Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior Review (1981)

8 / 10. A rare occasion where the sequel is better than the original, more 80s crazy apocalyptic capers - with a bigger budget *MINOR SPOILERS*

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film sequel to Mad Max, directed by George Miller, with a screenplay by Miller, Terry Hayes and Brian Hannant.

After avenging the death of his wife and son at the end of Mad Max, Max (Mel Gibson) now roams the post-apocalyptic Australian outback in his V-8 Pursuit Special with a dog as his only companion, mindlessly fighting off nomadic attackers. He encounters a peaceful settlement led by Pappagallo (Mike Preston), who have their hands full dealing with the colossal Lord Humungus (Kjell Nilsson) and his motley crew of ruthless bikers / car racers, who want their most precious possession – oil. Max helps the settlement defend themselves against Humungus…

The Road Warrior is rare occasion where the sequel is better than the original, providing more 1980s crazy apocalyptic capers - with a bigger budget. There’s more action, fantastically ambitious and well-choreographed stunt scenes and set pieces. It also has beautifully bleak cinematography of the futuristic, desert western settings, and incredible costume design.

The Mad Max world is what I always thought the aftermath of an apocalypse would look like – bondage S&M gear and b*ttomless chaps notwithstanding. I’m talking to you, Wez (Vernon Wells).

We get more of an insight into the causes for how the world is now, as the narrator informs us: "…..When the world was powered by the black fuel and the deserts spouted great cities of pipe and steel.  Gone now, swept away ... without fuel they were nothing."

 Mel Gibson gives a great performance again as Max Rockatansky. There is more humour (the relaying of what went wrong with the truck) and Max interacts more with characters in the sequel. Virginia Hey is great as Warrior Woman, and I love the feral kid (Emil Minty) and his barbaric boomerang.  He has grey hair streaks like Max – one of those vague George Miller things where he could be Max’s long-lost son - or just to remind him of his son to create some attachment and some inject some humanity back into Max?

Bruce Spence is great as the Gyro Captain, who also appears in Thunderdome – playing a different pilot?  The mind boggles.

Brian May contributed the musical score, who either alone or with Queen always provides a welcome musical enhancement to any film (hello, Flash Gordon and Highlander).

The character the Humungus (Kjell Nilsson) was originally supposed to be Max’s partner Jim Goose, who was badly burned in Mad Max and some indicators remain…