Mad Max: Fury Road

I couldn’t help but think of Tim Allen and his constant grunts of manly masculism on the TV show “Home Improvement” when watching the adrenaline soaked movie “Mad Max: Fury Road.”  There will be a lot of “Tool Time” grunts, as this movie has so much testosterone and adrenaline, theatres should install seatbelts and some kind of hydration system when watching the film.  Your heart will beat from excitement, suspense and pure enjoyment.  The film is go…go…GOOOOOO the whole 2 hours.  And it totally ROCKS in every way! 

I must confess, I am not big into CGI movies, the effects thereof, or their smaller counterpart “the car chase scene.”  Personally, if I don’t care about the characters or what is taking place, I don’t care what things look like in regards to action sequences.  This is what I find so troubling about the uselessness that is the “Transformers” films.  Combine this with the FACT  that the movie “Bullit,” with the legendary Steve McQueen, has the pinnacle of all car chase scene, I ask  “why bother with new car chase scenes?”  “The Fast and the Furious” series is fun, as are those “Bourne” car chase scenes, but, I don’t know…something is missing.  For me, car chases boil down to a vibe I can’t shake, the  “I swear I’ve seen this before” vibe.  So, it was with a bit of an exaggerated sigh and the knowledge that Frank Miller goes “all out in his films” that I prematurely sat down to watch and review his reinterpretation/continuation of the Max franchise.  To be blunt:  I was wrong, this movie ROCKS!

The movie is set in an apocalyptic America or country that is full of sand and little else.  Water and gasoline are vital to those that have survived.  Max is a part of this life and he has lost his family, the scars still haunting him as he wanders the wasteland.  The movie pays homage to “The Book of Eli,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Star Wars” in regards to the spiritual wasteland and the losteness of souls that have survived.  Within minutes of seeing nothing but sand and Max briefly talking, he is captured and used as a body hostage that hosts blood.  His captors are employed by a villain named Immortan Joe, who has water supplies and gasoline, which he uses  to enslave many.  This is very similar to Gary Oldman’s role in “Book of Eli,” as both men use the resources they have to enslave thousands.  Joe is “packaged” by various forms of body armor and masks in order to preserve the religion he has created, one that has him as a demi-god.

After Max is captured, Immorten Joe quickly sends his crew (“War Boys” they are called) on a typical supply, gasoline, water run in order to keep this society humming along.  However, during this trip, Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) takes the “War Rig” truck off road, heading east.  The rest of the crew she is traveling with assumes she knows where she is going and what she is doing.  However, Immorten Joe soon finds out she is headed east because Furiosa is trying to free Joe’s five wives, who just happen to be introduced to us via classic “woman using water for car washing purposes” (a.k.a. “Cool Hand Luke”).  It is on this retrieval trip that Max is perched upon a small Volkswagen, as the driver is using his blood.  When a sandstorm causes massive collateral car damage, Max barely survives, and meets up with Furiosa and her ladies.

Max is played by Tom Hardy, a rising star that rose to prominence as the vicious villain Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises.”  Sadly, for the first part of the film, he wears a mask, like Bane, and says very little that is understandable.  I’m unsure why Hardy is growing as an actor when he is difficult to understand.   I’m not saying he isn’t relatable or horrible, just hard to understand.  Frankly, he looks and acts a bit like Jeremy Renner (a.k.a. Hawkeye in the Avengers) is many of his roles, but I digress.   Hardy finally gets his mask off and then does little talking, so in some sense, it doesn’t matter.  Heck, the car chases are why people will go to see this.  And the car chase scenes deliver in every sense.  They are chaotic, crazy, impossible and believable all in one scene.  I am truly stunned that the cars look as believable as they do, as you know when thing are happening, there has to be CGI involved, yet it doesn’t take away from the wonderment you will experience when watching.  This film is perfect for IMAX.

While we never get to know Immorten Joe or why he has these breeders as wives, we do get a chance to know and love Furiosa.  She doesn’t steal the show, but is amazing throughout.  Critics have loved the versatility of Charlize Theron for years, as she can do so many parts well that it is hard to know where her specialty lies.   From comedy in “Arrested Development” to her well deserved Oscar, she can do it all, and now she has a huge win that falls in the “action” category.  Her eyes always exhibit calm, yet she shows tender grace to her lost family and extreme hatred towards Joe for her years of indentured service.  Her dedication to the part is commendable, as is her shaved head and lost arm. 

