The Road Warrior

Going down as one of Australia's best exports, Mad Max 2, also known as The Road Warrior, is a high-octane adrenaline ride that creates a chaotic playground out of this dystopian outback. By never taking itself too seriously but not going as far as tongue-in-cheek, there's a nice balance that makes way for maximum enjoyment. It's this equilibrium that the first installment of the series lacked, and thankfully, The Road Warrior was able to make up for that in abundance, making way for the plaudits that launched this cult classic. 

A highlight of The Road Warrior that is seldom seen in sequels is its ability to stand alone separate of the narrative of the first. Though somewhat related, it's easier to see it as sharing the same universe, rather than following on directly. This attribution allowed George Miller unlimited possibilities to take the creation of Max. He remained respectful to the character he created in the first outfit, but decided on focusing on the story and style, rather than the man himself. I think Miller knew that Max wasn't a special creation in the first place complexity wise, and so instead of trying to make Gibson's character more than it was, he decided to focus on the true draws of the film; a unique fast paced action movie that's originality was hard to find in Hollywood at the time. 

It's this distinction from American cinema in the eighties that is so pleasing on the eye. The car scenes are the obvious talking points that are shot in such a way that is so excitable. Fast editing and close control shots keep everything running at such an intensity, leaving no chance to catch breathe. Even the crashes and explosions are focused to a point of showing maximum carnage, helping The Road Warrior's body count to stack up close to three figures. 

Plot arcs, such as the loner turned saviour, aren't the most original out there, and the film is basic when it comes to depth or having anything truly important to say. Despite this the film was seen so positively back in the eighties. Such praise is understandable now because of its cult status, but it's quite a pleasing thought to know that even the higher order of film critics saw the enjoyable nature that the film presents, and that's basically how I sum it up. It's nothing special in hindsight, but there was never an intention for it to be special. George Miller went out there to create a unique action film, and achieved that with originality to spare. It's intensity and ferocity, alongside providing the building blocks of Gibson's career, allowed this sci-fi of basic intent to rise higher than anyone ever expected. 

Director: George Miller

Run Time: 95 Minutes
Released: 1981

Nationality: Australian

IMDB Rating: 7.6

My Grade: 

B-