The Machination of Mad Max: Fury Road Drives Powerful Messages

Excited for the chance to finally sit down and watch Mad Max: Fury Road, I was looking forward to some rip-roaring, post-apocalyptic, female-driven action.

And it did not disappoint!

Backing up for a second, yes, I said ‘female-driven’. While the Mad Max franchise has primarily been about a man struggling to survive in a decimated world, this movie has Max behaving as a 'walk-on' into someone else's story. That someone is the brave and determined Imperator Furiosa. She, after becoming a highly trusted and valued member of the tyrannical Immortan Joe's army, has decided to lead his five wives in an escape to free them from his filthy clutches. This film produces some strong female characters, while still touching on the affects of abuse and how it can cripple someone emotionally to think that they cannot do better.

There are powerful messages and themes, for women, disguised in a movie that would appeal to men.

I especially liked the opening monologue and how we see Max from behind. Mel Gibson played the original 'Mad Max' and when someone new steps in to put a new face to such an iconic character, it can be hard on fans. Rather than focus on the movie, we're too busy saying 'that's not OUR Max'. But here, Tom Hardy's version is slowly introduced to us in a way that it puts those thoughts to rest. Not to mention he spends a good portion of the first act with an iron mask covering his face.

It really helps ease the transition.

Following along with previous 'Mad Max' storylines, we have a post-apocalyptic world where water gives you control and fuel gives you power. In FURY ROAD, Immortan Joe is idolized by the masses because he has gained possession of a seemingly endless supply of water. Only sharing it on rare occasions so people continue to rely on him for life.

It delivers a succinct message in the process: The more you depend on those who govern, the more control over your life you relinquish to them.

Memorable, and odd, characters are a staple of the franchise. With MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, the vehicles have been given 'character' of their own. The way these vehicles were assembled from scrap metal and spare parts, it's as though Dr. Frankenstein himself became an auto manufacturer. George Miller had a vision for how the vehicles will play a role as moving stages for the players to move about, no differently than they would a stationary set. The outlandish construction of the vehicles and the process behind it was covered in the special features section of the blu-ray.

While the movie moves along quickly, with brief pauses for flashes of exposition, it'll trick you into thinking it's nothing more than a popcorn flick full of wild action and crazy explosions. Viewers familiar with the franchise won't feel like an outcast as they'll already have a grasp of what's going on. They won't need to be re-introduced to the world. However, newcomers will need to pay close attention to the dialogue and setting to fully understand everything that's going on. Which helps increase the value of owning the movie as you'll want to watch it more than once to fully appreciate it.

Or, you can just sit back and enjoy all the metal-grinding, fuel-burning action with mindless fervor.

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.

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