The Road Warrior is already a classic, sans condescending genre distinctions like "sci-fi" or "action." But the story of Mel Gibson's stately antihero begins in Mad Max, George Miller's low-budget debut in which Max is a "Bronze" (cop) in an unspecified postapocalyptic future with a buddy-partner and family. But unlike most films set in the devastated future, Mad Max is especially notable because it is poised between our industrialized world and total regression to medieval conditions. The scale tips towards disintegration when the Glory Riders burn into town on their bikes like an overamped cadre of Brando's Wild Ones. Representing the active chaos that will eventually overwhelm the dying vestiges of civil society, they take everything dear to Max, who will exact due revenge. His flight into the same wilds that created the villains artfully sets up the morally ambiguous character of the subsequent films. (synopsis provided by Amazon.com)
directed by George Miller
released 1980
The ending of this movie, with Johnny the Boy, blew my pre-teen mind.
ReplyDeleteDamn straight! I saw it as a preteen too - my jaw dropped - "how could Max do that!?!?!?" - it's one of those endings you don't forget - especially when you're young.
ReplyDelete"Those chains are made of high tensile steel...." the rest is jsut greatness!
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