As stated in my review of the movie, “Director George Miller makes an epic return to the Wasteland for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Through five action-packed vignettes that expand the franchise’s mythology, Miller and co-writer Nico Lathouris tell the story of the titular character, who audiences were first introduced to in Mad Max: Fury Road, where she was played by Charlize Theron.” In Furiosa, viewers see how she becomes the property of Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, in arguably his best performance) and then Immortan Joe, whom she was escaping from in Fury Road.
Buy Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Blu-rayThe Blu-ray video has been given a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer displayed at the film’s original aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The colors appear in bold hues across the spectrum, from the lush greenery of the oasis of Furiosa’s home to the rich browns of the desert, from the blue Australian sky to the bright reds and oranges within the flames. Blacks are inky. They contribute to a strong contrast, which Miller and his camera team make great use, particularly shots that capture the land and the sky. The image has a sharp focus and at times a deep depth of field. Very fine texture details are on display, from wind-swept dunes to the hodgepodge of costumes and vehicles belonging to various Wasteland inhabitants, creating a realism to this futuristic world of the Outback.
The audio is available in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and it envelopes the viewer. Effects dominate the track, as the cacophony of vehicles and explosions swell like a symphony. Vehicle sounds move across channels, opening up the soundscape. Composer Tom Holkenborg’s score augments the scenes. Dialogue is clear, even with some characters having strong Australian accents. Some vehicles rev too loudly for the speakers and cause a bit of distortion and rumble. The subwoofer is put to work and delivers strong bass support.
The Special Features are:
- Highway to Valhalla: In Pursuit of Furiosa (57 min) – An in-depth look at the film’s creation with input from the crew and cast.
- Furiosa: Stowaway to Nowhere (11 min) – Focuses on the 15-minute “Stowaway” scene which is comprised of 197 shots and required 200 stunt people to complete over the course of nine months.
After watching Furiosa a second time, I stand by claim that “the action has to be seen to be believed because no one does it like [Miller and his crew].” The Blu-ray’s high-definition presentation captures the film’s visual and auditory thrills as it immerses the viewer within this latest installment of the Mad Max franchise.
