7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the ravaged near future, a vengeful Australian police officer sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns (I)Thriller | 100% |
Action | 97% |
Sci-Fi | 96% |
Adventure | 22% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (Original) (224 kbps)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Before Mad Mel—that is, the middle-aged Mr. Gibson prone to uncomfortably homophobic, misogynistic, and racially charged outbursts—there was, is, and always shall be Mad Max. This is the film that set Gibson speeding off toward international action-hero superstardom, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s baby-faced here—then again, he’s always looked boyish—but, like a young Steve McQueen, he fills the screen with badass charisma. I specifically mention McQueen because Mad Max’s automotive fury seems like a direct successor to the vehicular fetishism of McQueen’s Bullitt, which set a new standard in the late 1960s for the art of the cinematic car chase. Just over a decade later, in 1979, Mad Max would up the ante further, as Australian director George Miller—working on a miniscule budget, no less—staged several peddle-to-the-metal sequences that still have the power to whiten knuckles today. I’ve always said this: when the world’s supply of gasoline is depleted and adoration of the Oil Age replaces steam-powered Victorianism as the retro sci-fi genre de jour, two bits of 20th century cultural detritus will be held in high esteem by geeky petrolpunks—Bullitt and Mad Max.
Considering the film's age and the fact that it wasn't exactly well funded—before The Blair Witch Project, it held the record for highest box office- to-budget ratio—Mad Max looks quite strong in high definition, arriving on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, framed closely to its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The latter is important, as Mad Max was actually the first Australian film to ever be shot with widescreen anamorphic lenses, which no doubt contributes to the film's clarity here. Fine detail is much more pronounced than in earlier standard definition releases, particularly when it comes to the texture of the actors' stubbly, sweaty, weather-beaten faces. The transfer also nicely reproduces the film's color palette, which contrasts the vivid primaries of the police interceptors with the comparatively bleak landscape of the Australian outback. Skin tones are natural, explosions ripple outward in bright orange plumes, and the scene in the forest is lush and green. Black levels are perhaps not as deep as they could be—some darker scenes have a slightly grayish quality—but contrast never really suffers. The only real distraction is the occasional print damage. In certain sequences, color fluctuates mildly and yellowish stains come and go (along with the expected white flecks). The damage isn't too prevalent though, and the film's grain structure is wholly intact.
Mad Max's U.S. theatrical release was mangled with a quite comical dub, wherein all Aussie actors' voices—even Mel Gibson's—were replaced with American accents. You can still hear that version here—via a mono Dolby Digital mix—but thankfully, it's not the default. The main offering is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that's been remastered to give the film some extra immersive kick. And, for the most part, it works. With all of the souped-up cars and bikes peeling out, zipping off, and roaring past, it's no surprise that the rear speakers are mostly used for loud, cross-channel pans anytime a vehicle rumbles by and other related sounds, like sirens. It's all satisfying, but it's clear from the stockiness of the movements that surround sound wasn't originally part of the film's audio design. (Although, I do particularly like the whip-like kraaaackow of the Mad Max logo hitting the screen during the title sequence.) Brian May's score complements the on-screen action and sounds clean and dynamically rich. My sole complaint is that, when forced to compete with engine noises, the dialogue can sometimes sound soft and slightly muffled.
Audio Commentary
While I'd love to hear Mel Gibson have an inebriated go at an audio commentary for Mad Max, alas, it's not to be. What we have here is the
same track that graced the film's special edition DVD release, featuring DP David Eggby, art director Jon Dowding, special effects supervisor Chris Murray,
and film historian Tim Ridge. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile listen for fans, as the participants share a wealth of knowledge about the film's
production.
Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon (SD, 25:35)
A swell retrospective that features David Eggby, Jon Dowding, Chris Murray and others discussing director George Miller's post-apocalyptic vision, the
film's breakneck action sequences, and the effect that Mad Max made when it was released in 1979.
Theatrical Trailer #1 (1080p, 1:53)
Theatrical Trailer #2 (1080p, 2:09)
MGM Trailers
Also includes trailers for Rollerball, The Terminator, Species, and Windtalkers.
Note: The included DVD also includes a documentary about Mel Gibson, a trivia track, a photo gallery, and TV spots.
What's the Australian equivalent of a Sergio Leone-esque spaghetti western? A vegemite western, maybe? Well, whatever it is, cross that with an anarchic bit of the old ultra-violence—courtesy of A Clockwork Orange—add some pre-post-apocalyptic flavor, underscore it all with a throaty V8 rumble, and you've got Mad Max, the rubber-burning exploitation film that launched a franchise and up-shifted Mel Gibson's career from obscurity to superstardom. Armchair road warriors will have no real qualms with this solid Blu-ray release from MGM, which packs a solid A/V presentation, an informative commentary track, and decent making-of retrospective. Recommended!
Collector's Edition
1979
35th Anniversary
1979
2015 Comic Con Exclusive
1979
35th Anniversary
1979
35th Anniversary / Exclusive Vudu Copy
1979
1979
35th Anniversary
1979
1979
1979
1979
1985
Corrected Disc / Mad Max 2
1981
2015
3 Disc Edition
2012
+BD with the 3 versions
1991
2020
Director's Cut
2009
1990
2005
2015
2015
2009
2008
40th Anniversary Edition
1984
1080i
2003
15th Anniversary Edition
2005
2008
Director's Cut Standard Edition
1987
2014
2013