George Miller and Nico Lathouris helm, co-write, and co-produce the 2024 Australian post-apocalyptic action adventure film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (onscreen simply Furiosa), and they also contributed to the screenplay. Furiosa, the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, functions as a prequel and spin-off to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Charlize Theron first portrayed Imperator Furiosa in Fury Road.

 Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne play younger versions of Furiosa, along with Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. Set in a desert wasteland where warlords fight over the last remaining sources of water, food, weapons, and gasoline, Furiosa follows a young Furiosa from her kidnapping by Warlord Dementus' (Hemsworth) forces through her struggle to survive as a slave and eventually a trusted lieutenant of cult leader Immortal Joe (Lachy Hulme) and his military commander Praetorian Jack (Burke), until Furiosa can exact revenge on Dementus for her mother's death.

 A worldwide catastrophe has reduced Australia to a radioactive wasteland. Among the remaining areas with fresh water and agriculture. One day, while the young Furiosa and her sister, Valkyrie, are out picking peaches, a group of raiders discover the Green Place. Despite Furiosa's attempt to sabotage the raiders' motorbikes, they capture her and present her to their leader, Warlord Dementus of the Biker Horde, as a prize. Furiosa's mother, Mary, pursues the raiders to their camp, but despite Furiosa's ability to fatally wound the last raider before he can reveal the location of the Green Place, Mary is unable to prevent the raiders from delivering Furiosa to Dementus.

In the prequel to Fury Road, the narrative unfolds over 15 years, depicting Furiosa's journey from a peaceful existence to her eventual enslavement under the tyrannical Immortan Joe. This prequel, however, faces a significant challenge, a common pitfall known as "prequel-itis." Having seen Fury Road, viewers already know that Furiosa will survive the events of the prequel, reducing the sense of suspense and urgency that made Fury Road so compelling. While Fury Road intentionally left many character details ambiguous, knowing key plot points in the prequel diminishes the stakes and the impact of the original film.

By using a five-act structure, the film's storytelling approach presents a compelling origin saga of the main character. This unique method unfolds key moments over a 15-year span, creating a distinctive feel for the film. The set pieces are undeniably impressive, but the driving back and forth in between them creates a different type of tension—a sustained buzz rather than the immediate impact of "Fury Road."The film exhibits notable strengths, but it does fall short in certain areas. Specifically, some scenes involving Dr. Dementus, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, tend to be repetitive, affecting the overall pacing of the movie.hile Hemsworth's comedic and dramatic skills shine in the role, these encounters become progressively farcical and over-the-top. Furthermore, the film's excessive 148-minute runtime exacerbates this issue, making it feel unnecessarily long compared to the more focused and streamlined "Fury Road," which clocks in at a taut two hours.

The film truly shines in its well-executed moments. The world constructed by writer-director George Miller continues to captivate, offering a realistic and immersive experience. The impeccable creation, cinematography, and editing enhance the plausibility of the film's elements. The characters remain unique and grotesque, with their stories conveyed through intricate details such as costumes and mannerisms. Anya Taylor-Joy exemplifies this, embodying the role and surpassing the portrayal by Charlize Theron in the previous installment. Given the limited dialogue, her performance relies heavily on expressive eyes, and she delivers a stellar performance. Particularly striking are her scenes with Tom Burke, featuring a quietly building interplay that is a joy to witness. Burke finally receives the well-deserved opportunity to shine on the big screen. These sequences highlight the tonal shift from the character study of the predecessor to the action-driven focus of this film.

 In the end, Furiosa would be more enjoyable if cut down to 30 minutes. Although it boasts stunning visuals and excellent action, it desperately needs more.

Furiosa is in theaters everywhere.