The worldbuilding inMad Max: Fury Roadis one of its greatest strengths, with an entire culture being conveyed within the movie’s runtime. The movie is one of the most successful franchise reboots of all time, withMad Max: Fury Roadgetting a 97% positive critical score from Rotten Tomatoes and revivingtheMad Maxfranchise. The movie is unusual in theMad Maxuniverse, as while Max is the titular hero, the eccentric characters and standout performances of their actors have overshadowed Max Rockatansky. One of these is Nux, the War Boy played by Nicholas Hoult.
The main antagonist inMad Max: Fury Roadis Immortan Joe, whose terrifying appearance and control of the Citadel make him one ofthe bestMad Maxvillainsseen so far. There are several ranks and titles in the Citadel’s community, and theWar Boys have the role of Immortan Joe’s personal army. These men behave like religious fanatics and whileFury Road’s viewers only get a glimpse into their culture, some significant moments give an insight into their beliefs. These include the War Boys' language, war paint, and their custom of shouting “Witness Me.”
“Witness Me” Is The War Boys' Battle Cry, Calling Attention To Their Glory
The War Cry Is Just A Small Part Of The War Boys' Self-Sacrificing Culture
The War Boys inMad Max: Fury Roadbelieve that the greatest glory possible is to die in battle, “victorious, on the Fury Road.” In a similar but warped version of Viking mythology, they believe that the War Boys who die in this manner will live forever in Valhalla, “shiny and chrome.“Mad Max: Fury Roadestablishes that the War Boys are competitive, and will rate the sacrifices of members of their group. Yelling “Witness Me” is a vital part of their ritualistic sacrifice and their way of ensuring that their glorious ending will be seen by their peers.
The War Boys have more of an elaborate culture thanFury Roadshows.
The War Boys have more of an elaborate culture thanFury Roadshows, though it is clear that their vehicles are the center of their lives. Whilemany of the War Boys' rituals are well-established to them, the origins of many of their practices are a mystery to the viewer. As well as shouting “Witness Me,“Mad Max: Fury Road’s War Boys spray chrome paintacross their mouths before dying, while the witnesses salute, with their hands above their heads. The lack of explanation for many of their actions adds to the intrigue while allowing the plot to take center stage.
When Morsov takes two spears to the head and still manages to destroy a vehicle, it is one of thegreatest stunts in theMad Maxfranchise, and the sacrifice appears to be deemed worthy of Valhalla by most of the War Boys. For the War Boy making the call,the cry of “Witness Me” is a positive sentiment, as they believe that they are about to make the greatest ending possible. The iconic words are a command to the other War Boys, with the sacrificed person making a final wish that their death be seen.
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Nux dies on the Fury Road, on the winning side of a battle. For a War Boy, this is the greatest possible way to die, and it had been Nux’s ultimate goal. However,as Nux has changed sides, there are no other War Boys aroundto witness his death. The scene is one of the most tragic inMad Max: Fury Road, as Nux has not abandoned all of his culture and whispers “Witness Me” to Capable before he dies. This scene might be heartbreaking, but it is one of the best inMad Max: Fury Road.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Cast
Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic film set in a desolate desert landscape where society has collapsed. Released in 2015, the story follows two rebels, Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa, as they attempt to survive and bring balance to a world torn by chaos and strife.
