Mad Max

I've decided to revert all ownership of Mel Gibson back to the United States as he was born in New York. Apart from the period where he made Mad Max and it's sequel (more well known as The Road Warrior). Thunderdome can stick it. Watching that monster 20 times for an english class has ruined any (if any) enjoyment it once gave me.

Mad Max shows a bleak future in Australia, it's a raw story featuring some crazy car and bike stunt work for the time (1979). Max (Mel Gibson) is a policeman trying to maintain society's last shreds of order and decency against the highway road gangs. The fight gets personal against these gangs when his best friend and family are hurt and Max is out for revenge.

Made on a shoestring budget, director George Miller (Babe, Happy Feet) was a former ER doctor who saw many injuries people sustained who had been in road traumas. Apparently the van smashed in the opening chase scene was Miller's own as money was running out.
This movie is not without it's faults. Characterisation could have been explored more, maybe a bit more of a back story. But the real reason anyone is going to watch this is for the car chase scenes.

I am not into cars at all. Living in a somewhat bogan culture though I have seen this film several times, more because I consider it a classic (and also to see a young good looking Gibson). My boyfriend is a mechanic also, so I hear a lot about cars. Unfortunately.

Max Max: Fury Road is supposedly currently in production, due for release in 2012. Although I would see another sequel to see what they do with it, I mostly wish they weren't making it. Some films are just better left in the past.
This was a unique film and I can just imagine the latest will be too flashy and not gritty enough. Although Miller is directing again so who knows. Has he mellowed too much from Happy Feet though?