In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland.

It’s been 30 years since the last instalment in the Mad Max franchise, and it’s been well worth the wait for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, a breathtaking cinematic experience that throws everything but the kitchen sink at the screen. The film begins in a future where the world is a desert wasteland and civilization has collapsed, with valuable commodities such as oil and water in short supply. Max (Tom Hardy) is captured by a tyrannical cult led by Immortan Joe (series regular Hugh Keays-Byrne), but seizes a chance to escape when Joe sends out a convoy of war vehicles to track down Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who has gone rogue with a series of young women. What follows is a combination of pulsating action, superb special effects and a crashing soundtrack.

Tom Hardy isn’t quite as mental a Max as Mel Gibson was, but he’s a good fit and his portrayal is more subtle (well as subtle as anyone could be in this film!). To a certain extent the film is less about Max and more about Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, and her motivations for leading these young women away from the Citadel. Part of what makes this film such an engrossing experience is the fact the film’s narrative has a lot of strength that compliments the undoubtedly thrilling effects and action sequences.

The film is a frenetic road chase that barely pauses for a moment and Miller’s direction, in tandem with the stunning cinematography, really brings the post-apocalyptic landscape to life. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is deliriously over the top, filled to the brim with memorably eccentric characters and features some of the most thrilling action chase sequences in many a long time. By the 4th instalment of most series, the premise is tired and old themes are rehashed as a matter of course, but the 30 year gap seems to have reinvigorated Miller, and the output is as fresh and original as ever. I highly recommend checking out this crazy, extravagant piece of cinematic magic.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: George Miller

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough and Zoe Kravitz

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392190/