Furiosa * * *

Welcome to Australia

I first saw this film about three weeks ago when I was in Thailand. But I was on holiday and distracted by other things so I couldn't be bothered writing about it.  Also within a few days I forgot about it.  (Therein lies a message - or review -  in its own right I suppose.)

Anyway, there is little else on at the moment so I thought I'd give it another go, if only to remind myself what it was about.

I was fascinated to learn that this guaranteed blockbuster, the latest in a very successful franchise, is actually bombing at the box office despite the many positive reviews.

I actually liked and appreciated it a lot more on the second viewing. It's still a load of nonsense and grossly overrated, but it's kind of good.

Those who are finding profound meaning in this silly narrative need to go back to school or go back to books or even go back to real films.  It's daft, sloppy, with awful dialogue, and presumptuous of a lazy audience.  A bit like a Marvel film in that respect.

Furiosa is part of the Mad Max franchise which is set in Australia in the near future. Society has collapsed and tribes of maniacs roam the land, capitalising on the shortage of water and petrol. They all drive vehicles that are cobbled together from bits and pieces. They look great.  It's probably the best part of the film. For me, those vehicles are the real stars.  

In the last film in this franchise - Fury Road - we met Furiosa. Played by Charlize Theron she was a  tough gal with the face and body of a model. she drove the truck. Enthused by the response to this character, in this latest film they have dropped Mad Max (which was what the franchise was always about) and put Furiosa behind the wheel (literally).   In this rather long winded story we learn of her childhood and what made her what she is.

This time she is played by Anya Taylor Joy,  that actress who is unquestionably beautiful, but in the most unusual way.  Her childhood takes up the first 40 minutes and then we meet the woman.  She does well in the role.  Her story is divided into chapters as we learn of her childhood in a hidden Eden, her abduction, the killing of her mother and her swearing of vengeance. 

In the meantime we learn of the mad tribes in the Wilderness especially the bikie gang led by Dementus played by Chris Hemsworth. If I have any complaints about the acting it's his.  All too many times, he seems to think he is Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

We are reintroduced to the Citadel and Gastown and the nut cases that run them, as Furiosa is abducted by one then the other.  But all the time she is plotting, plotting her revenge and how to get back to the Eden she was stolen from when she was young. 

At the Citadel, Furiosa meets Praetorian Jack the truck driver played by the always excellent Tom Burke, and it is through him that Furiosa learns her truck driving skills. 

Mostly though, it's what you want.  Car chase after car chase in the desert with crazy vehicles. And that's kind of fun. 

The "philosophical" waffle is just that - waffle.  Ironically it's the regular cinema goers that seem to have noticed that rather than the informed critics and film academics trying to draw analogies with Greek Mythology. No wonder it's bombing if the reviewers keep putting out messages like that.