Mad Max: Fury Road

Action! That is what the Mad Max franchise has always been about. Sometimes described as what would happen if James Bond had survived the fall of humanity, the Mad Max films made a story of Mel Gibson, and director George Miller. Mad Max – Fury Road sees Tom Hardy takes over as Max, but here he is somewhat secondary to Imperator Furiosa, played with incredible intensity by Cherlise Theron. She is on the run, trying to free several women from their captors. This is a feminist story, but at the same time, it is every bit as breath-taking a thrill ride as the previous ones. The film is shot in a concept that lay somewhere between motorcycle-racing and a classic western. There is dust, and shaky action, but ultimately, you're left feeling as if you're driving alongside, watching the terrain run across your windows and exhausted by the experience. The sound is amazing, and something that could easily be overdone. The feeling of movement becomes a part of the emotional impact, as it pushes us back enough to realize that these are humans running not only for their lives, but for their freedom, and neither is more important than the other. Why it's on the list: It's an amazingly early 21st Century film, both politically and cinematically.