Mad Max: Fury Road Review

     There are a couple legendary franchises that are having all new movies coming out this year, and I'm very conflicted how I feel about them. "Jurassic World" next month looks like it could be promising but I'm still unsure about it, and I'd bet "Terminator Genisys" the following month will be pretty bad. But there was one franchise whose new movie I was looking forward to, Mad Max. While its not the best franchise ever, it is certainly memorable. The first film "Mad Max" was a unique revenge thriller, and helped launch Mel Gibson's career. The third movie "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" was weird, but still a lot of fun. But the pinnacle of the series would have to be the second movie in the franchise, "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." The second movie can be listed alongside some of the greatest action movies of all time; it is a masterpiece of the genre. While the first and third movies are good, the entire legacy of the franchise rests on the shoulders of "The Road Warrior;" until now anyway.

     Some years in the future, a lack of gasoline and fresh water pushed society to the absolute brink; and when they were gone, full out nuclear war ended society all together. Many years after that we meet Max, a former cop haunted by his past and the loss of his family, who is only trying to survive. One day Max is captured by the War Boys, members of a cult run by a man named Immortal Joe. He is taken back to their base of operations, an Oasis called the Citadel. Max is labeled a universal donor of blood, and held captive. Immortal Joe is an old, sickly man who runs the Citadel with an iron fist. He's set up an operation to have fresh water pumped up from underground, so with the help of his War Boys defending his power, everybody nearby worships him. One day Joe sends his most trusted warrior, a woman named Furiosa, on a supply run. She is set to go to a nearby oil refinery called Gas Town; along with a not to far ammo processing plant called Bullet Farm, the two and the Citadel have a deal set up to trade supplies they need. Shortly after Furiosa leaves, she veers off course into the dessert. Joe realizes that Furiosa has stolen his most valuable property, his young wives who he has kept captive for years to produce offspring. Joe gathers his entire fleet and goes after Furiosa; Max is dragged along by a sickly War Boy named Nux who needs a blood transfusion. They chase her into a sand storm where all but Furiosa, the wives, Nux and Max survive. Max meets up with the runaways and reluctantly agrees to help them escape, afraid of what will happen when Joe catches up with then. From then on out they are a team, and they run for their lives. 

     Let's not pussyfoot around the subject and cut to the chase; this movie is truly something special, there is no other way to put it other than that. This is the most insane, over-the-top and thoroughly enjoyable movie I have ever seen; I absolutely loved every minute of it, now let me tell you why. It's been thirty years since director George Miller directed a "Mad Max" movie, and he hasn't missed a beat. He does an amazing job with this movie; he brings a unique style to the movie that I haven't ever seen before. One thing that was rather worrisome about the movie was who was going to play the character of Max. Tom Hardy was cast and he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Mel Gibson might be most well known for his portrayal of the character, but Hardy does a fantastic job in the role. Max is the only character from the original movies that is in "Fury Road," but this new cast of characters might be the best the series has ever seen. It is filled with interesting characters and each one has an actor giving a great performance playing them. I especially have to give props to Charlize Theron for her portrayal of Furiosa; she might actually be the stand out of the entire movie. I also want to take a moment to appreciate the actor who plays Immortal Joe, Hugh Keays-Byrne, who actually played the lead antagonist in the first Mad Max movie. While the characters were certainly memorable, they present the biggest problem with the movie. Other than one or two characters, no one really has any development. How they start the movie is how they finish; and considering the ordeal they have to go through that should not happen. One thing that surprised me most about this movie would be the writing and the dialog, they are actually very good. Not a lot is said in this movie, but whenever there is something to be said it is usually important. It really helps bring this interesting story to life. Another surprise would have to be the humor; like the dialog there isn't a lot of it, but it is on point when it comes out to play. The movie also has a few scenes that actually get kind of emotional, and you truly feel for the characters. While the story is one worth telling, "Fury Road" is first and foremost an action movie, and that is where it shines. This movie will go down as one of the greatest the genre has ever seen. The action sequences are huge, over-the-top, and truly amazing. The stunt choreography for the action is truly something to behold in some scenes. Helped by top notch special effects, a fitting soundtrack and great production design, you feel it in your gut every time a car explodes. "Fury Road" feels like an homage to the over-the-top action movies of the 80s, I feel this is how all action movies in the 80s would have been like if they had a budget of $150 million. This movie is non-stop entertainment, and is just a whole lot of fun. Unfortunately for some, this might actually turn a lot of people off. This movie is totally insane and weird, I feel that whoever drew the story boards were on a lot of drugs. I have talked to some people who didn't like the movie because of that; while I feel the majority of movie goers will have a lot of fun with it, there will be many who just can't get into it. But you know what? I don't care about those people. From Max's opening monologue to the incredibly satisfying ending, I loved this movie. I want to see it in the theater again already. This is a movie for film lovers and for fans of the series, and if you fall into either of those categories this is the movie for year. I'd recommend watching just for the experience. "Mad Max: Fury Road" had a lot to live up to, but it didn't just do its predecessors proud, it might have actually surpassed them, 

Pros: Phenomenal directing from George Miller, great performances from the actors, Tom Hardy does a fantastic job as Max, good writing and dialog, interesting story, filled with memorable characters, non-stop entertainment, amazing action sequences and stunt choreography, top notch production design, unique in style, great special effects, very emotional at times, humor is on point, soundtrack fits perfectly, throwback to 80s action movies, a whole lot of fun.

