George Miller´s ‘Mad Max Saga’ extends over a period of 45 years. The ‘Hard boiled Wasteland Action’ started in 1979 and boosted Mel Gibson´s career. He returned for sequels in 1981 and 1985. In 2015 and 2024 new stars like Charlize Theron, Anya Taylor-Joy, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth took over. Let´s see how the movies developed. Are you a fan of the Classics? Or the modern approach? If you could pick one out of five movies, which is your favorite?
Interlude
It is very mad to compare these flicks, as all of them have been directed by the same man. George Miller created a mix of action, Science-Fiction, dystopia and crazy characters that is unparalleled. What kind of actors does he cast? How have the protagonists / antagonists and the story changed over the years? Has the cinematography evolved or is it stylistically the same? So let´s dig in deeper into the raw and brutal soil. You´ll find my rating for each movie at the end of this post. “Where are you Max … ?”
Cast & Characters
When it comes to the large variety of characters the ‘Mad Max Saga’ has to offer, I have concentrated my focus on the main roles. Any additional characters you want me to write about? Put them in the comments.
Anti-Heros:
Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky in ‘Mad Max (1979).’ The first movie shocked many viewers in terms of brutality and ruthlessness.
The world fell and the road warriors took over. Gibson also played the titular role in ‘Mad Max 2 (1981).’ For many viewers, this flick is the best of the classic trilogy.
Grotesque is a word that fits the saga in many ways. ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)’ takes it a bit to far. This time, Max (Mel Gibson) has been banished from a city in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Charlize Theron plays the female lead as Imperator Furiosa in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).’ Driven by demons of the past, she longs for revenge.
Tom Hardy as Max in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).’ “A man reduced to only one instinct. Survival.”
Anya Taylor-Joy is one of Hollywood´s rising stars. She portrays the young Furiosa in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024).’
In the recent prequel ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024),’ Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) plays an important part.
Villains
The villain who made Max ‘Mad’ in the first place. Hugh Keays-Byrne as the Toecutter in ‘Mad Max (1979).’
In ‘Mad Max 2 (1981)’, a biker gang under the control of the Humungus (Kjell Nilsson) terrorizes “peaceful” citizens of the desert.
One of the most controversial roles of the franchise. Former Pop Star Tina Turner as Aunty Entity in ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).’
Immortan Joe first appeared in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).’ Hugh Keays-Byrne also played the Toecutter in ‘Mad Max (1979)!’
The only villain, who shows up in two movies, is Immortan Joe. When it comes to ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024),’ Lachy Hulme has the privilege to act as the sadistic warlord.
Stories & Plots
Besides the first movie, the overarching theme of the saga is redemption. Especially Max has a deep need to fulfill this. Usually, justice and revenge lure around the corner as sidekicks. With an exception of ‘Mad Max (1979).’ Until the biker gang kills his wife and daughter, Max is blessed with a inner feeling of morality. However, in this moment the mad longing for revenge rises. In the movies from 2015 and 2024, Frank Miller transferred this character trait to Furiosa.
The basic structure of the plot is very similar in all parts. Ordinary citizens are oppressed by violent criminals and rulers. Somehow Max, and later Furiosa, try to help these people and themselves. Everything is garnished with a twister of sand, action, cars, explosions, stunts and entertaining madness.
The young couple is looking to an uncertain future in ‘Mad Max (1979).’ Jessie (Joanne Samuel) is worried about her husband´s dangerous job as a road cop. Max (Mel Gibson) wants to protect and provide for his family …
Max (Mel Gibson) meets the Gyro Captain (Bruce Spence), who later helps him to protect a suppressed community in ‘Mad Max 2 (1981).’
Max (Mel Gibson) and the lost kids in ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).’ They have to face Auntie Entity, a relentless empress out for blood.
Driving to a better life in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)?’ Max (Tom Hardy) and Splendid (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) are hiding in a secret chamber of the war rig. Furiosa wants to find the fabled ‘Green Place,’ where she has been born, and bring the crew there save.
The other women from left to right in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015):’ Toast the Knowing (Zoë Kravitz), Cheedo the Fragile (Courtney Eaton), The Dag (Abbey Lee) and Capable (Riley Keough).
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)’ tells the story of Furiosa´s origin (Anya Taylor-Joy). What are Dementus´ plans (Chris Hemsworth)?
Cinematography
Key factors for the franchises popularity are the customes, stunts, cars and special effects. These are the features which people relate to ‘Mad Max.’ When director and screenwriter George Miller started working on his project back in the 1970s, he had a clear vision. It should be like nothing before and he definitely succeeded.
Most of the characters wear crazy costumes with war paint in their faces, wigs with horns, glasses beyond imagination and weapons from dream factories. It serves as a contrast to the wastelands and sandy hills.
