My mini-review of Mad Max 1-3
My mini-review of Mad Max 1-3
I recently watched Mad Max I, II, and III for the first time; since I know they are hit movies that influence a lot of popular culture. I've already seen Fury Road a couple of times, and I reckon that's an excellent movie - so I figure I'd give the others a shot. Here are some of my thoughts:
I found that MM1 is surprisingly basic. The world is not yet 'post apocalyptic'. The story is clean and simple, and there is very little world-building. It actually reminds me of Duel. A decent movie, but no really big ideas.
MM2 is what people really mean when they talk about Mad Max. This sets the post apocalyptic scene that so many things are now inspired by. The plot is more involved than the first; but it is tight and believable. I could nit-pick at this, but It's a very good movie; and it is a cultural touchstone for wasteland post-apoc type settings.
MM3 is trash. Don't bother watching this unless you're a super-fan who just needs more content. It feels like the writers were told to make another MM movie, and so they had a good brainstorming session to get some good ideas for what could happen; but then that's all. The movie is a grab-bag of inconsistent junk, just lurching from one setting to another in ways that don't really make sense. They've got about 3 movies worth of story arc, but only half-a-movie worth of details. It does have some alright visuals and action scenes, and a couple of novel ideas, but overall it is a bad movie.
--
Fury Road feels a lot like a refreshed and modernised version of Mad Max 2. (There are a lot of things that I like about Fury Road; but I'll save those comments for another time.)
They were all directed by George Miller, including Furiosa. I think it's the longest running franchise, where the same guy that started it, is still doing his thing.
I always like to remind people he also has a writing credit for Babe, which he also produced and did actually also direct the sequel Babe: Pig in the City as well as having a writing credit for that, too.
Further, he also directed and had writing credits for both Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two before returning to form with Fury Road.
And the only Academy Award he's got is for Happy Feet.
Star Wars…?
George Lucas only directed the first Star Wars movie, from then on he was a writer & producer
As much as MM1 is a slower movie, I actually appreciate it as a foundation for the others. It really lets your mind imagine how things went from 1 to 2.
Also the kid is named sprog.
written like someone who saw those movies after growing up with the Marvel universe...
These movies would be a lot different if they were to be made today, but they were made a lifetime ago, and you don't get to experience the entire depth of the era and draw conclusions like: it was basic....like... honestly... of course it is basic, because that WAS THE BASE and everyone has been building post- apocalyptic movies BASED off this world.
To clarify, I didn't mean "basic" as a negative thing. (That's the kind of word association that someone might have if they grew up with the Marvel universe - but I'm older than that!) I was trying to say that it was tightly focused on the core ideas. I like that movie. It was not a criticism, but it was not exactly what I expected.
For me, looking at the trilogy as a whole, it's great to see the progresión from independent little field, rough & dirty to a big budget, Hollywood film with polish, etc. The road warrior is the only one that matters much like the original Alien movie.
Meh new generation bad get off me lawn. Old movies called be called basic without issue. Marvel movies are also basic.
Mad Max 1 is just Melbourne is the 1970s. I was over where they did a lot of the chase scenes today.
Extra comment - Beyond Thunderdome being a mess makes a lot more sense when you know what happened to George Miller during it's production.
I watched the first three while waiting for Furiosa. I enjoy them all, but I do agree 3 isn't the best. I think it could have worked as a mini series better than a single movie.
I liked 1 and 2 for different reasons. I agree about 3..
Only tangentially related, but it was kind of amazing how much work was put into making Furiosa canonically connected to the Mad Max video game from 2015, up to and including a quick appearance by Chumbucket.
In MM1 there's a breakdown in the rule of law, areas of the country aren't safe to travel in, police pursuits have little regard for public safety, a computer is used to make command decisions, and most people are only out for themselves ... I can understand why an American in 2025 might feel that that isn't apocalyptic in feel, because to them it's just normal life.