Cons: Not a lot of character development, may be too over the top for some.

5/5 Stars

5 Most Underrated Shows on TV

Note: This list is comprised of my personal opinions regarding what I believe are the some of the most underrated shows currently airing episodes. While these shows may have received acclaim from critics, they may not pull in the ratings they deserve. It is also worth remembering that I do not watch every show on TV, so this list may be missing some shows that deserve a spot.

Runner-Up: China, Il
If there was an award for the weirdest show on TV show of all time, "China, Il" would certainly be in the running. Premiering in 2011 with 15 minute episodes, the show quickly gained a following for it's over the top and off the wall humor. During the second season the show started airing full half hour episodes, and a third season was quickly announced. The show revolves around several teachers and students at the worst school in America. And as for any show that airs on adult swim, it is completely insane. The show is not for everyone, it's weird and idiotic brand of humor will turn people off; and the animation style can be somewhat jarring to look at for some. But if given the chance, "China, Il" is one of the most enjoyable shows to watch on TV. While the future of the show is in question, my hopes is that Adult Swim will continue their tradition of supporting great content that may not pull great numbers.

5. Mozart in the Jungle
"Mozart in the Jungle" premiered in 2014, and was so overlooked by critics and audiences it is a shame. An Amazon Prime original series, I think the problem is that it came out so close to the release of another Amazon Prime show that received overwhelming critical acclaim, "Transparent." To be honest I haven't seen "Transparent" yet, but all I know is that it received all the glory while "Mozart in the Jungle" was left out in the cold. The show revolves around a genius musician and conductor who has been hired to lead a prestigious orchestra in New York. I got Amazon Prime earlier this year for the free two day shipping, but watching this show was the first thing I did. From the first episode to the satisfying finale, this was one of the best new shows of the year. With a second season on its way, hopefully it will soon receive the recognition it deserves. 

4. Gravity Falls
Never in a million years would I have thought that a show from the Disney Channel would be one of the best on TV. "Gravity Falls" is a very unique animated show that debuted back in 2012. The show revolves around two siblings (Dipper and Mabel) as who are visiting their great uncle Stan in a little backwoods town, but things are not as they seem in the small town that seems to be constantly plagued by the paranormal. So Dipper sets out to find out what is really happening in the town of Gravity Falls. This show is certainly one of the strangest on TV, and while it may be a Disney show this is not something I would let a young child to watch. Seriously, at one point a guy is straight up killed when he is disintegrated with some sort of death ray. "Gravity Falls" was not a show I expected to like, it was recommended by a friend and after I started watching it I fell in love. It is a smart, funny, and mysterious show that has a surprising amount of depth and emotion for an animated series. 

3. The Knick
The youngest show on this list premiering in late 2014, "The Knick" might also be the most promising. Developed by Cinemax, the show takes place at a New York hospital in the year 1900 and follows Dr. John Thack. A brilliant surgeon recently put in charge of surgical operations at the hospital after his colleague killed himself, Thack suffers from an addiction to liquid cocaine (which was still being used as medicine). At the same time the hospital decided to hire a brilliant black surgeon named Algernon Edwards, who Thack is uninterested in working with because of his race. "The Knick" is like a more serious, R-rated version of the show "House M.D.," except this show might turn out to be better. With the second season set to air late this year, "The Knick" is shaping up to become one of the best shows on TV. 

2. Broadchurch
I only started watching this show recently after I saw the first season on Netflix, and I'm actually a little upset with myself that I had not been watching it since its premier. "Broadchurch" is a British show that follows two detectives investigating a murder of a young child in a fictional sea side town in England. Since its debut in 2013 the show has actually reached a high level of success in England, drawing millions of viewers for each episode; but surprisingly the show has yet to become widely popular here in the US. And considering the success of shows such as "Doctor Who," "Sherlock," and "Luther," it's a bit strange that it hasn't found much mainstream success in the US. "Broadchurch" is an intense, beautiful series that builds a strong emotional bond between the viewers the characters. Season two wrapped up recently with a third on its way, and as a fan of the show I can't wait.

1. The Americans
When I first came up the idea to write this list, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that this show should be at the top of this list. "The Americans" first premiered in 2013 on FX; the series follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Russian sleeper agents that were tasked with committing covert operation in the United States. Elizabeth and Philip were paired together at a young age, told to set up shop in the US and start a family to help make them seem more normal; the series chronicles their covert operations as well as their personal interactions with each other, their children, and their friends. "The Americans" isn't just the most underrated show on TV; it is simply one of the best. The acting, writing, storytelling and just about everything else are on par with the best shows currently airing. Simply put, if you're not watching "The Americans" you are missing out.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

     Since 2008, the Marvel cinematic universe has pretty much taken over the film industry. The 11 movies have made over seven billion dollars, making it the second highest grossing film series only behind the "Harry Potter" franchise. Along with Nolan's "Batman" series, the Marvel movies really helped kick start the superhero movie craze; and of all the superhero movies, Marvel has consistently done it right. "Iron Man," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" are easily among the best comic book movies. But of all the Marvel movies "The Avengers" was the biggest, and arguably best, in the series. Released in 2012, it received surprising critical acclaim and ended up becoming the third highest grossing film of all time. Several Marvel movies have come out since then, many of which were great, but there was something about "The Avengers" that was special. So after three years we finally get a sequel and the question on everybody's mind, "how does it stack up?" 

