MAD MAX; FURY ROAD

Forget about all those Marvel movies and all the superhero films we've been getting over the last few decades, the best 'sci-fi' film I've seen in recent years is George Miller's masterpiece "Mad Max; Fury Road", a film that totally redefines the action genre, (and is probably the best 3D movie so far). No knowledge of the previous 'Mad Max' movies is necessary to enjoy this epic in which the new Max (Tom Hardy) takes something of a back seat to Charlize Theron;s magnificent Imperator Furiosa. Indeed this has been sited as something of a feminist actioner with women of all shapes, sizes and ages taking control. That's not to say that men are invisible; they, too, are a formidable bunch including a principle villain who would not look out of place in the Finnish hard rock band Lordi, (we never see him sans mask), and a sweet-natured boy warrior beautifully played by Nicholas Hoult. That the actors make any impression at all is also something of an achievement since the real stars of 'Fury Road' are the stunt men and John Seale whose cinematography is Oscar-worthy. And, of course, Miller who stages the multitudinous action sequences with a brio rare in movies these days, (it's hard to believe that Miller directed his first 'Mad Max' movie 36 years ago). With 'Fury Road' he has firmly established himself as THE major player in the game right now. An instant classic.