Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), directed by George Miller.

I remember the sinking feeling of disappointment in the theater: Mad Max (1979) degraded to PG-13, celebrity singer and pop-music tie-in, and an unwelcome comedy entry in the series.

Max is more the less the same character, although we hadn't seen him as hit man for hire before.

It has two stories. Bartertown, Aunty and Thunderdome: I just don't care. Auntie's tough guys are pathetic, although I had forgotten the Collector was played by Frank Thring, a notable villain of earlier decades: The Vikings (1958), Ben Hur (1959), El Cid (1961) and King of Kings (1961).

I like the Lost Tribe of children better. It's clever how memory, history and myth are combined.

Big vehicle chase at the end, trying to recapture the excitement of The Road Warrior (1981). Australia has insane stuntmen.

Then a touching summing up, keep telling the story, keep the lights burning for those in the wasteland who may come home again.

Maurice Jarre score.

Available on Blu-ray.

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