Episode 95: I’m just here for the gasoline: It’s Mad Max!

 

This episode is a fuel-injected suicide machine! We're traveling not too far into the future, to the world of Mad Max! We've been big fans of both Mad Max and The Road Warrior, and we'll discuss all four of the films, and of course get into some of the back story about how the film series originated.

Coming out of Australia in 1979 as the brainchild of George Miller and Byron Kennedy, Mad Max was a mind-blowing blast of action, featuring wall to wall high speed stunts the likes of which audiences had never seen before. It was the first film of a very young Mel Gibson, starring as Max Rockatansky, a good cop who goes on a mission of vengeance on the road after his family is killed by a motorcycle gang. Made on a shoestring budget, the film was a worldwide hit, which paved the way for a sequel.

The second film, known worldwide as Mad Max 2, but as The Road Warrior (1981) in the states, moved the story much more clearly into a dystopian future. Max wanders the wastelands aimlessly, searching for gas to keep his V8 interceptor running. He winds up assisting a group of people running a refinery against a gang of raiders in exchange for gas. Max is removed from his humanity - he's at best an anti-hero - but he's miles better than the bestial thugs that harass the inhabitants of the refinery. Once again, Miller and Kennedy deliver amazing chase sequences and stunts -all done for real, no CG!

By 1985, the third film, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was released, and the influence of the big Hollywood studios is obvious. Tina Turner was brought in as an antagonist and performed a couple of songs for the soundtrack. The violence was also turned down for a PG-13 rating - never a good sign. Max also gets involved with a pack of wild children. It seemed calculated to appeal to a wider audience but it felt like they had lost some of the Max charm.

The franchise lay dormant for decades. Miller had considered bringing Max to TV but plans fell through. Finally, a new film was produced in 2015, Mad Max Fury Road. Tom Hardy took over the role of Max, and Charlize Theron co-starred as Furiosa. Fury Road took many elements from the previous films, but amped them up way over the top. Previous chases were almost recycled, but bigger and crazier. The marauders from Road Warrior are emulated but to almost ridiculous extent. The film was incredibly successful and it seems a sequel or prequel is likely.

If you haven't watched any of the older Mad Max films in a while, go back and check them out - especially the first two! The action sequences are still amazing.

Chief Engineer Bob with Mr. Takarada at Monsterpalooza

For our Sensor Sweep sequence, we have a memorial to the great actor Akira Takarada (1934 - 2022), who appeared in the original 1954 Godzilla, as well as many other Godzilla films including Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Godzilla vs. the Thing, and all the way up to Godzilla: Final Wars. Our Chief Engineer Bob shares a personal story of meeting Mr. Takarada with us. We send our condolences to his loved ones.

That wraps up this episode. Thoughts on Mad Max? Please share! You can reach us here or at our other locations:

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Thanks for listening!