Happy Memorial Day everyone. I hope everyone got some time off work and you celebrated to honor those we’ve lost in the past. I’m back again this week, even if I am a day late, to bring you another one of my Mindless Movie Lists. This week’s topic is “Mad Max” to honor the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and I know this will be a polarizing discussion. Just keep reading to see what I mean. Mad Max is from the mind of George Miller and he has directed all five of them (including the new one). But, this list will just comprise the first four as I recently re-watched them all. Some for the first time in years (or decades) and some more recently. So, sit back, fasten your seat belts, and hold on as I drive through my rankings of the Mad Max movies.
4. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) – Starting us off in fourth place is “Beyond Thunderdome. I actually remember enjoying this as a kid but giving it a re-watch recently, it is filled with so many silly scenes, nonsensical plot points, and has exactly one fight scene inside of the Thunderdome even though the name Thunderdome is in its title. A lot of the characters are off-the-wall insane, which is fine because that is actually in line with other Mad Max films, but most of them don’t have any sense of purpose or real reason to be there. Bartertown has Aunty who rules the surface and Master Blaster who rules the Underworld, but both of them seem to have limited power. Also, don’t even get me started on the tribe of children and teenagers who have somehow survived on their own without any adults in a baron wasteland. Overall, this is more silly fun than anything else with only a few parts being truly dramatic. Enjoy it for what it is and don’t try to make anything more out of it.
3. Mad Max (1979) – This is where people will probably start disagreeing with me. I know this is a very influential film and is important to the world of filmmaking, but honestly, for me, it has two big strikes against it. First of all, this is completely unlike any of the other films in the franchise because there are still thriving towns, green grass, and trees, and not a sign of the “wasteland” environment that the others will be set in. So, it doesn’t line up with what I think of when I think of Mad Max. The second thing is the story and cinematography don’t hold up over time. I have gone back and re-watched several older movies over the last decade or so and can still see the film for what it was. On this one, I just can’t get past some of the shots. Most of the story is entertaining enough, but their taking a vacation seemed out of place for what was supposed to be a changed world. However, Mel Gibson does a great job portraying Max Rockatansky for the first time. I can feel good knowing what this film meant to a lot of people and glad it was able to do that, but for me, it just isn’t quite there.
2. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) – Now we are talking. This is where things start to get good. Max is a loner and is driving around the wasteland looking for supplies and gasoline. This is the first time we see the “wasteland” version of the future in these films. He also comes across an oil refinery that is still in operation. After he helps one of them, they let him in. They strike a deal and Max is going to go retrieve a semi-truck for them so they can all escape from where they are and the gang that attacks them all the time. There are lots of great driving and action sequences in “The Road Warrior” that propel this to the near top. Plus some more wacky characters like I mentioned above, including some feral little boy that helps Max out a few times. Overall, this is my favorite of the original three and it stands out among the great movies to watch from that era as well.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Now, time for number one. This may also be a point of contention, but Miller himself said that this is the Mad Max movie he always wanted to make. Great action scenes, mixed with a beautiful setup (this was gorgeous on the IMAX screen), plus a phenomenal cast make this my personal favorite Mad Max movie. This time around, you really get the sense that everything is gone except for what’s in the Citadel. This starts with Max as a prisoner and being used as a “blood bag” for Nicholas Hoult’s Nux. When Furiosa (Charlize Theron) tries to free some of the women slaves, Max escapes his own chains and they work together to stop Immortan Joe and his allies, the Bullet Farmer and the People Eater. All four groups rage through the open wasteland while Max and his companions slowly kill off the leaders and end up back at the Citadel where they aim to set everyone free. Eventually, you see Max wandering back out on his own. As I mentioned above, this movie has everything we’ve wanted from Mad Max movie from the very beginning. Miller pulled this one off and it’s not one of the greatest films ever made, but it’s a masterpiece on the silver screen and definitely worth the top spot here.
So, there you have it for my rankings for the Mad Max movies. Are you caught up and ready for Furiosa? How would you rank them if you disagree with me? …or is there a world where you agree with me? In the meantime, I will try to make it out this week to see “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and will be back next week with my review of that.
Also, if you haven’t done so, check out my other lists here.
