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- In the future, cities will become deserts, roads will become battlefields and the hope of mankind will appear as a stranger.
Summary Capsule
- A car-driving anti-hero defends a small community in post-apocalyptic Australia
Mutant Meter
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Sue's Rating: Amoco Ultimate gasoline contains no polynuclear aromatics
Sue's Review: I never wanted to become OPEC's first line of defense, but when gas prices start to rise, that seems to be my lot in life. There's nothing quite so disheartening than being screamed at by Joe Commuter for the shenanigans of various sheiks, diplomats and corporate honchos I’m sure I’ll never meet. (My idea of traveling to the middle-east is a trip to Baltimore, for criminy’s sake!) So when the prices skyrocket and road rage spills over into frothing obscenity aimed at yours truly, there's no better remedy that going home and popping The Road Warrior into the VCR.
This is a movie that has something for everyone: violence, car chases, crossbows, coveted fossil fuels for fellow mutant Lissa and a young leather-clad Mel Gibson for me. What's not to love?
The crux of the story is that in the wake of the latest war to end all wars, the most valued commodity in the Australian Outback is fuel. (Shotgun shells seem to trail in at a distant second, although I'd have maybe opted for water and food myself.) After all, without a means of transportation, what are you but just another dehydrated pedestrian in not-so-happy valley? So there are two sets of people. The ones who have the gas behind some really creative barricades and the ones who intend to take the gas whilst leaving a swath of mangled corpses in their wake. Kind of makes you wonder if they've lost sight of the bigger gene-pool related picture, doesn't it?
And then there's Lone Wolf… er… Dingo... Mad Max (Pre-Religion Mel Gibson) with his souped up V8 Interceptor, a faithful dog aptly named Dog and an acquired sidekick, the Gyro Captain, (Bruce Spence) who flies the friendly skies in something resembling an industrial sized eggbeater and gets all the good lines. Oh yes, and there would seem to be the token feral male child in the mix too. Named, if I understand this correctly, Boy, who grows up to be Narrator. The austerity of those names is offset by the leader of the villains known affectionately as "The Humungus" (not my spelling). Pro-Wrestling is apparently forecasted to survive the apocalypse. Just like cockroaches!
In any case, not entirely comfortable with the prey or predator ethos of the locals, Max opts to sub-contract to the gas owners who've decided to relocate to a quieter neighborhood (they have brochures!) by offering to drive their tanker truck past the slavering hordes... all for the low low price of a tank full of unleaded. What a deal!
A pretty nifty chase sequence ensues, which makes up for all the "good of humanity" drivel that immediately precedes it. (Having listened to the longer chunks of dialogue, I’m almost positive that George Lucas was used as a script consultant.) As to the rest of the movie, you’ll just have to watch and see.
While this isn't a movie for the squeamish, or my Mom, I was struck by how mild the language and gore factors really were in comparison to modern day films. At the time I first watched this, (1982, I think) it had just been released on cable (heck, cable had just been released on cable!) and innocent little me was left aghast, but not undelighted, at the carnage. Funny how time changes your perspective, isn't it? These days, I can't help but watch this movie with a little tug of nostalgia. I mean, I haven't seen live human beings intentionally used as a first line of defense in a head-on collision since Volkswagen stopped production on those little minibuses so prevalent in the 70’s.
Road Warrior isn't ever going to be remembered for sparkling dialogue or breathtakingly beautiful cinematography, but it does unabashedly examine many ways in which sharp projectiles, barbed wire and moving vehicles can ruin your whole day. All in all, not a bad way to educate yourself for a few hours.
 "...I said a cheeseburger, large fries and a vanilla shake."
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- Snakes make excellent pets… and have several essential vitamins and minerals!
- Hair dye and styling gel should be a part of anyone’s pre-apocalyptic stockpile.
- Lawn darts take on a whole new meaning in this flick.
- Feral children are every bit as articulate and hygienic as the domestic variety.
- Why is it that every wannabe despot has to have a sniveling, rat faced maniac as a sidekick? Is it in the Union rules or what?
- Hey, why isn’t anyone worried about oil, spark plugs or transmission fluid?
- Bungee Mechanic!
- Is it just me or does the Gyro Captain seem like a prototype for Murdock from the A-Team?
Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?
Not really. No.
Unnecessary Background [some sources: ]
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content
Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]
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The Road Warrior is the second film in the Mad Max trilogy, bookended by Mad Max and Mad Max – Beyond Thunderdome.
The dog used in the film, named simply "Dog", was obtained from a local dog pound and trained to perform in the film. Because the sound of the engines upset him (and in one incident, caused him to relieve himself in the car), he was fitted with special earplugs.
Because he was relatively unknown in the US, the trailers did not feature Mel Gibson, but instead focused on the chases and action scenes.
The original V8 Interceptor car is now in the 'Cars of the Stars Motor Museum' in England with other famous cars such as the Magnum PI Ferrari and the Knight Rider KITT – all vehicles that Sue remembers fondly from her younger days.
Groovy Quotes
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The Gyro Captain: Lingerie. Oh, remember lingerie?
[Max starts to pull a concealed knife from under his car. The Captain puts a loaded crossbow to his neck from behind}
The Gyro Captain: A fellah, a QUICK fellah, might have a weapon under there. I'd have to pin his head to the panel...
The Gyro Captain: Don't touch please, that's a precision instrument
[Max loads his shotgun with a shell found on a dead body]
The Gyro Captain: How do we know that one's not a dud?
[Max aims at the Captain's face]
Max: Find out.
Curmudgeon: Ya have to come, sonny. This is where we're going. [Unfolds a multi-panel scenic postcard] Paradise! Two thousand miles from here. Fresh water. Plenty of sunshine. Nothing to do but breed!
Max: I want to drive that truck.
Zetta: And how do you plan to do that? Look at yourself. You couldn't drive a wheelchair.
The Gyro Captain: They've got you wrong. You're not a coward. STUPID, maybe. But not a coward.
Mechanic: The last of the V8 Interceptors. [Picks up the booby trap he just removed] Would've been a shame to blow it up.
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This review page was last updated on 6.28.04
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