There are many critics that have viewed this film, enjoyed it, and seem to think that the story is ultimately a feminist story, one that empowers women and shows they are tough and can fight and “hang” with men, as they are the ones that overthrow Joe and will now rule instead.  While there are certain moments of great feminine strength and beauty, Max is always involved, as is the underrated Nick Hoult (of Beast fame from X-Men), making the story one of team work, hope and redemption.  I’m confused as to why critics must label something “feminine” or “feminist” in order to make a film great, when that has nothing to do with the overall enjoyment of this particular film.  Technically, this film was directed by Frank Miller, who did the “Sin City” franchise, one that mistreats, hurts and leaves most women in the “wait for man to save them” stage.  In this film, while the ladies have more action and freedom, the entire world revolves around testosterone and cars, which, traditionally, are male activities.  Just enjoy the film because it is a great film, with great car chase scenes, and excellent respect among the leads.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

I, like millions of Americans the past few weeks, have gone to see the biggest movie of the year, aside from the coming onslaught known as Star Wars. And i, like others, have waited with baited breath for the Avengers to fight side by side destroying another cosmic force. So, for those who haven't seen it, i offer my humble thoughts on the film, and for those who have, my humble thoughts that hopefully coincide with the movie. To keep things simple, i will review the film in the form of an interview, with big questions serving as the fulcrum to the review.
Before beginning, just know that the movie revolves around the Avengers fighting an entity known as Ultron, which is simply a program that Tony Stark created, but with humanities first encounter with Artificial Intelligence that actually grows, learns and adapts to any of its opponents. When Ultron comes alive and believes that the greatest threat to mankind is the Avengers, well, he obviously must adapt and try and destroy them in order to preserve mankind. So, Iron Man, there is a glitch in the system.

Is the movie better, worst or okay in comparison to the first?
This is the one question everyone really wants to know when going to this film. First, no one will hate this film. Some may be a bit disappointed, as it is simply missing "X" when compared to the first one, but for all the characters and action scenes, as well as a solid plot, it does a solid, albeit repetitive job when compared to the first. By "repetitive" i simply mean, action, discussion, long reflection of characters, more action, repeat.

Who are the new characters?
In some sense, the movie has and introduces too many characters. Yet, the nerd in me says, "How can that be bad?" But i digress. The movie features two very prominent characters: Scarlet Witch (who can manipulate minds and throw plasmic beams of energy at people) and her twin brother Quicksilver (who can run so fast time seems to slow down). The movie also features Vision (Jarvis in a "free" from his computer based reality into an actual body, with an infinity stone in his head) and a few others (Falcon, War Machine, etc.). While these characters start off as "bad" they come to join the fight against Ultron.

Which Avenger is the most important in this film?
In the first film, you had a build up of other Marvel films leading to the Avengers teaming up, but Captain America clearly being the guy to unite the team and really, the country. In this one, the movie does a good job poking fun at the weaknesses of the Avengers through humor, from Thor's hammer to Iron Man's pride, the movie is playful towards these weaknesses, until Ultron exposes the weaknesses for his own purposes. While Hawkeye is given moments to prove sacrifice and family are vital to team members, (as he is the only one that has these things), the movie still revolves around Captain America. As Stark stares him down, angry that his pride has been used against him yells at Cap, "You can't trust someone that doesn't have a dirty past." Captain America still has the focus of protection, sacrifice, and serving others as his main moral code, and it unites and has the respect of others. While Hulk is given screen time to struggle with his identity and ability to do good in a horrible, green, angry, body, he cannot start a relationship with Black Widow due to his fear of hurting her and others. This is the one major flaw of the movie, but you ultimately have to respect Josh Weadon for trying: He has so many fun and great characters he wants to give time to, as well as develop, it is just hard and can hurt the flow of the movie. Hulk dating Black Widow comes out of nowhere, yet you aren't upset because "Hey, this could work." At the same time this is ongoing, you have the relationships of the other characters, so there just isn't enough "room" for them all. AND, let's not forget this is all leading to the biggest Marvel plot point of all the comics: THANOS and the gauntlet! The word "HUGE" is an understatement when discussing this character and plot point that will be coming in 2017. If he is not given screen time, motive and purpose, the next films will be "big" in name only, as Thanos is a beast and has tons of "villainy" potential. James Spader does a great job as Ultron, but he must be small to whoever dons the Thanos hat. Right now, it is a toss up between several main actors, so stay tuned.

Why does Iron Man fight Hulk?
Believe it or not, Iron Man is not controlled by Ultron when he fights Hulk. It is a great action bit that does not linger into useless Transfomer action. Instead, Iron Man is trying to overcome a mystical spell that has been cast on the Hulk. Just enjoy the mayhem. Again, more fun jokes.

What's with the end of the film?
The end of the film, with the new Avengers and Vision, are VITAL to the series. Ultimately, Vision has an infinity stone in his head, one of the gems that has cosmic power in it (which Guardians of the Galaxy and first Avengers films discussed), which Thanos (a cosmic evil being) wants for his own purposes. No joke: earth is nothing when compared to these gems. Thanos wants eternal and cosmic rule over everything and the only way to get it is to have the gauntlet and gems. Obviously, that can't and doesn't happen in the comics.

Bottom Line: This movie just works for every age and sex. It isn't so action oriented that you begin to think, "Hey, this is just the Transformers with a better cast" for which i am totally relieved. Second, if you have someone in your party that isn't in to "chic flicks" or "Action" this movie has you covered. As a soon to be father, i can honestly say, "Yes, there are some dark moments, but language is tame and good guys teaming up to fight pure evil would lead me to take my 10 year old son." While you may be a bit bummed it isn't the first one, you won't leave hating or regretting the two hour run time.

7 out of 10
Nerd in me review: 10 out of 10!!!! (I have the Pez of those guys)

-to god be the glory for great things he has done!