Mad Max
The original 1979 version starring a then unknown Mel Gibson.
I have no idea how many times I’ve watched this. Absolutely no idea whatsoever. But it must be in excess of 50, easily. Probably nearer 100.
It’s a good film this, really good. Made on an almost nonexistent budget, and as mentioned above, starring Mel Gibson as the eponymous anti-hero, and an equally unknown cast. Gibson isn’t particularly good if we’re being honest. More than a tad wooden, but the rest of the cast more than make up for him. Steve Bisley as Max’s partner Goose almost steals the whole thing, and he would’ve done if it weren’t for Hugh Keays-Byrne as The Toecutter, the leader of the biker gang. He looks perfect, immaculate. And as scary as shit to boot. More than a passing nod to Geoff Parry as the uber-cool Bubba Zanetti, and Tim Burns as Johnny The Boy.
We all know the premise of this, so there’s little point in going over the plot, but if you haven’t seen it, then do yourself a favor and watch perhaps one of the greatest scenes in movie history. Which is of course the biker gang arriving in the town. Revving their bikes, then the utter silence as they turn them off in unison. It's a great scene.
All in all, this is the best of the franchise. Most will pick the second movie, but most are wrong, if only for the utterly wonderful Toecutter.
_________________ For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.
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