Furiosa has already arrived at the Cannes Film Festival and some reviews have put it ahead of Mad Max: Fury Road.
Bold and burning like a desert sun, the latest installment of the Mad Max universe, titled Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, entered the prestigious Cannes festival and left an indelible mark on the modern cinema scene. While surprising many and eclipsing its venerable predecessor, Fury Road, the answer isn’t as straightforward as the roar of an engine in the vastness of a desert land.
Like the vast, desolate landscape that serves as the backdrop for the saga, the critique extends in several directions. Since the film’s seven-minute standing ovation premiere, the film has garnered attention not only for its spectacular visuals, but also for the way it expands the Mad Max legend. According to the first reviews, this George Miller masterpiece has reached an impressive 87% on the popular review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes.
New but respectful, 79-year-old George Miller shows no sign of creative exhaustion. His vision, as vivid and detailed as ever, brought forth a fantastic tale that not only introduced Furiosa, brilliantly played by Anya Taylor-Joy, but introduced fascinating and complex new characters like Dementus. Up front, Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth make a dynamic and compelling duo, whose chemistry transcends the screen.
Creativity or nostalgia?
While the film pays homage to its roots, with the series’ signature frenetic battles and arid landscapes, Furiosa tries to set itself apart from Fury Street. While the past is an ongoing pursuit, the present delves deeper into the protagonist’s origins and motivations, offering a more introspective and emotional story. In this new episode, Miller’s direction further explores Furiosa’s emotional roots and resilience, providing a richer and more detailed context that invites viewers to connect more deeply with the main character.
The criticism was not just one. Some outlets, such as the BBC, argue that Furiosa can feel like a companion graphic novel, full of connections and details, but without reaching the cinematic grandeur of Fury Road. However, others, like IGN and Empire, are celebrating this new episode as a monumental and important expansion of the saga, giving it a perfect nod to its boldness and depth. In this mosaic of opinions, the film emerges as a film that, although it divides opinion, will undoubtedly spark a lively and healthy debate about the future of cinematic narrative in established universes.
Heritage in motion
George Miller’s legacy seems assured, with plans for more prequels and sequels as long as the box office responds well. The real question that remains is not whether Furiosa is better than Fury Road, but how these two films coexist in a post-apocalyptic science fiction setting. Is Furiosa a shadow of her former self or the harbinger of an exciting new chapter? Reflecting the cultural influence of both films, it’s clear that Furiosa has the potential to not only complement this epic finale, but to renew enthusiasm, offer new perspectives, and enrich Miller’s rich take on the post-apocalyptic world.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga delivers an emotional and visual rollercoaster that, while not above Fury Road in the minds of all fans, certainly marks a bold and brilliant chapter in the franchise. The film’s ability to blend action, deep narratives and stellar performances promises to be a topic of discussion and admiration for years to come. As the dust settles and the engines cool down, only time will tell what place this latest installment in the epic saga will hold in the hearts of Mad Max fans.