The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road

by Abbie Bernstein, George Miller (Foreword )

Max Rockatansky returns. Haunted by his turbulent past, the wandering Road Warrior becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. Seeking escape from the tyranny of Immortan Joe, what follows is a high-octane Road War - and a chance for redemption.

The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road is the official companion to the highly anticipated movie.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Film, Media Tie In, Post Apocalyptic, Graphic Novels, Pop Culture

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2015

Reviews

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving this 5 stars not just because the movie was really, really good. But the book was pretty good, awesome and interesting.

What with the behind the scenes, how the idea came for Fury Road, the stunts, the concept art, storyboards, film stills, the different car designs, what went in writing the characters and their personalities, etc. I could go on about how much I love this book but will say its worth the read.

Whether you're a fan of the movies or movie type books like this, then you'll love this. But probably should read this after seeing the movie, since it does have some spoilers. Other than that, what a lovely book.

[Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. As with the film, no detail is too insignificant. For a story dealing with a harsh post-apocalyptic world there is a real warmth here - because the art, and the journey, is so important to the creators. One of the best film art books I've come across.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey kid, did you read a book before you went to bed tonight? Yeah? That's cool, now SHUT UP BECAUSE WHO CARES IT WASN'T MAD MAX.



This book is mostly pure high-octane awesome with like twenty pages of glamour shots from the movie but Who Cares. It is mostly Brendan McCarthy and when it isn't it should be. It's still better than that dumb book you like with feelings in it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gives rise to another of our key design precepts...

'Even in the Wasteland, people make beautiful things.'

No matter how impoverished the circumstances there are always, among us, artisans and artists able to create a strong, utilitarian aesthetic. The impulses which drove our Paleolithic ancestors to make exquisite cave paintings persist in the post-apocalyptic 'Black Fingers' (motor mechanics) restoring a War Rig and in the War Boys scarifying themselves with sacramental body art.

I love art books, you guys! They're a fount of information, not just about the behind-the-scenes filming experience, but also about the design & thought that went into the production, and extra canonical worldbuilding details that they thought of but may not have communicated within the film itself. There is so much thought that went into the creation of this movie especially, considering it gestated for 18 years (!). Reading this from cover-to-cover was a fascinating look into the process, plus just immersing myself in this ugly, beautiful world that I love so much. It reveals that there are so many tiny visual details that they incorporated, but that you probably didn't even notice.

It was also nice getting to hear some of the thematic story focus confirmed: that the core message is love, and learning to love, and being part of a community in order to heal. The whole thing just reminded me how much I love Fury Road, and gave me a renewed appreciation for its craft, from all the practical effects and practical stunts to the physical design & creation of all the vehicles and weaponry. It's such a goddamn masterpiece.

The book is anchored by lots of good quotes from George Miller and the designers. Some of their descriptions are oddly grotesquely gorgeous, with some good ole body horror:

Production designer Colin Gibson describes more of the theory behind the Buzzard tribe. "The Buzzards are basically vultures. They're a pack of hyenas. If you build a world full of carrion, then the hyena and the vulture will circle. And the difference with them is, they have much baser needs, because they were after just material, the crude mechanics, the very stuff of things. They didn't see a Cadillac, [the Buzzards] saw metal; not man, but meat. George had the theory that they were Russian and I think maybe they were White Russian and way too white--their bodies were ravaged by impetigo and infection. They were suppurating flesh and peeling skin, held in place with Saran Wrap and bandage. It was just a little too moist in this dry and dirty place, so they hid inside the spiky vehicles. They were spiky as much to keep people away from them as for attack. The anthropomorphic treatment worked both on the front and the back, there was a sense of trying to find vehicles that had eyes, that we could add a grinning grille of a mouth to, that the radiator could look like braces on an inbred mouth."

Great stuff.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how it took me three years to get around to reading the art book for my favorite movie. The behind the scenes knowledge is amazing, the story boarding is great, some of the art is super late-90s but in a very fun way. I appreciate that the section on each of the wives particularly, and how it emphasizes the ways in which they are processing sexual assault and trauma and escape and how it manifests in the details of their costumes and hair.

This is only losing a star from me because there were several parts where whole paragraphs were directly on top of a photo or art and it was really hard to read and I found it frustrating.

[Kyle Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the coolest films of the past decade or more. A post-apocalypse rock opera with strong female heroes and no shortage of amazing visuals, it's a movie that I will never, ever tire of.

The 'Art of' book is pretty excellent. Fury Road has a lot going on beneath the surface, which this book does not always get into, but there's so much surface detail that the book feels epic in scope anyway. The crazy cars, the unforgiving landscape, the insane homemade weapons, and the costume work all gets covered extensively here.

I would've liked more comments from mastermind George Miller, but that's a minor gripe because it's clear that the primary BTS storytellers know their stuff, too.

