Easily the best Western action film I’ve seen in a decade (maybe best period, I’d have to think about it) so... yes? I mean just using action for anything other than spectacle, which it does constantly for just about the whole run-time, would put it in rare company, but then the spectacle is also great. Action aside “is well-constructed“ plus “respects the audience” aren’t even individually common traits, especially in an action flick, but it manages those, too.
[edit] to be clear that doesn’t mean everyone has to or should like it, of course, but it’s possible to recognize the things a work does right and understand why a lot of people might like it as a result, even if it’s not to one’s taste, and so not to be surprised when people like it. It’s certainly possible to recognize when one likes something that’s kind of terrible—I like lots of things to which that apply. These perspectives are useful particularly when making recommendations to others.
I didn't either but I've only watched it once without much focus, because I expected it to be designed exactly for that. I've heard we're missing something.
I didn't enjoy it on the first view either. A friend of mine totally loved it. He pointed out that I should keep a watch on how your eyes are lead through the movie. If you follow the hints you will always look at the right place on the screen.
Obviously this happens unconsciously on it's own. Watching fury road you will never feel lost in the action but always directed towards it.
I found that fascinating, but tbh I will never love this movie as said friend does.
> Watching fury road you will never feel lost in the action but always directed towards it.
Miller directed the movie off storyboards and not scripts, leading to a lot more difficulty and spontaneity. Good recent article [1] on the rivalry between Theron and Hardy during filming, they mention being frustrated at this switch in direction but your comment reminded me about how storyboards capture that visual leading like scripts rarely do.
