We live in the age of remakes, reboots, sequels and adaptations, and it's easy to become skeptical when an old franchise finds its way back into theaters. That being said, don't let anything stand in your way of seeing Mad Max: Fury Road at the Portage 16 IMAX. George Miller has successfully revived his post-apocalyptic series with epic visuals, well-thought-out action sequences and a story that leaves you wanting more. Whether you've seen the original Mad Max movies or not, Mad Max: Fury Road is the action flick to see this year.
The Road Warrior is back on the streets, and Tom Hardy breathes new life into the role of Max Rockatansky, a vengeful ex-cop haunted by his past. Max has one simple goal in life, survive the wasteland, but the road is wrought with danger and peril. In his travels, he comes across Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, and a group of escaped women being hunted by a convoy of "war boys" from the Citadel. After forming an uneasy alliance, Max aids these heroines in traversing the Fury Road. Along the way, they encounter a slew of foes, each with unique methods and styles.
What really stands out in Mad Max: Fury Road is the exceptional visual design. Without question, this film's aesthetics rival that of any modern action movie yet find a way to still hold true to the style that fans of The Road Warrior love. Simply look at the main villain of Fury Road, Immortan Joe. His flowing white hair and the terrible visage of monstrous teeth on his oxygen mask would strike fear into the heart of even the great Humungus, but the costumes aren't the only thing for the eyes to feast on in Fury Road.
Fans of Mad Max know that the charm of this post-apocalyptic wasteland is the wide range of vehicles cobbled together from scrap. Fury Road is no exception. This film is jam-packed with beautifully imaginative cars, trucks and bikes. As the title would suggest, most of the action takes place on the road. Cars flipping and motorcycles flying through the air, the action sequences with these vehicles are nothing short of inspired, but the truly amazing part is the abundance of practical effects. There is very little CG in Mad Max: Fury Road. Simply put, it's refreshing.
Mad Max: Fury Road is easily the best movie of the year. Do yourself a favor and make a trip to the Portage 16 IMAX to see it today.