Mad Max

Rating:
Summary: Warning - badly dubbed dvd
Review: Prospective purchasers should note that this dvd is the dubbed version where American actors replace the Australian actors on the soundtrack. I understand that the decision to overdub the part was done when the movie was first released in the US (an Australian friend recalled his shock at the dubbing when he saw it in a US cinema at the time) but I would have thought that the studio could have dug up the original Australian version and released that instead. Because of this irritating and pointless feature of an otherwise fine movie (the best of the Mad Max series), I can only rate the dvd 2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: American dialog has ruined this movie.
Review: The original Australian theatrical release is best. This DVD looks fine. It has a crisp picture and good sound. I was however extremely dissapointed to hear the POORLY overdubbed American voices and miss certain cut sequences. Not only that but there are NO special features or extended menus, just a chapter search. This movie DESERVES a special studio upgrade. It must be remastered, uncut and include trailers, commentry, interviews etc. Mad Max is a new wave masterpeice and must be given the attention it's worthy of.

Rating:
Summary: Mad Max is cool!
Review: Mel Gibson plays a cop who fights bikers and go insane and becomes a cool guy. Great for a movie of it's time and budget. Lot's of car chases for those of you who like them. Mel was great. That's all I pretty much have to say so I give Mad Max *points to the four wheels on the V8* four stars.

PS, GOOSE LIVES!

Rating:
Summary: First of the Mad Max Trilogy
Review: This is the first of the Mad Max trilogy and was widely touted as one of the early Australian films that came anywhere near contending with Hollywood at the box office. It is worth watching, even in the concededly awful dubbed over version, just to get the background to the later (and far superior) _Road Warrior_.

In fact, _Mad Max_ is so overshadowed by the second film in the series that it is sometimes difficult to see it as more than a prequel.

This film does, however, stand by itself. The villains are actually far more sinister and psychotic than those in _The Road Warrior_, and the disintegration of society is more appalling. Here, Max is still striving to uphold law and order but is pushed into vigilantism as a part of the same inexorable decay.

The final scene/encounter is a classic, and a great segue to the next film.

Editing and continuity are just a bit off, and the dub over is distracting. But see this before moving on to _The Road Warrior_.

Rating:
Summary: Mad Max: The Beginning
Review: Mad Max was Mel Gibson's breakthough film back in 1979. This low budget film really packs a whallop and set new standards in filming breathtaking car chases. It's essentially a pulp comic book brought to life. A raw and exciting film that set the stage for two powerful sequels.

The police, sporting black leather uniforms and driving colorful high speed cruisers that are stationed at the Halls of Justice and are constantly under siege. The bad guys are a malicious motorcycle gang led by a crazed and psychopathic goon named Toecutter. After one of Toecutter's cronies is killed by Max, Toecutter is looking for some serious payback, but he's messing with the wrong cop...you don't wanna get Max mad.

The production design coveys a world that's gone to hell and captures the grim atmosphere perfectly. Brian May's (not the guitarist from Queen) exciting music score gives the film a larger than life quality. Director George Miller makes the most of his small budget. The chase sequences and editing is terrific.

This DVD edition is taken from the original video release.

Rating:
Summary: Mad Max 1
Review: I'm a great fan of the Mad Max series of films and since I'm living in Australia, I have seen the original Aussie version on video locally. It seems stupid that we can only get Mad Max 2 and 3 on DVD in Australia and not Mad Max 1 (which is only available on Video). So, because of this I bought Mad Max 1 (The U.S Version DVD) through Amazon which has the American voices dubbed over the original sound track (which I didn't know at the time). Me being Australian and having watched the original, I found the U.S version very disappointing. Also the picture quality on this US version DVD of Mad Max 1 should have been better (It's more like VCD quality). The Australian version of Mad Max 1, I would give 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: The Original Mad Max
Review: I own the original Mad Max the way it was released in Australia and i have to say that it is a brilliant movie (although not as good as its sequel). I have never had the oppertunity to see the U.S version but would love to own it one day...The exellent chase scenes and crashes are now part of Aussie film history. The scene of Max getting his leg blown open by the gang shows why he has a leg brace in the sequel. If anyone would like to e-mail me and (hopefully swap movies) send to: [e-mail] no paper clips please..They will be deleted.

Rating:
Summary: Mad Max : The original and the American
Review: Mad Max is certainly not a movie for everybody especially not your Saturday night date but it has proved to be an excellent guy movie and it sucks that the good ol' USA had it dubbed,edited or how 'bout butchered. The dubbed American version has however grown on many of us and is certainly an excellent action/horror/western/biker movie. This version will probably always be available but if you ever have a chance to see the original or even own it, you are in for a true delight. The Aussie dialogue is not as difficult as "A Clockwork Orange" but can be hard to understand at times but you get what they are saying. Also, there are several key sequences that were edited that adds to the tension (hence forth the horror genre). Although, some would disagree, a director's cut is certainly deserved to this cult classic, one that restores the the original sounds and lost(?) edited scenes. MAD MAX is definitely a high energy movie that every guy should own. There is real movie magic at work here while still displaying an artistic approach(an angle rarely explored in action movies of years since its premier.)

Rating:
Summary: This was how you did it back then.
Review: For 1978/79, Miller's debut feature is tightly directed and highly engaging thanks almost to the constraints that had to be imposed because of the films amateuresque style. Gibson breaks out of his screen starting gate like a racehorse, the villain gang is well (and humourously) put together and the plot is as souped-up and humming with power as practically all the vehicles shown therein (remember that post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers only became well and truly cliched after the third installment of this series). Still, the real stars of the show in this picture are the cars themselves. Those Interceptors painted yellow and marked 'Pursuit' are the best thing to happen to a Datsun since the invention of the 454hp engine and scoop. Miller directs the road sequences with zest and conviction - so much so that the frenzy of the death highway comes out to stab the viewer in the eyeballs at times. There are a few funny bits with deaths etc. Most are well executed [except for the Edwin Nealesque (he's the guy who gets smushed under the wheels of that truck at the end of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre') demise of the ludicrously camp biker leader, 'The Toecutter'] but watch out for the sequence where Max runs the bikers off the bridge right after his wife and kid get splattered. Look for the guy in the red helmet and brown jacket (I think he's also wearing a white aviation scarf) who falls on the road (most of the bikers being catapulted over the railings). Found him? Okay, good. Now wait until you see the front wheel of the bike to the left of him smash him in the head and jerk his neck forward. That actor must have died! No way could anyone have lived through that without serious hospitalisation. Hmmm.... was George Miller trying to get too opportunistic with that? Anyway - it's a damned fine film given its unripe origins so go see it whether you're familiar with the trilogy or not. Scholastic work for sure.

Rating:
Summary: The origanil version is comming
Review: Good news folks. I read that the origanal version of Mad Max is being releast. First to the big screen, than on DVD. So I would wait, if I were you.