Furiosa Re-Review-A Fascinating Piece of World-building and Almost Operatic Cinematic Storytelling

Furiosa is an unconventional prequel. Where most prequels mean to explain the origins of iconography from their predecessors (which Furiosa does, and to satisfying results), Furiosa also means to explore aspects of its world that Fury Road couldn't due to the simplicity of its narrative. Within an almost odyssey-like structure that splits its story into named chapters and jumps forward drastically in time from scene to scene, Furiosa makes for a fascinating piece of world-building. The film doesn't hold anything back when exploring the cruel actions of the people of the Wasteland, particularly with any scene involving Dementus. Other aspects of the Wasteland get explored thoroughly as well. It explores trade dealings between factions. It also explores how men control others in the Wasteland, be it through turning themselves into religious figures, as Imortan Joe does, or by taking things by force while making vague promises of a better life, as Dementus does. The film even explores the intricacies of convoy work and how the Factions get resources from place to place. 

For most of the film, Furiosa becomes more of a guide through this world—a character who experiences the inner workings of the Wasteland firsthand and who eases herself into it. But as the film goes on, it transforms itself into a captivating revenge story, and that's where the film becomes something much more profound. In the first half, Furiosa witnesses one major tragedy. And throughout the film, she's given glimmers of hope. But when all that comes crashing down, she becomes this harbinger of vengeance. And in her final confrontation with Dementus, the film makes some profound statements about the dehumanizing power of violence and vengeance. 

And through it all, the film delivers in the action. While some of the action does get hindered by some spotty CGI and apparent green screen, Miller makes up for it with his sweeping camerawork and articulate editing style. It's a style completely different than Furiosa's frenetic editing and camerawork, with action that's much more sweeping and precise. But it still works just as well at providing action that's a sight to behold.

It's through all of these aspects that I've grown to appreciate everything George Miller set out to do with Furiosa even more than on my first viewing. It's a film that's partly a fascinating piece of world-building and partly a gripping revenge narrative exploring profound ideas of the dehumanizing power of violence and the vengeance that stems from it. With awe-inspiring action, fascinating world-building, and a story that's so bleak and yet so profound, it's a film that leaves me with so much to think about each time I watch it.

Now Showing in Theaters in the U.S