www.madmaxmovies.com

Were my rants posted on this message board not enough? This site persists in being a pile of rubble without particular emphasis on the Mad Max films as 'films' rather than as car or model shows. That and other things. What of all those people who want to discuss Mad Max characters, themes and storylines? Like I said, the Toecutter gang are the most interesting collection of baddies yet people would rather discuss Wez and his crew. Not that much time is spent discussing Wez and company. However, there's even less discussion on the Toecutter gang unless somebody like me comes along to post any topic on them. In general, the first Mad Max film seems particularly underrated compared to The Road Warrior. People attempt to say the sequel is a different film altogether, with the only returning player being Mel Gibson as Max. Well, Max Fairchild returned but played an entirely different character. Anyway, Mad Max deserves more credit considering it was shot on a much lower budget. It may not be as entertaining as The Road Warrior, but its unrelenting grim atmosphere, savagery and gritty realism make it much more interesting. With Mad Max, there always seems to be a glimmer of hope. Unlike, say, the totally dark and dreary Sam Peckinpah film Straw Dogs. At least in Mad Max the main character gets his revenge. But there's no way to totally make up for the loss of his family or best friend. I admire that and other aspects of Mad Max. All these aspects of the Mad Max films are worth discussing. Without Mad Max, there would be no Road Warrior. The growing emphasis on the various cars, memorabilia, vehicles or costumes linked with these films has become tiresome. Not to mention all those fancy ass pictures and snapshots this site has been offering lately. Give me a break. I'm beginning to think that the main reason The Road Warrior receives more accolades than Mad Max is because of the action. violence and special effects along with the fancy cars, costumes and set design. Not for its plot, themes or characters.

Unfortunately for you, majority rules. You can't control what people want to talk about on this board nor can you force them to have certain discussions about Mad Max. All you can do is start your own threads discussing the movie and hope to get good responses.

Your statement about the action was a little shortsighted. People love the action because it isn't the standard movie action we see today with all the special effects. You should be complaining more on how a lot of movie action has been degraded with special effects. It is not just the action which makes the Road Warrior so interesting to people either. Almost every shot in the movie is a visual treat with a lot of detail (as discussed in another thread.) Fans of this film behave as any would. Memorabilia, screenshots, and trivia are all staples of an eager movie fan. The Road Warrior just happens to have more to offer in that category.

If you're not happy with the forum, then leave it! It's perfectly successful how it is and nobody else is complaining.

Yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn.

dcampbell007 wrote: What of all those people who want to discuss Mad Max characters, themes and storylines?

Where are these undisclosed masses to whom you allude? Obviously they are not responding to your self identified rants. I can not speak for others but as for myself I am quite satisfied with my understanding of the characters that where created with only superficial depth sufficient to provide motivation for their screen presence. I do not believe they have elaborate back stories to support the psychological profiles you are trying to investigate. I find the discussion a fruitless intellectual exercise. The 'film' is a simple hardware movie about a guy and a car. It is not an epic adventure with an intricate story line and convoluted supporting character development no matter how carefully you try to dissect it; it just isn't.
I have no 'favorite' film of the franchise as each has it's own merit (although I will admit I am not as impressed with MM3). Undeniably there would be no sequels without the original. I do agree that Mad Max is an impressive low budget film. I have thought so since I first saw it 30 years ago at the impressionable age of 16. As testament to that fact is that I still have my poor quality bootleg copy recorded off of HBO that I have shown to many people before it was commercially available.
A degree of humility would serve you well before you piss on the creative endeavors of others that use this forum to share their interests and the way they express their love for all things Mad Max related.

Chase Bansi wrote:

dcampbell007 wrote:
A degree of humility would serve you well before you piss on the creative endeavors of others that use this forum to share their interests and the way they express their love for all things Mad Max related.

Well Said, though I felt the need to put an emphasiser on what, IMO, is a Key word in your post, Chase..

