FURIOSA

I was somewhat disappointed by FURIOSA (which I caught on Friday). I'd give it a B. In the pantheon of MAD MAX movies, I'd rank it as follows:

1. THE ROAD WARRIOR
2. FURY ROAD
3. MAD MAX*
4. FURIOSA
5. BEYOND THUNDERDOME

*I grade that one up mostly because of the original, low-tech wackiness of it, and that it launched the whole franchise.

FURIOSA was lushly produced with some lavish settings and a few great battle scenes, but I thought the story was lacking, went too long, there were some MIA narrative payoffs here and there, and there were some character issues (example: Hemsworth's villain wasn't nearly villainous enough -- he was more of a goofy biker bro than a credible warlord. I found it hard to believe he could have commanded that massive biker gang. Also, his prized weapon being a Confederate LeMat revolver was a strangely specific choice for an Australian villain).

FURIOSA did have many beautiful shots and good worldbuilding, which counts in its favor.

But nothing will ever top THE ROAD WARRIOR & FURY ROAD in my view.