The Films: Thunderdome was just a bad dream, right?

[Jakkar]

Just a bad dream?

No, in truth it was, afaict, George Miller's confused mess while mourning for the death of a close friend and colleague. Sad time. Much drugs.

What about the others, though? I don't think I can deny, after three cinema trips, that Fury Road has surpassed the earlier films by a significant margin, but where do you stand on them?

For me, the original has always been the best - the strangest, most atmospheric and well-crafted story of a world in a sad decline, picked over by psychopaths while a few brave souls try to maintain peace and safety, and become mad themselves in the process as the world rots around them.

Road Warrior was a much simpler film - less camp, though still camp, less surreal though remaining strange, with some good ideas but no overall cohesion - and Max had become an utter arsehole by this point in his life. It would have worked better as a much shorter film, I can't help but feel.

And then there's the strange adopted child of the franchise, amounting to a big-budget, far more entertaining remake of Road Warrior: Waterworld.

Let the flaming begin, but I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ love that film. I'd love to see a game of it one day, somehow - very much in the style of this game - all about stealing, modifying and upgrading boats and exploring the great ocean, trading at atolls while fighting factions and exploring the deep cities.

Wouldn't you love to play a mutie on the infinite ocean?

[Dog_in_Car]

MUTATION!
but for real, road warrior is probably my favorite followed by fury road. Mel is a much better actor and did a better job at portraying max than Hardy

[MonkeyHarris]

For me the original Mad Max has some great moments but its the Road Warrior where it all comes together. Fury Road is probably one of the best action films of this decade along with Dredd - 2 films that are aimed at broader audiences than teenagers...

[Darkstar]

I think a few people around here need to get BEYOND THUNDERDOME

[Mystic Monkey]

thunderdome reminded me of waterworld but waterworld had more cars

[MonkeyHarris]

"All the children say..."

[multi]

Two movies enter, one movie leaves.

[Digby]

Thunderdome was decent. In its way. Certainly had hilarious vehicles. I mean come on the cowmobile!

Fury Road was a great action movie but its plot was retarded. I mean come on. They REALLY wanted that strong female lead.

[Stone_Loki]

Thunder dome was perhaps his attempt to bring some hope to a series that at the time he didn't want to feel for himself? Think about it, how many died in road warrior trying to get out? How many in thunder road? Mad Max?

I don't think its bad, thunder dome has its place, just was a time were he wished for hope at a hopeless time in his life.

[Dog_in_Car]

George Miller wasn't as involved in thunderdome because his mad max co-creator was killed just prior to filming

[MonkeyHarris]

Originally posted by Jet:

Thunderdome was decent. In its way. Certainly had hilarious vehicles. I mean come on the cowmobile!

Fury Road was a great action movie but its plot was retarded. I mean come on. They REALLY wanted that strong female lead.

"retarded plot" - great piece of analysis there - Fury Road works because it has so many layers visually and in terms of its characters and story - and the female lead rocked!

[supersane]

road warrior is best, but in US thunderdome is most popular - comes on tv like every 2 weeks. wouldn't have the california love video w/o it. Master Blaster ftw

[supersane]

did not like fury, jumpcuts ( the editing style ) defeats entire purpose of franchise, the witness scene was best part of fury

[Wedge]

Road Warrior is my favourite. Thunderdome was really different - sadly George Miller's best friend Byron Kennedy was killed in a helicopter crash and Miller directed only the action scenes... Not a bad movie, but the weakest in the series.

[Dog_in_Car]

People seem to think that Fury Road was about a strong female lead but the truth is that Max was simply dropped into somebody elses fight which just happened to be between a female and a male. I thought furiousa was pretty annoying

[ZX119A]

Originally posted by nsdewitt:

People seem to think that Fury Road was about a strong female lead but the truth is that Max was simply dropped into somebody elses fight which just happened to be between a female and a male. I thought furiousa was pretty annoying

People act like its a feminist victory but the entire movie is her failing until a man shows up to save the day.