Miller didn´t invent action movies soaked with gasoline. Decades earlier, people had jumped from moving vehicles, tankers had exploded or two cars crashed into each other, which caused chaos and pile-ups. However, he has lifted this sub genre to a much higher standard. The action scenes are remarkable and you get soaked in like dirt into a vacuum cleaner. Some might say that the ‘Fast & Furious Franchise’ topped this. I disagree. Especially ‘Fury Road’ and ‘Furiosa’ beat Walker, Diesel and Co. by far.
Robert Rodriguez stood up during an early screening of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)’ and said to George Miller: “How did you film this?” Rodriguez is a well known director himself and one of Quentin Tarantino´s best friends. He knows his stuff. So it´s a big compliment. As the development of film goes, special effects naturally became more of an issue in the films from 2015 and 2024 than in the 1970s and 1980s. I think Miller and his effects team have handled this with with excellency. One of the most impressive scenes is the huge sand storm in Fury Road. The audience gets whirled around too!
Which of these features has influenced the general perception of the ‘Mad Max series’ the most? What is your opinion?
The first stunt in ‘Mad Max (1979)’ looks very 70ish! Two cops are chasing the drugged Night Rider (Vincent Gil) before Max (Mel Gibson) finishes him off.
‘Mad Max 2 (1981)’ has set new standards for car chasing scenes. On the left: Vernon Wells as Wez. You can also see a man tight up in front of a car. George Miller will reprise this idea in ‘Fury Road (2015),’ when Max is used as a “blood bag.”
Auntie Entity (Tina Turner) approaches her own invention ‘THUNDERDOME.’ A place where only one out of two can survive. Max (Mel Gibson) has to face the Blaster (Paul Larsson). Most interior scenes of ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985),’ where shot in darkness or with dim lights on purpose.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)’ is full of superlative stunts and special effects beyond imagination.
Alyla Browne plays Furiosa as a child. The sequel ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)’ continues Frank Miller´s legacy to amaze our eyes.
Rating
First things … not first. This is a fact that becomes reality much more often in the world of movies, than you might think. For me personally, it also fits to the ‘Mad Max Saga.’ My favorite part is, without any doubt, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).’ The story, which actually revolves more around Furiosa than Max, is first class. This flick is one pleasantly long chase paired with fabulous characters and a cinematography, which I consider to be one of the best I have seen so far. Dialogues are rare, but the ones Miller squeezed in are top notch. My number one action movie!
Complete rating for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015),’ which reached ‘The Perfect Peak’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
I´m a fan of Anya Taylor-Joy, especially since her performance in ‘Last Night in Soho (2021),’ which gives ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)’ a small nitro head start. The expectations of me and other critics were naturally high, after ‘Fury Road’ won six Oscars nine years earlier. Not many people thought that Miller will create another milestone. They have been proven wrong. The screen play tells a captivating origin story and closes the gap to the sequel seamlessly. Once again, action at it´s best with countless memorable scenes. Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth fit together like a V8 motor into a tuned car. Highly recommended picture!
Complete rating for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024),’ which climbed ‘Close To The Top’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
Several ideas from the first sequel ‘Mad Max 2 (1981)’ have been used later. The basic design of many vehicles, harpoons to hook enemy cars, masks and spikes to name only a few. This can all be seen in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)’ and ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024).’ Nevertheless, I´m not to fond of this part, especially the villains Humungus and Wez are annoying. Bruce Spence´s Gyro Captain gives some comic relief. Gibson shows his standard performance. Solid and dependable. The main reason, why this movie ranks on the third position, is the great cinematography with visual desert treats, explosions and car chases.
Complete rating for ‘Mad Max 2 (1981),’ which got trapped in the ‘Avalanche Lounge’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
When it comes to ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)’ some might say ironically: “Those were the times when Tina Turner fueled a city with pig shit and Mel Gibson has kept his long hair ten years until ‘Braveheart (1995).’ The film has its justification and is worth a watch. Sure, Turner as a villain and the story arc with the kids in the desert is a bit off. But the visuals are good and there are same memorable scenes, for example the ‘THUNDERDOME’ fight.
Complete rating for ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985),’ which rests at ‘Mid Station’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
Last and least. ‘Mad Max (1979)’ kicked off the whole KABOOM! With an exception of the chasing scenes, this movie is very different in comparison to the others. It´s a very moody flick. Too moody for me. Ok, the idea that Max´s madness comes from the killing of his family is totally comprehensible and Hugh Keays-Byrne gives an authentic performance as The Toecutter. But when it comes to the rest of the characters, besides Max, I don´t like them. What you have to give George Miller credit for is his courage to make this movie in the first place. The curiosity of the audience and the success proved him right and are a foundation for the greatness, which comes in later years.
Complete rating for ‘Mad Max (1979),’ which rests at ‘Mid Station’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
Thanks for reading.
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