Roaring back into action after a 30-year franchise hiatus, Mad Max and writer-director-creator George Miller return with a visually resplendent hunt for redemption. Comprised of two extensive vehicular chase sequences bookended by post-apocalyptic world-building to establish the stakes therein, the movie is rich with inventive production design. Over 150 custom-built automobiles were used in filming, with more than half of them utterly destroyed through practical effects. As one of the most fastidiously constructed features in recent memory, Fury Road resonates on both stylistic and substantive levels, propping up the narrative's occasional slack.

While Max, as played by a seemingly puzzled Tom Hardy, is relegated to a handful of lines and a relative supporting role, Charlize Theron is all business as the name-taking heroine, Furiosa. On a mission to spirit away her warlord's stable of concubines to the safety of a mysterious oasis within the surrounding dessert wasteland, Theron's prosthetic arm-enhanced warrior showcases the skills that have kept her alive. Along for much of the ride is a transformed, manic Nicholas Hoult as a terminally ill War Boy in full white body paint. Each character brings experiential knowledge to the table that proves crucial in navigating the brutal journey.

Strong performances aside, this feels like Miller's vision come to life, and the film's aesthetic clarity is a testament to the fully-developed nature of that concept. The final action sequence in particular stands out as one of the greatest ever shot. Staged in broad daylight with dozens of players involved, the high-speed pursuit unfolds through vivid, expertly choreographed mayhem, framed and cut with a keen focus on each characters' plight. This set piece alone is worth the price of admission, but when considered alongside the rest of this gonzo excursion, the inspired whole rises above even the sum of its well wrought parts.

Final Grade: A- | 91/100 | ★★★½