Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

7/10

Starring
Mel Gibson
Michael Preston
Bruce Spence
Vernon Wells
Kjell Nilsson


Directed by George Miller

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is a continuation of the 1979 Australian post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max.

This movie packs more of a punch than its predecessor. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t add much depth to the character, as the viewer is expected to have seen Mad Max 1 to understand who Max is.

The movie builds on the idea that the future will be rough, but it does so with a plot so well crafted that dialogue didn’t really matter.

The climactic chase scene at the end was both entertaining and engaging. It goes on for over 10 minutes, with stunts and visual effects that make it clear—as long as the world depends on oil for survival, we’ll keep fighting for it (if we aren’t already). The chase, though long, stays interesting, and the plot unfolds in a way that makes Max feel as human as possible.

George Miller was pushed into the limelight after the first Mad Max, so a sequel was inevitable. In 1981, Mad Max 2 was made. It was shot over 12 weeks, and Miller used more than 80 cars in production. The budget was $4.5 million, compared to the $650,000 of the first movie, and it became a box office hit.

The movie starts with an intro showing, through clips and imagery, what led this former police officer to become a lone wanderer.

The plot begins with Max travelling through the wastelands of Australia after a nuclear war has torn the world apart. He’s searching for what’s now priceless—fuel (petrol/diesel), which everyone seems to need.

While travelling, he finds himself caught in a conflict between two groups. One is weaker and peaceful, no match for the other, more merciless group. Max becomes the only hope for this small group of honest people running a remote oil refinery, which the violent group is trying to take over.

Mad Max's vision of a junkyard future, full of vast wastelands and violence, has been copied by many films released in recent years. The movie tries to make the best of the budget it has, and while watching you can see that it can be better produced in some areas. The acting is fine, and Mel Gibson and the rest of the crew did the best they can, the story feels a bit repetitive as the movie progresses, Max being chased and returns to be chased again. Then the cinematography was not the best there is.

Mad Max 2 is a must-watch. You’ll enjoy every moment—it’s a straight-to-the-point action film with no dull moments.