The team that made Fury Road had a go-for-broke attitude to their art, creating some amazing images and coming up with some unforgettable ideas. I'll be returning to this book again and again over the years, both as a Mad Max fan and in search of inspiration for my own work.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute delight. A great art book about the development of one of the best films of the decade. You’ll learn so much about the film, and you’ll love it.

[Bey Deckard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book.

--

Now that I've read it front to back, I can say it again: gorgeous book. The perfect companion to what I think is my favourite movie this decade. I would have killed to be part of set design. Lord... all the glorious attention to detail and how the storyboarding worked out and the amazing vehicles and stunts? Lovely. So very very lovely.

[Westminster Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

​I returned to this book recently due in part to a costume I was working on and, much like the film to which it is tied, am still amazed at the level of artistry that was packed into every aspect of this project. Even years after its release, I find myself losing hours pouring over Brendan McCarthy's concept art and storyboards from across the years it took for the film to reach production and the stills detailing the toxic landscapes, Frankensteined vehicles and brutal found-object aesthetics of Max's world. My only real criticism of the book is that there's not enough of it, as I find it wanting in background and analysis of many of the film's supporting characters and could very happily look at another thirty or so pages of art spreads and close-ups. However, I feel that there is a balance here and would say that it is a satisfactory guide to the history and development of "Fury Road" while staying to true to the subjective nature of the film in simply demanding that the reader keep their eyes peeled as the details go roaring by and then come to their own conclusions after repeated double-takes. After all, isn't that half the fun?

Find The Art of Mad Max : Fury Road at the Westminster Public Library!

[Ken Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty neat.

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visually stunning movie gets an appropriately gorgeous art book. Just wish there was a little more meat to it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is verry good but not great. Some interesting stories, good photographs and art but still it has some shortcoming that make it feel more for a juvenile or fan boy. It has odd omissions that make you wonder how involved in the movie was the writter... for instance:
- Short biography's of the "wives" that don't really explain much. For instance, the Splended Angharad's name is never explained- only a banal reference to her being the Immortans favorite and wanting better things for her child. You would think he would at least tell you what the names origin is?
- Why do the Buzzards speak Russian? Instead it goes off on a tangent saying they are likely "white russians?" Are they carryover from the Czarist days? What is he talking about?
- Why no mention of the crow people (or creatures?) that show up in the bog sequence?
- Why only minimal descriptions of the vehicles mechanics? How much HP does the War Rig put out? For a movie that loves mechanical stuff you would think at least some more details would be included.
- Bizarre comments that Max leaves because he is not ready for love? What are they talking about? The movie has no "love" in it except perhaps the brotherhood of soldiers. What is this a typical hollywood movie that has to be about love? I did not get that feeling from the actual movie. The movie is as it says primarily about survival, courage and redemption. Love does not make the top five...
Bottom line, well laid out with some interesting information (I particularly like the diagram showing all the tatoo's on Max's back) but a little on the pedestrian side with a lot of odd ommissions.
By the way, the movie may be the greatest movie filmed this century.

[Art of the Film · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiences are raving about “Mad Max: Fury Road”. This is a great book that will serve as a nice companion to the film.

See a photo gallery at http://www.movieartbook.com/2015/05/t...
See the HD unboxing video at https://youtu.be/IdgEjKb_GmU

This is a well-balanced book that includes a lot of imagery: early sketches, concept art, production photos, character portraits, and shots of the finished movie. The book is mainly organized by major characters and sequence. Material is presented in chronological order of how it appears in the film.

Anyone who has seen "Fury Road" knows that it has a very distinct look, whether it be the complex vehicles, the unique character makeup, or the overall color palette of the film. As you might imagine, there is a lot to explore in this art book, which allows you to see the design work up close and study it. There is also text in the book which highlights some of the design challenges as well as the overall film production process.

Obviously, this book is highly recommended if you are a fan of the movie and were impressed with its visual elements.

[Dr Zorlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Mad Max fan. I am a fan of everything post-apocalyptic, but I have always been specially drawn to the Mad Max movies. Watching Mad Max: Fury Road, the last installment in the franchise, made me feel I was back in the 80s with better technology.

This book is a must-have for fans. But apart from the concept art and the storyboards and anecdotes, I would like to call attention to George Miller's foreword. Here, the director explains his vision and the ideas behind production design. I was surprised to find it so eloquent and lucid. That short text is in and of itself a fascinating read and well worth getting this book.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may likely be the best "Art of ..." book that I've read. I can't give enough credit to this one. The manner that the art is presented, the live-action stills from the film, and excerpts from the filmmakers, artists, actors, etc. This is colorful, engaging, informative, and entertaining on one of the best films of 2015 (in my humble opinion). In complete honesty: this is a master class in how to present a book about the art of, and making of a film.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the film! This book is really cool too. Goes behind the scenes, breaking the film down into sections with commentary, stills, storyboard and concept art. Definitely recommended, even more so if you enjoyed the film too.

