THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
It is one thing to take on the dangerous realm of the road in fearless fashion. Some can simply say how brave you are, but then there are some who go out of their way to call you The Road Warriror.
PLOT
The 1982 sequel to Mad Max shows the apocalypse officially hit its course in Australia due to a global war causing oil shortage and ecocide. With civilization collapsed, all that remain have descended into barbarism. Former patrolman Max Rockatansky still fights for his own his survival by scavenging food & petrol, but currently has the company of an australian cattle dog. After overcoming an altercation between himself and an unhinged biker named Wez, he would find an gyrocopter and would try to take its fuel before being stopped by its pilot. When Max ends up overpowering him with the assist of his dog, the gyro captain seeks true by guiding him to an oil refinery. There they find the place ran by a small community but is constantly attacked by a motorised gang that includes Wez. When a group from the same community gets assaulted by said marauders, Max is able to save the sole survivor Nathan (David Downer) with the intent of being rewarded fuel once taken back home. But when he dies upon return, the leading settler Pappagallo claims the deal to have died with him. They intend to cast him out until the marauders return with their leader Lord Humungus who offer to spare their lives in exchange for all fuel. Everyone would then contemplate on to take the deal or not until Max gives a better one: He brings them a semi truck and in return leaves with as much fuel as he could carry. In his attempt, he reunites with the gyro captain who he left chained to a log when tending to Nathan. Despite being chased by the marauders, he is able to make to the refinery and hold up his end. Pappagallo offers him an entreaty to join them in a journey to a northern paradise, but he refuses and prefers sticking to leaving with what's owed. On the day he chooses to leave however, Wez and some marauders follow him in an attempt to kill him and take his fuel. They cause him to crash and kill his dog in the process. When one marauder named Toadie (Max Phipps) tries to steal the fuel from his V8 Pursuit Special, the tanks would be rigged to explode. Wez would leave with the assumption Max had died and by the time he leaves, gyro captain saves and brings him back to the refinery. Despite being injured from said attack, Max insists on driving his way out first to escape so that the settlers can leave in another direction. Besides the gyro Captain, Pappagallo and three other settlers would join him in the drive, whereas a feral child from the group would join unbeknownst to them. Humungus would lead his gang to go after the truck and in the process, he would kill Papagallo and the settlers that joined Max. The gyro captain would drop Molotov cocktails which would damage Humungus’ vehicle to the point he’d have to stop to put out the fire, but his gyro copter would be damaged as well in the process where he would have to crash land. Wez would still be on Max’s tail, hanging on the truck, the road warrior makes a U turn and causes Humungus to crash into the truck. The crash would kill him and Wez in the process. Max and the feral kid survive but when the gyro captain catches up, he finds the tanker to be filled with sand instead of dirt making the chase a decoy for the settlers. When the remaining marauders make the same discovery, they abandon the whole chase. The film would with the future adult of the Feral Kid narrating that the gyro captain would succeed as the settler’s new leader while he grew to be Chief of the Great Northern Tribe, but the film would end with him confirming he never saw Max again after he saved his life.
THOUGHTS
I enjoyed Mad Max at first glance, so I was totally onboard on what I would get from a second batch. And it goes without saying director George Miller did not disappoint. He and cowriters Terry Hayes & Brian Hannant exceed expectations of what was done the first time around and then some because the chases felt more exciting than before thanks to the editing feeling so sharp as if you're feeling each bit of impact. In this apocalyptic setting, the costumes give a perfect yet eery reflection on what could be our future. While the first one showed morals be tested when losing all you love, this is a scenario on whether or not you would still have any if you now have nothing to lose. In this case, they still can because it would help you thrive should be in the fight for survival. Max is in a position where he has to fight everyday and despite his past loss, he cares enough to help without saying he does. Mel Gibson may show him to be a grizzled man at this point in his life but still had enough compassion to help those in need. When he bonds with the feral kid, a tough and brave figure in his predicament greatly played by Emil Minty, there's no doubt he thought of his own child and how he wouldn't want him to struggle. And noticing how all that lived in the refinery, it was all enough for him to be considerate to be the hero they needed which he delivered. Michael Preston was definitely a highlight for having enough compassion to look after his community, but it was quite the delight having Bruce Spence as the gyro captain. He was so entertaining throughout due to being a cunning strategist yet has enough common sense of what to do and not to. Like he was not comfortable seeing the marauders have their way with Nathan's group, which made him motivated to have Max's back. It would seem to me he would earn his future role as the the settlers' new leader because he had that unlikely deep respect admiration he never thought he had which he proved when he saved Max. With such a leader willing to hold his own, it was enough for Max himself to leave apart from the fact he knows he can't protect them forever. Despite leaving, there is no doubt they will be forever grateful for his selflessness. Since an apocalypse can also bring out the worst of people, it's not a surprise seeing villains much worse than the first film's Toecutter. Lord Humungus was a sight to behold because Kjell Nilsson because the physicality he brought to it was impressively intimidating. Whenever he spoke through his mask, you knew he meant business. There's no confirmation on if he'd truly be merciful like he claims to be, but he damn sure was remorseless should he be crossed. Add that with psychotic loyalists the way Vernon Wells made Wez, he was at the brink of appearing unstoppable until his reign of terror was concluded. This film was hella fun, but even good films like this can have improvements as there were some things that bothered me upon rewatching. Like for instance, why does no one from Humungus’ crew follow the feral kid? If they wanted to further prove the point of dominance, getting their hands on him before he could return to the refinery would’ve sealed the deal if you ask me. It also makes me point out Humungus could’ve attacked sooner because if he’s known about the refinery for so long and has the manpower plus confidence to take it down, it surprises me he didn’t until Max arrived. That was more unwise than Wez not finishing off Max when he had the jump on him. I don’t want to root for the villains ever, but they could make better decisions than this. Also, why hasn’t the gyro captain stayed with the refinery sooner? Since a gyro copter is a rare aircraft in the apocalypse that they were fascinated with, that totally would’ve benefitted them and he would’ve not had to meet Max. Ignore these said issues, then you’ll enjoy this movie as much as I have. In short, The Road Warrior is an action classic for giving the right amount of elevation at its time to be better than its predecessor. If you enjoyed the first one, it’s a no brainer you’ll like this too.
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