This movie tells an incredible revenge story that will have any moviegoer fighting for the protagonist. The setup of the initial wrongdoing is perfectly rage-inducing and the eventual comeuppance is extremely satisfying. Mad Max began as a simple revenge story and this fits that mold swimmingly. It’s so much fun to see it all play out and for the villain to get what he deserves. It’s one of the better revenge stories seen on screen in recent years.

The film looks absolutely beautiful. It may be lacking the amount of traditional effects the series is known for, but the CGI that is used does look fantastic. The costume, makeup and production design teams did an outstanding job as well. Actors are completely hidden in their roles. The world looks immersive and lifelike. The vehicle designs are just as fun as ever with the likes of a motorcycle chariot. It’s overall a visually stunning movie.

The action is positively riveting throughout. In true Mad Max fashion, the fights on top of speeding vehicles are exceptionally creative and well-choreographed. Every single one of them feel like a high-octane amusement park ride and are definitely worth experiencing on the big screen. Not only is the action entertaining, but parts of the story are also told through these fight sequences. It’s hard not to watch from the edge of your seat.

There are anti-capitalist themes throughout that are quite thought-provoking. The story sheds some light on how those in control of various monopolies are the ones hurting the world we live in. It does so in an organic way, and it’s an important theme that’s relevant today.

Furiosa is probably one of the best prequel films of all time. This is because of how it successfully explains details and expands the world that’s already been introduced to the audience while still feeling like a standalone story. It’s not just callbacks for callbacks’ sake. It all actually adds to the story.

The Bad

The most notable issue with the movie is that it’s overly long. It’s about two and a half hours and could definitely have been made a bit shorter. Sure, other movies get away with running even longer, but the length is definitely felt with this one. It’s hard to tell why; perhaps the pacing could be cleaned up a little.

There’s a moment in the film that feels a little confusing at first. It’s explained shortly after, and it is possible to figure out, but the confusion is distracting enough that it takes away from enjoying the action in the moment. Essentially, there’s a specific scene in which it’s not initially clear as to why multiple characters are in a certain place or why they’re doing certain things there. It could have been made a bit more clear so that the scene could be fully enjoyed.

The end of the movie shows the moments right before Fury Road starts, but she’s still played by Anya Taylor-Joy rather than Charlize Theron. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s obviously the same character regardless of the actress, but Taylor-Joy is meant to be the younger version of Theron’s Furiosa, so this does create some questions. This is obviously incredibly minor, but still noticeable.

Conclusion

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is tremendous fun and a welcome addition to the Mad Max library. It builds off of Fury Road nicely and gives some appreciated explanation to the characters and world. The action is explosive, the production design is fantastic, and the designs of the various vehicles are just plain fun. It does feel overly long, but it’s worth it to see the badass that is Furiosa kicking butt, learn more about the wasteland, and experience the movie’s smarter elements.

Mad Max is a gem of a franchise, and it’s nice to see it expanded in such a great way.

Rating: 8.5/10