Mad Max (1979)
Director: George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Synopsis:
In a near future Australia where civil order is breaking down, a highway cop takes on a vicious motorcycle gang.
Impressions:
The Mad Max most people think about actually comes from the second film rather than the original. This actually makes me think of the original El Mariachi in that it's the somewhat obscure low-budget starting point of a franchise. I'll give the filmmakers credit for doing as much as they do with so little money, but I wasn't as drawn in as I would've hoped. As I was watching it, I jokingly dubbed the film COPS: Melbourne. Bear in mind that before this, all I'd ever seen was Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, so this feels much more mundane by comparison. If you're particularly interested in the origins of the character of Mad Max or you want a less fantastical setting, you may appreciate this. Otherwise it's a take it or leave it deal.
50/50