Jason Dillow

I'd probably give it 4.5 stars but that doesn't seem to be an option. Here is a fast-paced thrill ride that fits beautifully in the Mad Max universe. George Miller delivers, as always. Although there us not much in the line of deep characterization, I wouldn't want to see a Mad Max movie with endless bathos by some pretentious director anyway. If you can't empathize with the underdogs of this story, particularly the title character, you can't feel much for anyone I say. Both Taylor-Joy and the young girl who play the title character are riveting. Dementus is well done by Chris Hemsworth. He spouts his demented diatribes with characteristic magnetism. He does dark well. This motorcycle lord could be related to his cult leader in Bad Times at the El Royale. The plot has no twists that i can recall and thank God for that. Just a straightforward adventure where you always know who you're rooting for. It is a gorgeous movie to take in, even when you want to look away. Which is rare. If you feel like this is a lesser movie than Fury Road, it's probably because it misses the screen presence of Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron (and even Nick Hoult). Those are some big shoes to fill but I never thought the actors were in over their heads. The real flaw that has been pointed out is the slight decrease in quality of the FX/CGI. It is noticeable as a scene here and there is a little too obviously fake. But don't let that stop you. If you already like the Road Warrior universe, go and enjoy this movie. It has everything you want.

I think I would give 4 stars but the twist ending felt like a cheat. I don't want to give it away though. The acting by the major characters was fine. I appreciated Murphy's obsession with exposing DeNiro. DeNiro brings some mystery to his character. I have to say that he has lost the intensity of old. No sign of Travis Bickle or even Max Cady now. But he gets it done. Sigourney Weaver was playing the elder mentor and subject expert well. Too bad she had to go but her departure did help increase the intensity of the mood, which the director built nicely as it went along. This movie has a great idea in that nowadays we have so many fraudsters, so many Wizards of Oz, who need exposing. The problem is that the writer needed to stick with rationalism more and magic woo woo less. Still worth the ride I think.