In Theaters: May 15, 2015

There are TWO wide releases this weekend.

Mad Max: Fury Road

2015 truly is the year of the far-too-late third sequel.  It's been fourteen years since the third Jurassic Park movie was released, yet the fourth is coming next month.  It has been a full THIRTY YEARS since the third Mad Max movie came out (heck, it's been three years since principal photography ended on THIS Mad Max movie).  There were nineteen years between the third and fourth Indiana Jones movies.  How long is too long?  In any case the question we will have answered this weekend is if thirty years is too long.

For the uninitiated, Mad Max is an Australian action franchise that launched the career of it's original star, Mel Gibson.  It all takes place in post-apocalyptic Australia, where the fight for control over oil is all consuming for just about everyone.  Also expect lots of leather and colorful characters.

I have heard that this movie is little more than one feature length chase scene.  I have also heard that that is okay because it's the most amazing chase scene in cinematic history.  That's the upside.

The first downside is that everyone is saying that Tom Hardy (our new Mad Max) has become a supporting character!  Everyone that has seen it says he doesn't have enough screen time.

The second downside is that there are warning signs all over the place telling me that this movie may have been completely co-opted by feminism.  I have nothing against feminism in general, but the last time we had a big movie co-opted by a political force we ended up with Russell Crowe portraying a genocidal Noah with giant rock monsters as side kicks.  Beware.

Mad Max: Fury Road is rated R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

Pitch Perfect 2

Honestly, if you want to go see a movie FULL of strong female characters this weekend just go see Pitch Perfect 2!  You'll probably have a better time of it.

Pitch Perfect 2 is the sequel to the 2012 fall hit about a women's a cappella vocal group.  I never saw the first one, but virtually everyone I know that did see it really enjoyed it.

Pitch Perfect 2 is rated PG-13 for innuendo and language.

      Big Shot Critic