Directed by George Miller, Max Max has endured the test of time and remains a universally-beloved film. The dystopian classic doesn't have the most complex of plots, and wasn't entirely well-received upon its initial 1979 release, but spectacular road sequences and a dynamic central performance have sustained its popularity over the years.
Mad Max stars a young Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky, a Main Force Patrol officer who tracks down baddies and outlaw bikers. He drives a customized Pursuit Special, and wears a slick leather uniform. He's a punk rock version of the proverbial Man In Black - someone who plays by his own rules, and whose life is marred by tragedy. Mad Max is full of iconic quotes, along with violent sequences that may be unwatchable for some viewers. Miller's film becomes even more by shocking by the final act, as Max embarks on a vendetta of revenge against the men who attacked his family.
Mad Max currently holds a 90 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 61 reviews. The audience score is slightly lower at 70 percent, based on over 140,000 ratings. Overall, critics seems to appreciate the dystopian vibe, and how the filmmaking underlines the inherent danger of this particular world. Fans may argue that in order to fully appreciate Mad Max, one must accept all the ugly violence that it contains. It's this sense of brutalism that allows for some of the film's most jaw-dropping moments, which in turn benefit the overall arc of the main character. As a whole, Mad Max offers a memorable cinematic experience, much like Miller's 2015 revisiting of the story in Mad Max: Fury Road. Here are some of the more glowing reviews.
The Boston Globe:
"If punk is a sensibility as well as an adjective, Mad Max is a punk movie. Its Australian setting enhances it, authenticating its futuristic aura."
"Stunts themselves would be nothing without a filmmaker behind the camera and George Miller, a doctor and film buff making his first feature, shows he knows what cinema is all about."
'There's something about Mad Max... that's allowed it to stand the test of time, not only as a work of art in and of itself, but also as a name and brand that commands cultural currency thirty years since the character's last appearance."
"[The] film has been consigned to the grind houses, where audiences are responding as Miller wants them to. From there Mad Max will find its way to the film schools and revival houses, where its tough-gutted intelligence may be appreciated."
"Its perhaps unjustified narrative shortcuts hardly seem to be much worth complaining about in the middle of its flawless action sequences."
Mad Max may indeed be popular all over the world, but critics have consistently pointed out many of the obvious flaws. The major complaint is that Miller's story is rather basic, which fans may argue is indeed the point for accessibility purposes. Critics have rightfully called out the violence, too, even if it is central to Miller's overall vision. Some of the imagery is quite gruesome, but the camera often implies a graphic visual without actually showing it (like Alfred Hitchcock's iconic shower scene in Psycho). Here is some of the more negative critical feedback that Mad Max has received.
"Mad Max is ugly and incoherent, and aimed, probably accurately, at the most uncritical of moviegoers."
"While Mad Max has been hailed as a classic by some, it becomes plain to see that that reputation is not entirely deserved thanks to a bare-bones plot that doesn't even fill 90 minutes and a sluggish pace that will leave viewers struggling to stay awake."
"[Max's] his weapon is a souped-up auto, which sets up chase scenes that make The Dukes of Hazzard seem like a hayride -- a feat director George Miller engineered with a meager $1 million budget. Dramatically, however, the film is inconsistent."
"Suffers from a case of terminal fatigue."
There are certainly some valid criticisms of Mad Max, but critics and movie fans alike still seem to love it after all these years. And given the overwhelming love for Mad Max: Fury Road, we clearly haven't seen the last of this world yet.