George Miller’s highly anticipated prequel to the 2015 blockbuster “Mad Max: Fury Road” is set to hit theaters this Friday. Titled “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the film tells the origin story of Imperator Furiosa, the breakout character played by Charlize Theron in the original film and now portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy.
Critics got an early look at the film when it premiered at Cannes last week, and their reviews are mixed. Some praise the film for its darker and sadder tone, while others feel it falls short of being a true “Mad Max” home run.
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times notes that while “Furiosa” complements “Fury Road,” it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Owen Gleiberman of Variety also feels the film falls short, while David Ehrlich of IndieWire praises the film’s set pieces and Miller’s decision to shift gears.
Stephanie Zacharek of Time finds the film to be a slog at times, while Odie Henderson of the Boston Globe questions the necessity of the detailed origin story for Furiosa. Dana Stevens of Slate praises Miller for not recycling ideas and creating a handcrafted feel to the film.
Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press feels that Miller is trying to add operatic heft to the franchise with “Furiosa,” while Tara Bennett of AV Club appreciates the inner life and history given to Furiosa. Joshua Rothkopf of The Los Angeles Times finds the film to be too self-regarding and downbeat, taking the fun out of survival.
As the film prepares for its wide release, audiences will have the chance to weigh in on whether “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor. Let us know in the comments what you think of the movie.
