In the uneasy near future, a motorcycle gang rules the road while the government is trying to keep the few highway cops they have to patrol the roads. The gang terrorizes innocent civilians and laughs in the face of the police who are hell-bent on stopping them, but the gang underestimates Main Force Patrol Officer Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) when they go after his best friend and his family.  Max goes on a quest of revenge to take the gang down.

 

MAD MAX is the film that started it all for director George Miller’s career, Mel Gibson, and the MAD MAX series.   Even though MAD MAX 2 (aka THE ROAD WARRIOR) is a better movie, MAD MAX is a great post-apocalyptic Western made on a low budget of $400,000 Australian Dollars.   It is tightly edited force of fury mixed in with moments of peaceful quiet.   It imagines the Australian landscape unlike any film.   George Miller has created a film that has influenced the movie landscape and gathered a legion of fans for this cult classic.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio Commentary with Art Director Jon Dowding, Director of Photography David Eggby, Special Effects Artist Chris Murray and Tim Ridge

 

New interviews with actors Mel Gibson and Joanne Samuel, and Director of Photography David Eggby which reveals stories like how Mel got cast, Joanne getting the part of Max’s wife Jessie after the original actress was injured in a motorcycle accident, and the stunts.   It is great that Scream Factory was able to get Mel Gibson to participate for this blu-ray, but I wish George Miller would have commented on the movie that started his movie career.

 

The next two featurettes are carried over from the older MGM DVD/ Blu-ray editions:

MEL GIBSON: THE BIRTH OF A SUPERSTAR- a good overview of Mel Gibson’s early acting career before and after MAD MAX

MAD MAX: THE FILM PHENOMENON- interviews with cast, crew, and critics reflect on the making of the cult classic and the movie’s impact

 

Also included on this disc are the original theatrical trailers, TV spots, and a photo gallery of promotional stills and behind-the-scenes photos

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  If you enjoyed MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, it is time to visit (or revisit) MAD MAX- the film that started the MAD MAX series.   The new interviews and the featurette on Mel Gibson’s early career are the best extras on this disc.

 

This review is ©5-16-2015 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

Like Enterline Media on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/enterlinemediaweb and follow on tumblr at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com