I've now seen Fury Road on the big screen twice, and I have to say I enjoyed it much more the second go around. Not that I didn't appreciate the big spectacle and beautiful cinematography of home made cars smashing into one another the first time, because I did, but it was just too fast, and I think I was too focused on the fact that the title of the film was "Mad Max" to really appreciate the film for what it is, which is to say, it is the best action film to have been released in at least half a decade.
Being a fan of the series it was impossible for me upon first viewing it to not constantly compare Tom Hardy's Max to Mel Gibson's now classic performance in Road Warrior. Is Hardy's up to snuff? For Fury Road I'd say yes, but when you compare it to Gibson's, I'd say no. Gibson portrayed a level of restrained emotion that's absent in Hardy's. Hardy's Max is definitely much madder (crazier) than Gibson's Max ever was, and his character fits in well in the world that this movie exists in, which is why after letting go of my expectations for the second viewing I enjoyed it much more.
The vehicles are all pretty fantastic. They're all made out of real cars that have been molded together with other models to create frankenstein beasts that look like they're part of some freak show parade. My personal favorite being the porcupine car that's smashed into another vehicle in a non CGI ball of fire and dust. There's also a semi truck fashioned out of multiple cars, a car with tank treads, a dump truck like vehicle with speakers and drums where the trash would be, and cars with swinging poles that acrobatic baddies fly around on trying to snatch up the heroes of the story.
Mad Max is a triumph for it's insane practical stunts and detailed costume and vehicle designs. The story of the film serves it well, and the characters and the details of this world are what drive it forward, along with the bad ass cars.