With some new releases out of public consciousness in a matter of weeks, Mad Max: Fury Road sticks far out from the pack. Five months after its summer release, it remains one of the most rewatchable films of the years with its stellar action choreography and editing mechanics, an oasis in midst of mindless tentpoles that will likely only grow in stature in the years to come.
Today we have a trio of video essays which explore George Miller‘s feature, following his in-depth conversation reflecting on the film. Coming from Rossatron, “Action Masterclass: Mad Max: Fury Road – The Rhythm of Chaos” takes a look at the careful editing and construction of mostly the film’s climax. “Every single moment of tension is rewarded with a small relief, only for another moment of greater tension to follow. Every step forward is followed by a slight step back,” he successfully argues, comparing the experience to John Woo’s Hard Boiled.
One can check it out below with a hat tip to SetReel. We’ve also included another video essay by Pop Culture Aficionado which looks at how the simplicity of the plot actually strengthens the film. Lastly, Rob Ager’s 40-minute video essay explores the difference of action psychology between Fury Road and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. As a fair warning, it comes down negative on Miller’s latest feature, but considering the acclaim elsewhere, it’s interesting to see a different take. If anything, it’ll likely spur a rewatch of Miller’s previous films in the franchise.
What did you think of the video essays?