[Daniel Staud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Incredible 'Art of' book.

[Cels Piñol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buena edición, espectacular, grandioso como la película.

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I hear George Miller speak (on the disc "extras") about this film, or in reading this book, the more I am impressed with this film.

[Yani · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a perfect world, this book would be combined with Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road in order to make what is essentially an all encompassing story of Mad Max: Fury Road. Because the one thing that book was missing was images and what this book is mostly missing is more text.

For example, at the end, when the book features images from the end of the movie, there's an image of a blue skinned woman with exposed breasts. And it's given no context. That's not part of the movie. You would have little to know understanding of what or who that is (albeit that the blue skin thing is explained for another character earlier on). I only know from reading BS&C that it's an alternative ending. Why isn't there a caption for that? That's the thing, the book lacks a number of important captions. And also features incredibly interesting details in some of the text that is there that is then not reinforced with actual images or sketches from behind the scenes.

I also understand that it's hard given that this movie was in "development" in one form or another for 30 years, and underwent serious preproduction on three separate occasions, so there's not only a hell of a lot of content there, but a lot of it is ideas that were considered and rejected more than once. So maybe dividing the book more chronologically may have worked, before diving more deeply into the specific characters and vehicles. I don't know.

I love being able to see a lot of this content, I just wish for something more in the presentation.

[Esoteric Grimoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road" is production art book compiled by Abbie Bernstein for the eponymously named hit film of 2015, "Mad Max: Fury Road." The book gives an in-depth behind the scenes look at the film's 8-month filming process in coastal Namibia. There are lots of great photographs and close ups of set pieces, costumes, and vehicles. As well as producers notes and concept art. My favorite part of the book were the producer notes on the backstories of particular characters from the film, as fans know the film was light on background details for the major characters such as Furiousa, Mad Max, Nux and Immortan Joe. All-in-all a great behind the scenes look. It should be noted that the book is a coffee table sized reader with full color photographs and drawings.

[Josh Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biggest production hurdle:
Finding the right desert
Waiting for budget regains (9/11 crash)

Most unexpected detail:
Intricate backstories of the culture, going back decades
Rake used for Max's muzzle
Personalities of the women
Professional bmx bikers
Cirque Du Soleil pole cats

Most impressive artwork:
Keyframes of Max held upside down by Furiousa
Photo of crash

Who would love it:
Fans of the film
Action filmmakers
Storyboard artists
Cyperpunk illustrators
Authors of apocalyptic stories

What was it missing:
Retrospectives

[NOLA Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book shortly after watching Fury Road back in 2015. I flipped through it a few times and then put it on the shelf. After watching Furiosa at the theater, I’ve become post-apocalyptic and Mad Max obsessed, so I decided to do the deep dive on this book. The concept art (especially Peter Pound’s art) is worth it alone. The world of Fury Road is expounded on both in terms of lore and how concept art and storyboard art was turned into film scenes. There’s a lot of great detail that might be missed on just watching the film.

[Gideon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book if you liked (or loved, like I did) 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road (as my mom didn't). It has not only a lot of storyboards (started in 1998!) but information about the special effects, reasoning behind the story, and actor insights into the characters. It's always great to see the artists behind the art.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lot of details about the making of the movie with quotes from artists, stunt men, and others. There are lots of photos of cars, clothes, and locations while under construction. While there is not so many concept art pieces included, there is a lot of the story boards from the writing of the movie shown to us. It was interesting and enjoyable to read.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mix of concept art and production stills, you can't help but feel a greater appreciation for all the effort this team put into making as real a film as possible. Once you read how much time was spent focused on storyboarding action sequences and grounding practical effects, it'll just make you want to experience the franchise all over again.

[David Annable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning look at the making of one of the greatest films of recent memory. The care and attention to detail that went into crafting the visual masterpiece that is Fury Road is well displayed in these rich and colourful pages. Superb for an in-depth look at the making of the movie, or a casual flip-through.

[Stuart Bannerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book , as to be expected from a film that was so visual. Abbies book is equally visual and a wonderful 'coffee table' book. Filled with tons of information about the making of the film, drawings, photographs, design sketches and much more. Also its not just the visuals, there is a ton of text which will give you an insight into the making of the movie.
Highly recommended.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this movie more than most of my family members, and this was a really great companion to it. I'm a nerd who loves learning about behind the scene stuff and this book is full of that, as well as really cool concept art.

[Jason Goodrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Mad Max: Fury Road and you want some insight into the creation process behind one of the most spectacularly visual films ever made then you can't go wrong with this. So much detail that you wouldn't realise is there without reading this.