Amazon.com: Although Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third part of George Miller's post-apocalyptic Mad Max trilogy, is certainly the least of the bunch (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the undisputed masterpiece, and maybe the best action movie ever made), it has still got a good share of imaginative industrial-wasteland-pastiche imagery. And casting Tina Turner as Aunty Entity, the queen of Bartertown, was a masterstroke. Mel Gibson's character Max is pitted in a battle to the death against the bizarre Master Blaster in the Thunderdome, flying around on rubbery straps inside a sort of gigantic overturned colander with bloodthirsty spectators clinging to the outside. Miller's producing partner, Byron Kennedy, was killed in a helicopter crash while scouting locations for this film. Miller was devastated, only agreeing to direct the action sequences--and, somehow, you feel his heart wasn't entirely in it. --Jim Emerson
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Keepcase) ^ Bartertown is a city on the edge of a desert that has managed to retain some technology if no civilization. Max has his supplies stolen and must seek shelter there in a post apocalypse world where all machines have begun to break down and barbarians hold what is left. He becomes involved in a power struggle in this third Mad Max film where he must first survive the town, survive the desert and then rescue the innocent children he has discovered. Mad Max Thunderdome is very entertaining. I recommend this if you are a fan of the original Mad Max movie.
This sequel makes no sense and panders to the lowest demoninator ^ Some questions:
Why do they HAVE TO to go bartertown to rescuse the little guy? The movie never makes it clear why he's needed. Why does Tina Turner's character go to the all the trouble to chase Max and just LET HIM GO at the end? Why doesn't the pilot from the second movie or Max recognize each other? Why does the movie try to be more of a comedy then the first two movies and then try to make some kind of grand social commentary at the end?
The music in this movie wasn't bad, but it was totally inappropriate and nonsensical for the theme of this movie.
I'm assuming most of the people rating this movie well were eight year olds when they saw it. I just watched it recently for the first time as an adult. It turned out to be much worse than what I was expecting. The first two movies however, are great.
All things considered, this movie really sucks.
Could use more special features ^ This seems a little bit like a VHS tape that just happens to be on a disk. Knowing all the hype and spin-off print merchandise that was on the shelves when this movie was released, I know that there is plenty of info to make some good special features. Other than that, it's a good movie, of course.
Max's final adventure ^ Max (Mel Gibson) becomes entangled in the politics of Bartertown, a makeshift community in the wilds of the post-apocalyptic Australian desert. He also encounters a community of children, survivors of an airplane crash. Before the end of the movie, everyone is involved in a high speed chase involving planes, trains, and automobiles.
There is much to enjoy in "Thunderdome," particularly in the inventive action sequences, but there is much that doesn't work. The stunt casting of Tina Turner as Auntie Entity, the ruler of Bartertown, didn't work for me. She delivers every line as if addressing a concert audience. The tribe of feral children is also a bit too precious. However, the fight in the Thunderdome is great, and I was riveted during every chase scene.
More cheesy than I remembered. ^ I purchased this movie, mostly out of nostalgia. I had fond memories of this movie when it came out. I purchased all three movies and watched them in order. That was a mistake. Compared to the darkness of the first two movies this one looks very cheesy by comparison. Little People, children who can't talk, the pilot who suddenly has perfect teeth, it just doesn't add up. Mel Gibson should have passed on this paycheck. Its a little to Hollywood, and a little less gritty than the others.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
