#writing is fun even when its a shitpostish ramble

[rauhallinen-hauki]

a semi-shitpost """review""" of the Mad Max series

despite knowing full well that Mad Max 2 is the best of the series I decided to watch the rest of the Mad Max movies, so here's a half-shitpost half-genuine mini ””””review”””” /me trowing opinions no one asked for because why not (and because on serious note, you should be critical of the media you consume.). also spoilers. If anyone ever sees this post: don't take it too seriously.

Mad Max 1: Surprisingly good writing and composition. My favourite aspects of it were Max wanting to quit his work as a cop even before his friend Goose (a cop too) is killed by Toecutter's gang, some social critique there. I also liked the atmosphere of the landscapes. It made me sad though (the plot is pretty much a lose-lose situation for all parties involved), a little too nihilistic for me. But overall it was good and enjoyable and a classic. 6/10, 6.5-7/10 if I'm feeling good.

Mad Max 2/Road Warrior: Even a summary wouldn't do this masterpiece of a film justice but to put it simply it just slaps. Surprisingly memorable characters and plot for an action movie, sexy vehicles and destructive action, beautiful composition and music and great pacing, just lots of personality and artistry (nothing compares to Humungus and his leather fetish biker gang sorry that's just a fact).There is a reason this film is so influential and pretty much birthed the post-apocalypse genre. Its just THAT good. One of these faves I never get tired of, a comforting piece of media and just one of my favourite pieces of work period. 10/10 just absolute genius. A classic a legend a masterpiece a-(ok you get the picture)

Mad Mad 3/Beyond Thunderdome: The tamest of the series, and probably the reason so many hate it. But I enjoyed it, I like the idea of all these post apocalyptic ”societies”, lots of fun action potential in the thunderdome itself too. Wholesome message at the end. A little ”off” at times but overall enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. Solid 6/10.

Mad max 4/Fury road: Words cant describe how much I despise this one. Its not bad. Its not even bad in a so bad its good sense. Its fucking diarrhea shit sprinkled with vomit and infections. Not because its new or anything. Different doesn't equate to bad. Its just that this movie is a prime example of ”style over substance”. Its the longest of the films...and yet its like nothing actually happens in it. The dialogue made me roll my eyes and/or cringe most of the time, the action is just shit flying at the screen so there is no actual tension or investment, everything is just try-harding and stupid. Unironical shitstorm of capitalism/10

Thoughts on the franchise as a whole

Weirdest (in a good way) series of films in I've seen. Despite being a somewhat ”chronological” series each movie is its own story and has its own unique feel (regardless of it working or not), which is good. Wouldn't consider myself a mad max fan but since I've seen them all now I can and will gladly discuss the movies whit other fellow fans (and no, I'm not going to shit on you if you like like fury road despite me hating it. I'm not that kind of ”fan”). But I will say that I'm a BIG fan of mad max 2 specifically,so if anyone ever wants to chat about it with me be glad to do it. Overall i acknowledge the cultural impact of the series and i think its an ok franchise.

Some personal preferences and headcanons

-Since each of the movies is its own story (for example, you don't need to necessarily watch mad max 1 to understand mad max 2) I like to believe that you, as an spectator, can decide what really counts as the real continuity or ”official story”.

I personally like the idea that the story of Max ends after the events of Mad Max 2, and after all the gang bullshit Max's been trough he just manages to build a little cottagecore house in the middle of the wasteland and spends the rest of his life healing his numerous traumas with gardening and custom car building (iIshould write a fanfic lmao). So uuh yeah i don't consider mad max 3 and max max 4 to be ”canon”, or maybe they're canon in an alternate universe or something. This is what I believe in, but everyone who sees these films can create their own take on them and that's awesome.

-Relating to that previous idea, Max himself is a bit of a wasteland urban legend in-universe. Some mysterious wasteland hero who may or may not be real.

-Despite the series being called Mad Max, I feel like Sad Max is a more fitting name.

-Almost everyone in Mad Max 1 is a shitposter, specially the Toecutter and Goose.

-Lord Humungus is Max's direct narrative foil. Both cool, clever men with militaristic backgrounds and a fixation on vehicles and leather, who lose everything when the world goes to shit. Also they both are the only ones with guns, max has a worn shotgun while Humungus has a more elegant pistol. The key difference is that Max keeps at least some of his humanity while Humungus doesn't. Other differences are that of Humungus being more of a strategic team leader while Max is more likely to be a ”pawn” or work alone.

-Relating to the previous idea, if Max and Lord Humungus were to talk about their similar traumas and shared interest in cars i think they would bond and become really good friends. Lovers, even. Shipping potential there.

-The interceptor is a really sexy car, specially whit its rust and fat gasoline tanks in road warrior.

-Ironically enough, despite fury road being the longest and most dialogue heavy of the movies, its characters are shallower than the ones in the previous films.

-Aunty Entity got the idea to create Thunderdome while she mused about wresting. She's a fan of wrestling. I also believe she keeps some sort of karaoke night at Bartertown once in a while, she's fond of singing. Most artistic expressions, really.

-The core message of the Mad Max series (or at the very least of Mad Max 2) is about finding love and understanding and humanity in a broken world.