Chase Bansi wrote: I still have my poor quality bootleg copy recorded off of HBO

It doesn't happen to have cut scenes, does it?

I like this pile of rubble, otherwise i wouldn`t be here. If it isn`t what you are looking for, why do you think it should change just to suit your expectations?

Chase Bansi wrote:

dcampbell007 wrote: What of all those people who want to discuss Mad Max characters, themes and storylines?

Where are these undisclosed masses to whom you allude? Obviously they are not responding to your self identified rants. I can not speak for others but as for myself I am quite satisfied with my understanding of the characters that where created with only superficial depth sufficient to provide motivation for their screen presence. I do not believe they have elaborate back stories to support the psychological profiles you are trying to investigate. I find the discussion a fruitless intellectual exercise. The 'film' is a simple hardware movie about a guy and a car. It is not an epic adventure with an intricate story line and convoluted supporting character development no matter how carefully you try to dissect it; it just isn't.

The first film is, to an extent - although, there's certainly more care for the characters and their makeup, and their relationship to this violent environment they're in (which is something that kind of pushes the film), than you seem to think. I mean, that's kind of what 'makes the movie,' and the frame which allows Miller to exercise his visceral filmmaking muscle with emotional potency.

The first film is, however, also George Miller's first film, something that is exceedingly obvious in certain places. I don't really find it as interesting as the other two because, despite what I'd said in that first paragraph, Miller would probably be the first to tell you it's a pretty one-dimensional 'bikie revenge' story.

Also OP, Mad Max isn't realistic - it's not really meant to be, either. It's exaggerated, and very heightened. I mean, what - did you forget what happened when the Toecutter saw the eighteen wheeler barreling toward him? His eyes popped right out of his head like a cartoon character.

Mad Max just ain't as good as Road Warrior, for a lot of reasons, budget is one of them, experience is a bigger one as I see it. The Road warrior is a work of pure art, the way we can get involved in the action and the emotions of the characters almost without any dialogue makes it rare in a world where Hollywood always have to over explain everything. The visuals are stunning, the stunts make it look realistic, and the acting makes you feel for the characters (to mee) more than the first movie. Offcourse the cars, bikes and stunts are a big part of both the movies, and probably the reason most of us fell in love with the movie in the first place, but no-one would have cared if the story,plot,script and acting was bad. (as long as it's not Blair witch project or Transformers 2) Those things matter too, and are what made the films memorable, and hence this forum exists. Still, I can't see any reson why, or any possible way one can replicate Max's emotions or Bubba's state of mind on a daily basis (or as a project) so we watch, build and discuss the cars bikes, and the visuals of the movies (and as far as I understand, everything has been discussed in some way or another on this forum in the past, and unlike Dcampbell, in a civil manner too, these movies are 25-30 years old come on...)

dcampbell007 wrote:Were my rants posted on this message board not enough? This site persists in being a pile of rubble without particular emphasis on the Mad Max films as 'films' rather than as car or model shows. That and other things. What of all those people who want to discuss Mad Max characters, themes and storylines....

What an odd little rant?!? This free to participate community is a fantastic place rich in information, enthusiasm and creativity. If you think you can do better then put your time and money where your mouth is, buy some hosting and start your own forum. Then we'll see if all these people you speak of join up and start posting. Judging by your short lived post history on this forum may I suggest you title it the "OMG RoadWarrior Sux Lets Write Lots Of Tedious Lists About Mad Max 1 Characters" forum.

You bang on about characters while complaining about the communities focus on the vehicles without appreciating the vehicles ARE major characters in the first two films, that's why they have so much of a cult following in the first place.

Mad Max is a great film but Road Warrior was a BRILLIANT film which struck a deep chord with more people. Action is a lot more fun than the pretentious analysis of characters who (imo) were just there to string together a bunch of fun action sequences anyway.

I don't personally find anything wrong with theorising over the characters backgrounds myself, but I respect others aren't interested in that at all.