"Mad Max: Fury Road" Movie Review

    For the most part, once a project enters development Hell, it either stays in limbo or it morphs into something completely different.  Well, “Mad Max: Fury Road” was a movie that managed to escape a changed film.  The fourth entry in the “Mad Max” franchise was envisioned years earlier and was going to have Mel Gibson reprise the title role.  After a number of years past, rumors started hitting the web that George Miller, director of the Mad Max films, was courting Heath Ledger to take over the role from an aging and controversial Mel Gibson.  Sadly, Ledger passed away shortly after these rumors had hit the internet and the film seemed dead.  Then, out of nowhere it seemed, “Mad Max: Fury Road” was announced with Tom Hardy in the title role.

    I have to admit I wasn’t super excited to see this film.  When the trailer hit, it didn’t exactly wow me.  Sure, the visuals looked amazing and the cast was great, but it basically looked like it was just going to be a movie about a convoy being chased through a post apocalyptic desert.  While that isn’t the worst concept, it also wasn’t a concept that much interested me.  Then I read some of the reviews and that pretty much confirmed what I expected.  The movie was going to be a pass for me.

    I didn’t grow up watching the “Mad Max” films.  I had seen parts of the original “Mad Max” film as well as a few parts of “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” but they weren’t held dear to my heart and I had never finished a “Mad Max” film.  I hadn’t even seen clips of “The Road Warrior” so maybe the excitement would have been higher had I seen those films, I don’t know.  I actually decided to see “Mad Max: Fury Road” on blu-ray so I could see it on 3D.  Yes, I bought and watched this film primarily for the gimmick of 3D and I was happy I did so.

    Much of the strength of “Mad Max: Fury Road” comes from the visual story telling from director George Miller.  Max barely speaks in the film and the pacing is so insane that it keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

    The strength of the film relies on the performances of stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.  Ironically, Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy famously hated each other and feuded on the set numerous times.  Despite this hatred, the two managed to share a chemistry on screen that is hard to believe wasn’t real.

    “Mad Max: Fury Road” doesn’t worry too much about character development or personal drama.  The film feels more like a roller coaster than anything else but it’s luckily a fun ride.  It’s kind of funny because I really wanted to write a little more about the film because the movie was surprisingly fun but I think that might be the best statement to praise this movie.  This film also got me interested in revisiting the Mel Gibson era films and giving them another try.

Grade: B+

“Venom” Movie Review

    Any one who knows me will tell you, I am a huge nerd.  One of my favorite genre of films are comic book movies.  Good or bad, I try to watch them all and I can find elements of joy in the biggest pieces of shit.   Yes, that being said, I will completely acknowledge some comic book movies are complete trash.  While I was intrigued by the notion of a movie based on Venom, I was a bit taken aback by the critic’s reception to the movie.  Critics so far have been rather savage towards “Venom” so I just had to know for myself.  Was it on the level of “The Avengers” or was it a train wreck like “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”?
    The movie plays basically like a modern day monster movie.  The film follows journalist Eddie Brock as he deals with unwillingly bonding with an alien symbiote.  The film depicts Venom as more of an anti-hero as opposed to a villain as he is often shown in Spider-Man comics.
    First of all, I actually did like the movie and I think it’s better than critics are making it out to be.  While the film has many illogical story beats, you just kind of go with the flow of the movie and you don’t really think about them unless someone brings them up.  The film isn’t perfect but it has it’s own charm.
    The thing I liked most that seems to be dividing audiences is the film’s humor and tone.  “Venom” doesn’t take itself seriously and plays like an actual episode of the 90s “Spider-Man: The Animated Series”.  I also like the nods to Spider-Man such as the spacecraft commander from the beginning being John Jameson.  The first after the credits scene alone is worth the price of admission as Woody Harrelson teases the epic Maximum Carnage storyline from the comic books.  It’s hard to imagine how the sequel could avoid an R rating with Carnage as the villain.
    The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer and it is his best work in awhile.  While “Venom” isn’t as innovative as “Zombieland”, it’s still better than forgettable films like “Gangster Squad”.  One of the biggest complaints I have against the film is how the fight scenes are depicted.  It is hard to make out what is going on when Venom squares off against Riot.
    As far as performances, I thought Tom Hardy was a delight to watch.  He has a great awkward energy.  The character Hardy plays is Eddie Brock and Brock was previously played by Topher Grace in “Spider-Man 3”.  Riz Ahmed plays the leader of the Life Foundation Carlton Drake.  Later in the film, it is revealed Drake has his own symbiote named Riot.

    The film contains no direct ties to the MCU and instead acts as a side universe exclusively through Sony.  It could still theoretically tie in at a later date but it doesn’t look likely right now.  I think it would be a smart movie for both Sony and Marvel.  The film isn’t perfect but it’s hardly terrible.  I would recommend “Venom” to comic book fans and people with an abstract sense of humor.

Grade: B-