The Thirst for Adventure - George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road

Few films I've seen recently have been as breath-taking and endlessly action-filled as George Miller's "Mad Max: Fury Road".  It certainly keeps you riveted to the screen for its entire two hours and rarely lets you rest. 

Tom Hardy takes over for Mel Gibson in the title role and this hand-me-down fits perfectly:  Hardy embodies Max with a vigor and animosity that both pays tribute to his predecessor and breathes entirely new life into the full-blooded character.  His performance is brilliant and few modern actors could have done a better job at giving Max the sympathy, and underlying humanity mixed with menace that Hardy embodies.

Another welcome addition to the Mad Max universe is Charlize Theron's Furiosa.  Theron's performance is a bombastic realization that has virtually opened up her career to a new array of possibilities.  Furiosa is an ass-kicking, one-armed wrecking machine who adds a strong female presence to the film.

The majority of the film takes place in the desert where the various vehicles traverse the arid, hot sands in ever-escalating road warfare.  These battle sequences are truly amazing and are the central focus of the film.  They are a wonder of direction and special effects.

One thing I didn't like about this film was the guy with the double-necked electric guitar who stands on the front end of a truck and plays his heart out as all hell breaks loose.  It seemed kind of stupid and I was glad to see him get annihilated.

Overall, this was a fantastic, ecstatic thrill-ride.   It will quench your cinematic thirst for action and adventure.