Mad Max: Fury Road

It's rare that a movie not only lives up to high expectations but exceeds them by a entire night's drive. I should mention that I have never seen the original Mad Max movies and that I did not see this in three dee.

I don't even know where to begin. You know how many of us went back to see The Phantom Menace two or three times just to see the saber duel? Not only do I feel the same way about the scene of War Rig versus Dirt Bikes (the music alone I think does it, but the perfect action of skeet-shooting combined with Kirby dropping bricks on you from Super Smash Bros just makes this one of the most enjoyable movie sequences I've seen in years) Except unlike Phantom Menace, you get to see an amazing scene surrounded by an incredible movie. You don't have to sit through anything bad, this movie is just incredible.

There are some genius directing choices made in what to not show on camera, and what to only show half of on camera. I also love that this action movie doesn't spoon-feed the audience with everything they should know. You will feel lost in the beginning of the movie and will want things explained to you, but they won't, I love that. Even at the end of the movie, not everything needs to be explained. This movie leaves quite a bit to the imagination which is a great gift you give to an audience that you respect.

Can we talk about the breeders for a second? I love that they made sure that everyone would be insanely attracted to at least one of them. I thought it was amusing that one of them is sort of pulling a Khalessi look. I was partial to the redhead myself.

I think the acting was absolutely top drawer. The main antagonist villian was incredible. Hardy was perfect (what's with him and masks? ) Theron was consistently great and stealing most scenes she was in. I have to big it up to the supporting cast as well for really delivering the goods. Nicholas Hoult (from Warm Bodies) was honestly amazing as a conflicted zealot. I adored him in every scene.

I really like one of the fundamental questions this movie is asking. Is it better to hope in something that might not exist or try to fix your current situation? For a movie that has been sometimes described as lacking plot, that's a pretty big and deep item to explore in an action film.

Finally, the way this movie is shot is just beautiful. The night scenes where either the headlights or the moon are gleaming off the characters' eyes... it's hauntingly well shot.

I didn't mention the action scenes (read: the whole movie) because I have no idea how to describe them. If you're a fan of ballet, it would be like watching the best ballet of your life.

I will very likely see this one or two more times in theatre. I haven't done that since Gravity.