     Since the fall of S.H.E.I.L.D in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the Avengers have been teaming up to take out any Hydra bases that are left in the hopes of finding Loki's lost staff. They track it down to a compound in Easter Europe where the scientists there had been working on human experimentation as well as advanced robotics. After taking the base and retrieving the staff the Avengers had back to New York to celibate, at the same time Tony Stark and Bruce Banner study the staff. Upon further inspection they find something within the jewel on the staff, some sort of intelligence. They can't really explain it, but they decide to use it as a basis for an artificial intelligence called Ultron. In theory Ultron would control several Iron Man suits that would help keep the earth safe from any sort of alien invasion. Stark and Banner decide to keep this project secret believing the other members of the team wouldn't approve; but after days of testing they come up with nothing, and Thor plans on taking the staff back to Asgard the next day. That night they threw a party and invite all of their friends; afterwards they are just hanging out, when all of a sudden they are interrupted. Somehow Ultron has come alive, and believes that to save the world he has to destroy the Avengers. So he attacks the group and steals the staff. Once it’s all over the Avengers assemble and realize what they have to do, destroy Ultron before he can destroy everything they love. 

     To be honest I was worried going into this movie, the first film was so great and I had trouble imaging this one topping it. Whether it is better or not will come down to personal opinion, but I can safely say this movie is still awesome. One thing the Marvel movies have done perfectly would be the casting. All of the character cast up to this point have been great, and the same is said about the new charterers who bring a lot to the film. Everyone gives a really solid performance, and the actors have great chemistry together. Like the first film, the writing from Joss Whedon is spot on. It is funny when it needs to be and is emotional when it has to be. The dialog is snappy and smart and always entertaining. Whedon did a great job both writing and directing, and I'm sad to see that he's not going to be directing the next "Avengers" film. One thing that "Age of Ultron" did better than just about every other Marvel film would be the villain. Ultron might just be the best bad guy we've seen in any of the movies. He's menacing, badass, witty, and has surprising depth. And James Spader did an outstanding job voicing him. Like the previous film, this movie does action right. The action sequences are huge and always entertaining. The opening and closing fights are outstanding, and the Hulk facing off against Iron Man in the Hulk Buster suit will put a big smile on your face. It helps that the movie has great CGI, and the CGI characters like Ultron and the Hulk look awesome I think what this movie does best though is that it knows what it is and it does it perfectly. "Age of Ultron" does exactly what a great summer blockbuster should do. While it is a great popcorn flick, it does bring something more to the table. You really care about these characters and want to see them succeed. Simply put, this is some of the most fun you will have at the theater this year. Now let’s be honest, the film is not perfect. One thing it struggles with is its own ambition; it tries to do too much in a short period of time. So much stuff happens in this movie that I feel like I need to see it again to understand everything. There were several parts and characters that were just kind of glossed over because you can only put so much in two hours. The movie also takes a while to really get going. During the opening action scene you are certainly entertained, but you've seen it all before. It takes a while for it to get really exciting and compelling. But of everything the film does suffer from one major flaw, and that is that it's not its predecessor. What made "The Avengers" so great was that it was surprisingly great. Having all the characters in one movie looked like it was going to be a "to many cooks in the kitchen" situation. Yet it somehow pulled it off. With "Age of Ultron" we didn't have that surprise since we had seen it before. The movie just doesn't have the magic the first one had. But even with that being said, it’s still awesome. There are several different types of movies, and I don't mean different genres; you have pleasant surprises like "Kingsman: The Secret Service," independent tour-de-force's like "Ex Machina," and then you have over the top summer blockbusters like "Avengers: Age of Ultron." And that is perfectly fine. Not every movie has to be like "Ex Machina," sometimes you just want a movie you can have fun with; and "Age of Ultron" is that movie. From start to finish I had a blast with this movie, it is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I wouldn't say it's the best Marvel movie, but I'd say it's in the top five. So if you're looking to go see a fun movie with some friends, you can't go wrong with this one. And if "Age of Ultron" does anything right, it's that it will get you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies. 

Pros: Perfect casting, solid performances, great chemistry between characters, well written dialog, very funny, surprisingly emotional at times, new characters bring a lot to the film, one of the best villains in the series, awesome action scenes, great CGI, fantastic directing from Joss Whedon, exactly what a summer blockbuster should be like, gets you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies.

Cons: Almost tries to do too much, takes a while to get really exciting, doesn't have the magic the first film did.

4/5 Stars