Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (2013)

The Mad Max films finish their transformation from the edgy, ultra-violent first movie to this kid-friendly adventure picture with slick production values and flawless photography. The violence is toned down and the fantasy elements are played up; unfortunately, this means the post-apocalytpic kick of the second movie (just about one of the greatest action flick -EVER!) has vanished. "Thunderdome" has some fine moments, especially the well-directed scenes with the tribes of children and the haunting images of the coda, as well a couple of good action sequences, such as the face-off in the Thunderdome arena, but it doesn't stay in your memory the way the first two films do. It is still worth seeing if you enjoyed the other movies in the series. Tina Turner's performance is certainly interesting, similar to Grace Jones turn in "Conan the Destroyer," which was made at about the same time.

Of course, if you've never seen a Mad Max films, don't start here. Go back to the first one (available in a great deluxe DVD), then work up to the best of three "Road Warrior" (available in a not so deluxe DVD), then you'll be ready for this finale -and this DVD doesn't have much in the way of extras on it either.

I'm probably one out of only a handful of people that thinks Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is just as good as The Road Warrior, and for different reasons, too. The Road Warrior was a spectacle of frenetically paced action sequences and it would feel like a complete retread if Beyond Thunderdome tried to do the same thing again. Instead, they added new elements, and the result is a very entertaining and imaginitive action/adventure.

Max (Mel Gibson) has just been robbed of all his belongings in the middle of nowhere in Australia. He searches for the thief and this leads to Bartertown, a unique society built upon methane energy dependent on pig manure, no less.

Max's search leads him to Aunty Entity (Tina Turner), Bartertown's lawmaker, who strikes a deal with him. All Max has to do is kill a certain somebody in Thunderdome arena and he'll get provisions in return. Not everything goes according to plan and Max is banished to the desert where he is rescued by a small group of lost children.

For those expecting the action of The Road Warrior you might be disappointed. While there is a good bit of action in Beyond Thunderdome, it's not as much as its predecessor and doesn't have as much energy. However, Beyond Thunderdome should be noted for having what is perhaps one of the best action sequences in American film history with the gladiator fight in Thunderdome arena between Max and the gigantic Blaster. The sequence is undeniably inventive and clever; it involves the two men tied to bungee cords that allow them to spring and leap throughout the arena and grab any weapons placed all around such as a mace, chainsaw, spear, etc.

What makes the film so good, though, are its successful attempts at creating complex societies. Bartertown is a sight to behold and is made all the more interesting by the rituals the "citizens" perform and the laws they obey.

As for the performances, Mel Gibson excels and gives a fine performance as usual. Tina Turner is a real surprise as the villainess; she certainly knows how to act and delivers a fairly good performance. Most of the supporting cast do a decent job with the material they're given. Angry Anderson, in particular, is quite humorous as the henchmen who rarely talks and mostly grunts, screams, and yells in exaggerated tones.

After Brian May's exciting score in The Road Warrior, Maurice Jarre takes over the job and composes a score that is quite poetic and, at times, lush and beautiful.

As with all the final scenes in the Mad Max films, this one ends perfectly. This time, we get the feeling that humanity has hope so long as men like Max are around.

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The third chapter of the Mad Max films can't possibly outdo the success of The Road Warrior, but it's a worthy successor, an exciting film with a very interesting story.

Mel Gibson's Max is back again and finds himself helping another group of ragtag characters. Max finds his way to a town called Bartertown and is forced to engage in a gladiator battle to the death. After refusing to kill his beaten enemy, he's dragged back out to the wasteland, there he's rescued by a group of tribal children. A small group from Bartertown is looking to escape to "The Promised Land" Max and some of his young rescuers lead the way.

Tina Turner is on hand as the wicked Aunty Entity, ruler of Bartertown. Bookending the film are two excellent songs from her as well. Mad Max "3" is a worthy sequel, while not as intense as the previous two, the story is thought provoking and while a bit slow paced, the ending is more than worthwhile. Maurice Jarre's music score isn't as intense but does create an appropriate epic atmosphere. George Miller and George Ogilvie are the directors and create both a sequel and a film that can stand on it's own.

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Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome receives a great deal of bitterness. This is expected, it is a follow-up to one of the greatest of all action movies, with action scenes that aren't as good. Granted, the action sequences in the movie are quite exciting, but they easily fall short of the grandeur of The Road Warrior.

Indeed, as a follow-up to The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome does not deserve a 5-Star Rating. But what Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome does manage to do is build upon the fantastic setting that was only hinted at in Mad Max and The Road Warrior. The wastelands depicted in the first two films are not enough to contain the skyhigh ambitions of the world that director George Miller has created. With the addition of Bartertown, characters like Master-Blaster, and the final jarring vision of civilization presented in the film's closing moments, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is still up to par with its much-loved predecessor.

A viewer expecting another Road Warrior will be disappointed; but a viewer that wants to go back to the nameless, post-apocalyptic world of this film's two predecessors will not be.

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George Miller's last installment in the Mad Max Trilogy. Although the film keeps up the apocalyptic setting and theme of The Road Warrior, the plot here's rather far-fetched and seems to undermine the dramatic elements of the film.

Mad Max is now a messiah who seeks to protect a settlement of naive followers against the intrusions of Queen Aunty Entity (Tina Turner), the leader of a hodge-podge city-state named Bartertown. She keeps her subjects entertained by holding gladiatorial contests in the town's Thunderdome; a caged dome in which the contestants lunge at each other with weapons while suspened in the air. Will Mad Max be able to protect his innocent followers from Aunty Entity's evil machinations?

The only fault I find with this film is having Mad Max as some sort of messiah. His followers seemed too naive and ignorant to have been able to develop a sophisticated settlement in the first place. Their virtual muteness accompanied with the silly da-da talk makes them rather unsympathetic characters as well.

This is the worst of the three Mad Max films that is undermined by a rather uneven plot. I would recommend renting this film more than buying it.

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