Starring: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Virginia Hey, Joanne Samuel, Syd Heylen, Tina Turner
Directors: George Miller, George Ogilvie
Number of discs: 3
MPAA Ratings: R / PG-13
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Run Time: 290 minutes
Trilogy: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Before Mel Gibson went all crazy on us, he was one bad son-bitch in “Mad Max”, which started him as an action mega star. This sci-fi franchise . This is the first time that the series is being released as Blu-ray collection and actually is the first time at all that “The Road Warrior” and “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” are available in this format. I am a big fan of this series, the first two films are awesome (the second slightly beating out the first) and the third film is…well fun! If you are a fan of this series, then this is a no-brainer purchase. It will easily hold you off while you await the 2014 release of “Mad Max: Fury Road” with Tom Hardy taking over the lead role.
“Mad Max” Official Premise: George Miller’s first entry in the trilogy, Mad Max packs brutal action and insane stunts as it follows the inevitable downfall of relentless cop Max Rockatansky (Gibson) in a world gone mad. Living on the edge of an apocalypse, Max is ready to run far away from it all with his family. But when he experiences an unfortunate encounter with a motorcycle gang and its menacing leader, the Toecutter, his retreat from the madness of the world is now a race to save his family’s life.
“The Road Warrior” Official Premise: The sequel to Mad Max, Mad Max Road Warrior provides action-packed, “automotive” entertainment, telling the story of a selfish-turned-selfless hero and his efforts to protect a small camp of desert survivors and defend an oil refinery under siege from a ferocious marauding horde that plunders the land for gasoline.
“Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” Official Premise: Mel Gibson returns for his third go-round as the title hero who takes on the barbarians of the post-nuclear future – and this time becomes the savior of a tribe of lost children. Music superstar Tina Turner co-stars as Aunty Entity, a power-mad dominatrix determined to use Max to tighten her stranglehold on Bartertown, where fresh water, clean food and gasoline are worth more than gold.
If having all three films together is not a thrill enough, fans are going to love the limited premium tin packaging that this comes in…and might I also add that it would make a super kick-ass gift for Father’s Day. If you don’t care about the time, already own “Max Max” from it’s 2010 Blu-ray releases, then “The Road Warrior” and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” will also be made available the same day/date solo, which out the snazzy case.
All three films are presented with amazing 1080p transfer within their respective 2.4:1 aspect ratios. “Mad Max” comes with its original “Australian English” audio with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This is the way to watch this film for sure. There is also the terrible, yet funny American dub as well but only in a Dolby Digital Mono track. “The Road Warrior” and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” also feature powerful DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, which work well with the action!
The special features on this trilogy release are good but nothing to do back flips over. “Mad Max” includes a featurette called “Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon”. There is an ace commentary track from Jon Dowding, David Eggby, Chris Murray and (my personal buddy) Tim Ridge! You go Tim! “The Road Warrior” comes with another great commentary track from director George Miller and cinematographer Dean Semler. There is also an introduction from Leonard Maltin and a theatrical trailer included. Last but not least (well maybe) is “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome”, which has zero special features. I guess their approach is that we are even including it in this collection.
