Very good points Road Rash. I rewatched that movie on Sunday and it seemed to me, in regards to the "unroadworthy" statement, the Night Rider was talking about those who don't have the guts to pillage, scavenge and do anything to survive on the white line nightmare. And yeah, "it's all gone" was his refernce to how Max brought his free-spirited life of rebellion on the road to an end.
But then again, everyone's points were really good. But I kinda got that same feeling that Road Rash did when I watched the movie again.
Anyway, the most mysterious and intriguing villain remains the Humungus, of course. Who really is him? Damn! I don't think he was military man, after all... He's too much "hulked", muscular to be a military man. Surely he went disfigured by something. A facial burn? Or is him deformed since birth?
That man is the greatest mystery of the Mad Max Trilogy
Humungus may/may not be ex-military, but his physique has nothing to do with it. I've seen some pretty big guys in the Army and Marines. Apart from that, what other background could he be from? Maybe he was a cop? He has leadership skills, twisted as they are, and an obviously intelligent mind. Plus, he's used to public speaking.
Mask and scars on head lead me to believe he was a burn victim, not suffering from radiation sickness. He wouldn't be in such overall good shape. However, if he was wearing a Nomex flight suit, and was in a helicopter crash, let's say, he would just be burned on the unprotected areas, like his head if he wasn't wearing a helmet. You can think of several such burn scenarios to explain his scarring.
And what is the mystery of the pistol? A Humungus family heirloom, or scavenged from a home they raided?
Still think the Nightrider was on a drug induced frenzy, but freaking out over the end of civilization. Good points about his arrogance towards other drivers, and the end of his kamikaze dream, but I still believe the root of his behavior lies in his anger towards the decline of western civilization.
I've never noticed any evidence of any scars or burns, just the odd bulging vein here and there. The mask i would have thought was to intimidate, if his face was disfigured surely a sack over the head would have been a lot more comfortable rather than having half a saucepan strapped to your face.
Don't forget the hair... they're not so normal, after all. He lost them, granteed.
" just the odd bulging vein here and there " - well, in my fictional theories (you can read them in VILLAINS TO THE MAX) I imagined Humungus was a deviant, like a lot of the survivors. Deviants just don't mean "mutants", or radioactive-altered humans. Radioactivity began to spread a cross the country after the Oil WAr Apocalypse, when individuals as Max or Humungus were ALREADY grown up, mature, and their genetics steady on un-changeable patterns.
Max, Wez, Ironbar, Humungus, Blaster... they were born with enhanced abilities due to the ongoing evolutionary flux. Just an half step beyond our "human" standards. You know, "only the strong survive"... Chance wanted individuals like Max, the Deviants, raised just two decades or more BEFORE the Pox-Eclipse.
Anyway, Humungus got surrenal disfunctions which originated his incredible strenght and previously un-recorded hormonal reactions. If he was burnt in an accident or not, it's pretty incidental.
Well whatever these characters background and past is, i prefer not to know, i love the mystery surrounding them but at the same time enjoy reading all the ideas you guys have.
Motar, keep taking the medication, it's not working!
I just want someone to explain why they would think Fiffi is gay?? One can't help the name given by one's parents- what was it? Just coz the guy has a few pot-plants? Maybe coz he wears a scarf & no shirt? Maybe the way he grabs Max by the jaw?
No, I don't think Fiffi was gay, eccentric definitely, but not gay. I feel that Fiffi is very "old-school" as shown by his repeated comment "people don't believe in heroes any more." I reckon he represents a kind of father-figure to the lads, treats them as he would his own sons. His approach to Max on the stairs shows genuine concern as he realises Max's struggle to cope with the job.
As for the scarf, just part of his eccentic character. Take a good look at Bruce Spence in MM2 and tell me he don't look queer! But then look at the way looks at Arkie Whitely!
Oh, and yes I do agree that Bubba Zanetti was also gay, not that there's anything wrong with that!
"As long as the paperwork's clean, you fellas can do what you like out there!"
