If you’re reading this, it’s too late. I have already developed iron poisoning and will most probably die from it because I’ve witnessed the most metal movie to ever exist: Mad Max. Perhaps now I can finally ride the skies of Valhalla in shining chrome.
In short, Max is one of few survivors of a dystopian world ruled by three major villains: Immortan Joe, The Bullet Farmer and the People Eater, all of which represent the destructive power of religion, war and greed respectively. They rule over the barren wasteland which was once the Australian Outback.
The thought of fast-paced combat and cultish, sand vikings would make anyone who enjoys action movies fall in love with “Mad Max,” but if there’s one thing that makes it a must-watch movie: aesthetics. A new way of displaying a post-apocalyptic setting, unique props and a break from the typical damsel in distress made “Mad Max”, in my opinion, the most hardcore action movie I’ve ever seen.
“Mad Max” featured a wasteland with themes familiar to the dystopian world. A desert wasteland with a society of bandits who worship what remains of the technological artifacts of the last age.
Also the fact that anything could happen gave the viewers the seat-clenching anxiety that Max was feeling, that a pregnant woman and old lady can get killed in a second and a faceless guitarist can shoot flames from his speaker truck just makes the movie all the more hardcore. The Imperator Furiosa, a smooth criminal with an even smoother head, is one of the main protagonists of the film. With her traditionally unfeminine looks and her gritty, no-nonsense attitude, she gives viewers a break from the typical princess who needs rescuing.
Of course, “Mad Max” has its flaws. A story that didn’t add to the Mad Max series, have a good sense of flow, and focus on the main character as much as it should left the movie feeling choppy and rushed. But here’s the thing:
Mad Max wasn’t meant to show an enlightening pilgrimage to find the meaning of life. It overlooked the deep, philosophical script writing that only a certain niche of viewers would enjoy and focused on a pace that went from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye. But how can a film be great if it didn’t contain all the important factors a film should have? This is where the argument over Mad Max gets contentious.
On one hand it nailed the new post-apocalyptic setting and ignored the typical, sexist Hollywood tropes, but it also butchered the main plot line and script, a part of the “Mad Max” series that appealed to the original fans. But even great producers like George Miller can lose track of what satisfies their main fan base. That’s the thing: Mad Max was a great film, but it didn’t satisfy some factors that most movies have, which is totally okay.
The film has also garnered immense critical acclaim, earning nine Academy Award nominations including best picture and best director. It has also been recognized for its stunning production design, music, unique maekup and hairstyling, a feature that has received adoration from both fans and critics alike.
With people either falling in love with the film or feeling as if they wasted two hours of their life, the undying fact still remains: “Mad Max” set the bar up high for competing action movies, and even more so for death metal bands.
TCHS School Newspaper