Mad Max Movie Review

First entry in the post-nuclear supercharged George Miller-directed trilogy which features Mel Gibson as the gung-ho super-cop Max. Leather-punk rebel bikers have nothing better to do than roam the desolate wasteland, chasing and being chased by police who are guarding the remnants of civilization. When his best-buddy fellow cop is killed, Max calls it quits and takes off cross country with the family. But boozin’, brawlin’, brain-bustin’ punks with really fast vehicles are hard to lose, even if they're born to lose, and the wife and kid get it. Now Max is Mad and out for revenge using the last of the big engine squad cars in vicious, savage-energy death chases and violent crashes. Those crazy stunt guys. Followed by The Road Warrior (also known as Mad Max 2) in 1981, and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome in 1985. American release has dubbed voices because of the Australian accents, although the newer letterboxed laserdisc has at least Gibson's voice back in place. Spectacular chase scenes and excellent stunt work make this an exceptionally entertaining action adventure.

1980 (R) 93m/C AU Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward; D: George Miller; W: James McCausland, George Miller; C: David Eggby. VHS, Beta, LV LIV, VES