printerati

Saw it last night and couldn't agree more. I had fun, but I didn't find it particularly groundbreaking or fresh. Hell, you could have swapped the Mad Max character for Riddick from Pitch Black and left everything else the same, and it would have fit perfectly in that universe as well.

hasslein

No resentment in the fact, I think its cool, but she is the protagonist.

Bluelitespecial

I saw it again last night, and enjoyed it much better on a second viewing. Except for a few scenes at the end the 3d is pointless.

Hokeyboy

Max isn't a deeply fleshed-out character in this movie. Heck, he's barely a character at all, he's more of an archetype. Almost all of them are. The most fully developed character in the movie is easily Nux, followed by Immortan Joe.

FURY ROAD is a kickass, visually breathtaking action fest of incredible kinetics, but it lacked the characterization moments that really elevated similar fare like Dredd or The Raid.

Why So Blu?

Just read the first issue of the pre-quel comic and it was pretty dope. They tell you how Nux became a War Boy and how Joe became Immortan Joe.

They also introduce a "Wordburger" and it basically answered my question as to who that old lady was that helped the women escape in the film. She had the shotgun and all of the writing on her body. They're basically recorders/teachers, etc.

Looks like the series is limited to 4 issues, so there's only a few left and I also saw that the Art of Mad Max: Fury Road is available to buy from Amazon. If WETA had anything to do with it y'all know it's going to be a top notch book. I hear there's some early production artwork of what Joe used to look like. He would put detergent all over himself and be colored blue.

I'll probably end up getting it at some point.

Solid Snake

Yeah. I'm getting the art book for Fury Road. I don't get art books for films but Pacific Rim was my first one and Fury Road will be my second now.

Why So Blu?

I should also point out, as someone did on another board, about how Mad Max really isn't just a supporting character. I'm not going to put it in spoiler tags, because if you're in the reviews thread and haven't seen it yet then that's on you.


Makes sense to me.

Solid Snake

Max falls into this world but he isn't the motivating force. Furiosa is... but Max is still the lead. He takes responsibility into Furiosa's cause.

Hokeyboy

That logic doesn't make him a lead character. Otherwise you could argue that, for example, R2-D2 is the lead character in Star Wars. Just because you make events happen (or facilitate them) doesn't mean the story is necessarily about you.

Why So Blu?

He's the catalyst.

It doesn't hurt the narration or all that other stuff people seem to be complaining about.

printerati

Jesus is the lead character in Ben-Hur. Discuss.

Why So Blu?

RichC2

Eh everybody is entitled to their opinion, I saw somebody mention The Raid and that movie was an absolute chore to get through.

Why So Blu?

They are but I get the feeling that some dudes are butthurt that Furiosa was that big of a character considering that the original title was FURIOSA. I sense some passive aggressiveness. Maybe they're part of that whole group of angry men that don't want strong females in their films?

Just sayin'.

RichC2

I could be wrong but I don't think that's it. I understand the want for more Max in the movie. While he's very obviously the main character in the movie, the man that steers the events, he isn't at the forefront despite his presence being felt throughout.

He's the bad ass that knows what to do and how to get what needs to be done with Furiosa providing the ever changing MacGuffin. But he also remains mostly quiet and is never given the chance to truly shine -- he's basically the mentor to a group of amateurs. So while it didn't bother me, I get that some people just wanted more of him in the picture. It wasn't really a movie about Mad Max despite being about one of his many adventures.

The only real argument for it not being a Mad Max movie is maybe the scene where he walks off and the camera stays with the group, sure it makes him come off as a bad ass ("It's not his blood.") but it does kind of suggest that he isn't the main point. Well that, and I really just wanted to see him fuck those guys up.

With all that said, I can see this tying back in to a future episode (if they continue) where he again crosses paths with Furiosa, having helped build her into the empress that she now is.

Solid Snake

Furiosa was supposed to be the film that was to come out after Fury Road in the original intention of filming Fury Road and Furiosa back to back.

printerati

That's all I'm trying to say. Furiosa could be anyone or anything as far as I'm concerned, but it would still be her story, not Max's...and, really, anyone could have played the "Max" role in this story.

RichC2

Ah I didn't know there was an intended follow-up for Furiosa. Kind of bummed there isn't one planned right now.

I'm not sure I agree with that necessarily. He almost fully steers where everything goes in the movie following the first chase, something I think that fits well with the Max character.

Mr. Cinema

Nope. A few of us just didn't think this was the greatest thing ever like everyone else on here. I don't know why that would make someone a "hater".

Why So Blu?

Well, like my favorite tweet on Mad Max said: I've got 99 problems and a strong well defined female ain't one.

RichC2

And most people who see the movie really have no problem with a strong female lead. I know a few people that didn't care for this that absolutely adore Kill Bill.

The movie was an 80s throwback retelling of a Shakespearian tale on wheels with some crazy practical effects, but it's also lacking in character development and standard exposition. It isn't for everybody.

And as much as I'd love to pull out the "98%" card, everybody has to remember The Babadook also got a 98%, and I can't think of a more divisive highly rated movie off hand.

Supermallet

That's his MO. If you don't love a movie he loved, you're automatically a hater.

And I have no problem with Furiosa being the main character in this movie.

Why So Blu?

See, I'd just say to watch the first trilogy. Boom - there's your chraacter development. I don't care if MMFR is a reboot or retcon, etc., but watch the first three and you've got more than enough material to keep up with in this world.

Solid Snake

I kind of like seeing Max fall into other people's situations. MM2 and MM3 had it go there too. Fury Road did it too. I don't think I'd like for him to be JUST that though. At the time same time, Max is a loner. What trouble could he get into where it's just him?

Hokeyboy

No he isn't. Furiosa would have enacted her plan with our without Max.