Mad Max: Fury Road (9/1/2015)

Rated R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, and Hugh Keays-Byrne

Directed by George Miller (Mad Max, Road Warrior)

Visually the most disturbing film of the year.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

The original Mad Max, released more than 35 years ago and launched the careers of George Miller and Mel Gibson. I remember watching the 1979 Mad Max film as a teenager and thinking it was so disturbing. Could human beings really regress that far? Are we capable of becoming that deranged?

I do believe in the depravity of man and our sin nature, but it is still difficult to buy into this level of depravity…and the film is 120 minutes of depravity. In fact George Miller chooses to use extended action sequences instead of dialogue to tell his story.

Most of the time when watching an action movie you get a handful of intense action scenes and a story that is unfolded in the gaps in the action. In Mad Max, Miller chooses to start the film with a car chase and doesn’t let up until the credits roll. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an action film with less dialogue.

Although Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, and Hugh Keays-Byrne all play their roles well, they are still difficult watch….especially Hugh Keays-Byrne.

I recently heard there are plans for further sequels but whether they progress will depend on the box-office success of Fury Road. Regardless of how many more Mad Max films are made, this is certainly the last one for me. I say “Skip It.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
I would have kids skip this one too.

There are a couple of scenes that show naked (or near naked women) and it’s implied that the villain rapes women and they are referred to as “breeders”.

There is one F-word and several other profanities.

There are relentless scenes of violence and destructive chase scenes. These include scenes where people fight, are shot and stabbed, or run over by vehicles. However, injury detail is limited, but some scenes do show bloody violence.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. In the scene where The Dag bows her head, Toast asks her, “What are you doing? She responds with, “praying.” Toast asks her, “To who?” And she responds with, “Anyone who’s listening.” Have you ever felt like that?

Read 1 John 5:14-15

We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.


2. Instead of praying to “Anyone who’s listening,” why should we pray to God?