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Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
/ May 18, 2015
Rating: MA15+
Release Date: May 16th, 2015.
Well that was one crazy night out… a Monster Truck expo on steroids.
Set 45 years after the collapse of civilization, Mad Max: Fury Road is the story of two apocalyptic outlaws banding together in a race across the Wasteland, securing resources and a route of escape. Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) become rebel leaders, chased down by tyrannical dictator Immortan Joe and his erratic violent subjects.
Dealing with the choices of his past, Max is trying to find hope and redemption in the midst of desolation. Trapped by voices in his head, he’s brought back to a single instinct – survive. Partnering with Furiosa, the two become representative of humanity in purgatory. Searching for salvation, “the green space”, and absolution from sin.
Materialising the darkness of that spiritual space, Mad Max: Fury Road is an intense visual experience. Between theatrical ‘demonic’ costuming, and stark metallic hardware, you can taste the brutality of the environment. It’s a reality of hell.
While thankfully we know there is no purgatory (to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Cor 5:8)), Mad Max offers insight into the times in life we feel bound by past choice.
As voices in their heads condemn, saying their position is fixed, and salvation is costly, hope is Max and Furiosa’s anchor for motivation. Founded in a bigger picture, hope offers them perspective push on, and fight on. The important question is though, what is that hope in? Which bigger picture are they looking at? Who are they trusting?
If like Max and Furiosa, our hope is in something false, there’s no redemption to be found. Our eternal life is left unredeemed while we satiate immediate need, reveling in temporary pleasure. We’re left painfully abandoned and deceived.
The flip side though, is true hope in Jesus Christ that “does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).” Founded in a revelation of His love, and sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 10:10). Not only does Christ satiate your immediate need for peace in times of ‘purgatory’, He secures your eternal peace as well.
Mad Max: Fury Road is a very well put together piece of cinema. The setting is perfect, Hardy and Theron deliver along with a plethora of Aussie talent, and viewers are left wondering, where do I put my hope? (…and thinking “Man I’m glad there aren’t cars like that on my street.”) Mad Max does deserve its MA15+ rating, but also offers good food for thought.
7/10.
High point: Seeing Aussie’s get to be Aussies.
Low point: Having to squint through most of the movie so I didn’t get nightmares.
Best digested with: Cold oatmeal on a bed of water crackers with a whiskey chaser.
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