By SALIM HAMOOD AL-AFIFI
No one can cause fury on the road other than Mad Max. This fourth installment of George Miller’s action-packed franchise promised fans a unique cinematic experience that will take them on an unforgettable ride on a fury road. The film premiered on 14 May in Malaysia and has received both critical acclaims and commercial success.
If you are familiar with previous Mad Max films, you would notice the major changes in prominence given to the characters. During the first installment in 1979, the spotlight was put on leading character played by Mel Gibson. The film became one of the most successful action films at the time because of its fresh ideas such as scenes of sudden violence.
The recently released movie, Mad Max: Fury Road takes the audience into a post-apocalyptic story set in a deserted land where human life is in despair and people are struggling for survival. Within this world, two rebels are determined to bring justice to the land and save what is left of it. There is Mad Max played by Tom Hardy, a peace seeker who uses his hands more than his mouth to solve problems, and there is Furiosa played by Charlize Theron, a strong woman whose dream is to make it out of the desert alive, and to go back to her childhood land.
Zooming in on Furiosa’s character, she sets on a journey to rescue a group of females called ‘breeders’ from the evil leader, throw orders at Max, and puts up fights with him, which ultimately puts her on the same level as Max himself
So, when Miller announced the production, fans were not pleased with Furiosa’s character having more screen time than Mad Max himself, calling it a political scheme to portray feminism.
Truth be told, I myself was skeptical about the recent Mad Max movie for a couple of reasons. One is the fact that the movie is a fourth installment to its franchise; as some sequels tend to sink commercially, and two is the director’s decision to focus on a female character, which could have driven fans away from watching the movie.
The movie had however surpassed my expectations with its great ensemble, over-the-top effects, as well as its unique storyline. The leading actor does have less dialogue in the movie, which challenges and alters the definition of a conventional blockbuster flick.
So, is the movie truly aimed at shoving feminism concepts down people’s throats? In my perspective, not so. In fact, I praise Miller’s risk-taking resolution. This is a new era where new concepts and ideas are explored and developed. The hero of the movie does not have to be a male character. In addition, heroine flicks do bring good businesses to the market such as Tomb Raider, Insurgent, and The Hunger Games, just to name a few.
Mad Max: Fury Road is a major budget production that is commonly compared to The Avengers and The Dark Night, which explains why fans were in doubt of the whole idea of a heroine taking the reigns in the movie.
The film is a mega hit regardless. Still, some critics and fans are convinced that it is a form of propaganda for feminism.
For many years, males were always perceived as the stronger gender in cinema. In Fury Road, Furiosa was surrounded by physically powerful men, yet she is stronger, which infuriated some people for the false representation of a hero.
Regardless, I am truly fascinated by the ever changing influence of gender roles in action-driven films. I personally feel that people should focus on the fact that Miller introduced a new idea into the realm of motion pictures that could be valued for the long run. To me, the movie is not aimed at showcasing female power, but rather, to equally place both genders on the same level when it comes to building on-screen superhero character.
As a concluding remark, Hollywood is on the right track to break the stereotype of gender roles and conventional characters, and produce more roles that are entertaining, interesting, and new to watch. Politics aside, the film was captivating with inspirational heroic triumphs.
If you are familiar with previous Mad Max films, you would notice the major changes in prominence given to the characters. During the first installment in 1979, the spotlight was put on leading character played by Mel Gibson. The film became one of the most successful action films at the time because of its fresh ideas such as scenes of sudden violence.
The recently released movie, Mad Max: Fury Road takes the audience into a post-apocalyptic story set in a deserted land where human life is in despair and people are struggling for survival. Within this world, two rebels are determined to bring justice to the land and save what is left of it. There is Mad Max played by Tom Hardy, a peace seeker who uses his hands more than his mouth to solve problems, and there is Furiosa played by Charlize Theron, a strong woman whose dream is to make it out of the desert alive, and to go back to her childhood land.
Zooming in on Furiosa’s character, she sets on a journey to rescue a group of females called ‘breeders’ from the evil leader, throw orders at Max, and puts up fights with him, which ultimately puts her on the same level as Max himself
So, when Miller announced the production, fans were not pleased with Furiosa’s character having more screen time than Mad Max himself, calling it a political scheme to portray feminism.
Truth be told, I myself was skeptical about the recent Mad Max movie for a couple of reasons. One is the fact that the movie is a fourth installment to its franchise; as some sequels tend to sink commercially, and two is the director’s decision to focus on a female character, which could have driven fans away from watching the movie.
The movie had however surpassed my expectations with its great ensemble, over-the-top effects, as well as its unique storyline. The leading actor does have less dialogue in the movie, which challenges and alters the definition of a conventional blockbuster flick.
So, is the movie truly aimed at shoving feminism concepts down people’s throats? In my perspective, not so. In fact, I praise Miller’s risk-taking resolution. This is a new era where new concepts and ideas are explored and developed. The hero of the movie does not have to be a male character. In addition, heroine flicks do bring good businesses to the market such as Tomb Raider, Insurgent, and The Hunger Games, just to name a few.
Mad Max: Fury Road is a major budget production that is commonly compared to The Avengers and The Dark Night, which explains why fans were in doubt of the whole idea of a heroine taking the reigns in the movie.
The film is a mega hit regardless. Still, some critics and fans are convinced that it is a form of propaganda for feminism.
For many years, males were always perceived as the stronger gender in cinema. In Fury Road, Furiosa was surrounded by physically powerful men, yet she is stronger, which infuriated some people for the false representation of a hero.
Regardless, I am truly fascinated by the ever changing influence of gender roles in action-driven films. I personally feel that people should focus on the fact that Miller introduced a new idea into the realm of motion pictures that could be valued for the long run. To me, the movie is not aimed at showcasing female power, but rather, to equally place both genders on the same level when it comes to building on-screen superhero character.
As a concluding remark, Hollywood is on the right track to break the stereotype of gender roles and conventional characters, and produce more roles that are entertaining, interesting, and new to watch. Politics aside, the film was captivating with inspirational heroic triumphs.