"The Road Warrior" is the sequel to a 1979 apocalyptic sci-fi and action film that is set in Australia. The first, "Mad Max," is the film that introduced Mel Gibson to a world audience. Before that, he was known only in Australia where he had been in just one film and had credits in three TV programs since 1977. But this second film of what would become a four film series made by Kennedy Miller Productions, is the movie that propelled Gibson's star in the world of cinema. And, I think it's the very best of the series, by far. Gibson starred in one more after this, in 1985, and another actor played the role of Max in the last film 30 years later. That was "Fury Road" that starred Tom Hardy.
The apocalyptic setting is one in which civilization has collapsed - all forms of law and order, government, cooperation, community and civility are gone. Chaos reigns, and the only survival for most is joining or belonging to a collective group or a marauding gang of terrorizing misfits. In the first film, Gibson is a police officer in a remnant law and order group. After a motorcycle gang kills his wife and child, Max hunts them down and kills them. He then becomes a loner, drifting across Australia's wasteland. There are some anomalies in the plot, such as bikers and gangs roaming in vehicles and having the fuel to keep going endlessly Another is highways that are in perfect condition after so many years and with no damage and no maintenance. But, for the futuristic and sci-fi enjoyment one must not get hung up on such points.
Well, the matter of gasoline, or petrol to keep that various types of cars, bikes, war wagons and other road machines operating, becomes a focal point of this second film. After a couple of encounters on the highway which he survives, Max sees a compound of sorts from a high hill. It has a drilling rig and appears to be an oil refinery. And it is being confronted by a large number of road thugs and barbarians who seem to want it for the fuel.
The people in the compound are a collection of civilized people who have banned together for protection and to survive.
Before this film ends, Max and the compound occupants will do some battle with the outsiders. Max will decoy the monster thugs away so that the rest can flee to a distant place of safety and civility, and they will set the compound to explode before the thugs can get it. And Max becomes a hero, but doesn't go off with the group..
Gibson's part is played superbly, and so are those by a cast of very good actors all around. The barbarians are very convincing. The film has some of the best road action scenes of any film. It's not hard to imagine something like this if society collapses. And, probably today, more than two decades into the 21st century and the third millennium, the world may be more at risk of societal collapse than it had been during the Cold War and nuclear arms race of the 1950s-1980s.
This sci-fi film should be interesting to audiences yet today and for some time into the future.
The apocalyptic setting is one in which civilization has collapsed - all forms of law and order, government, cooperation, community and civility are gone. Chaos reigns, and the only survival for most is joining or belonging to a collective group or a marauding gang of terrorizing misfits. In the first film, Gibson is a police officer in a remnant law and order group. After a motorcycle gang kills his wife and child, Max hunts them down and kills them. He then becomes a loner, drifting across Australia's wasteland. There are some anomalies in the plot, such as bikers and gangs roaming in vehicles and having the fuel to keep going endlessly Another is highways that are in perfect condition after so many years and with no damage and no maintenance. But, for the futuristic and sci-fi enjoyment one must not get hung up on such points.
Well, the matter of gasoline, or petrol to keep that various types of cars, bikes, war wagons and other road machines operating, becomes a focal point of this second film. After a couple of encounters on the highway which he survives, Max sees a compound of sorts from a high hill. It has a drilling rig and appears to be an oil refinery. And it is being confronted by a large number of road thugs and barbarians who seem to want it for the fuel.
The people in the compound are a collection of civilized people who have banned together for protection and to survive.
Before this film ends, Max and the compound occupants will do some battle with the outsiders. Max will decoy the monster thugs away so that the rest can flee to a distant place of safety and civility, and they will set the compound to explode before the thugs can get it. And Max becomes a hero, but doesn't go off with the group..
Gibson's part is played superbly, and so are those by a cast of very good actors all around. The barbarians are very convincing. The film has some of the best road action scenes of any film. It's not hard to imagine something like this if society collapses. And, probably today, more than two decades into the 21st century and the third millennium, the world may be more at risk of societal collapse than it had been during the Cold War and nuclear arms race of the 1950s-1980s.
This sci-fi film should be interesting to audiences yet today and for some time into the future.