It's pretty easy to see why Mad Max put Australian cinema on the map. Despite the lower budget and the B-movie energy, Mad Max is actually a decently fun time. Although, many consider this movie an apocalyptic desert thriller, a term and identity that'd be pushed further in subsequent entries, this is really Mad Max BEFORE the apocalypse.
The story being told here is nothing special and it only really gets going in the second half of the film. But there is an interesting world being set up here, albeit in a limited fashion. Max, as a character only gets to truly shine when the story picks up, but even then he's still a pretty average protagonist. The main star is the mysterious and calmly insane antagonist, Toecutter. A decently written villain, with an even better direction and casting. Overall, the story is simple, but decently entertaining.
The presentation is where the B-movie energy really shows its presence, with overly dramatic set-pieces and a equally dramatic and sometimes wacky score/soundtrack. The art direction and cinematography is fine for an old-school apocalyptic flick, but the art direction does come off as a bit unappealing at times. There's times where it looks great, and times when it looks a bit "ugly." However, it does work in creating the atmosphere and world of the story being told.
If you're a new Mad Max fan or just getting into the franchise, look at this first entry as a prologue/backstory to a story that is yet to be told. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, is where the REAL Mad Max begins.
The story being told here is nothing special and it only really gets going in the second half of the film. But there is an interesting world being set up here, albeit in a limited fashion. Max, as a character only gets to truly shine when the story picks up, but even then he's still a pretty average protagonist. The main star is the mysterious and calmly insane antagonist, Toecutter. A decently written villain, with an even better direction and casting. Overall, the story is simple, but decently entertaining.
The presentation is where the B-movie energy really shows its presence, with overly dramatic set-pieces and a equally dramatic and sometimes wacky score/soundtrack. The art direction and cinematography is fine for an old-school apocalyptic flick, but the art direction does come off as a bit unappealing at times. There's times where it looks great, and times when it looks a bit "ugly." However, it does work in creating the atmosphere and world of the story being told.
If you're a new Mad Max fan or just getting into the franchise, look at this first entry as a prologue/backstory to a story that is yet to be told. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, is where the REAL Mad Max begins.
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