With acclaimed filmmaker George Miller’s next film, 3000 Years of Longing featuring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, releasing soon and production already underway on the prequel Furiosa starring Anya-Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at two of Miller’s best films under his belt — The Road Warrior and Mad Max: Fury Road. Way back in 1979, George Miller kicked off his directorial career with his debut feature, Mad Max.
Filmed in Australia, the original takes place in a world on the brink of destruction and is anchored by Mel Gibson’s performance as Max Rockatansky. After its massive international success, the film spawned a franchise with its first high-octane sequel, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. The second installment is hailed as one of the greatest action films ever made and its post-apocalyptic punk aesthetic popularized the sub-genre. After Beyond Thunderdome, George Miller took a 30-year break from the universe before returning to the wasteland in 2015 with Mad Max: Fury Road. That latest entry featured a stellar cast led by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.
Upon release, audiences and critics alike agreed that Miller’s reboot kicked all kinds of ass. The film went on to be nominated for 10 Oscars at the Academy Awards, winning 6 of those. But gold statues mean nothing here in the wasteland. Only the strongest of wills survive. So grab your steering wheel and pick up what you can and run cause it’s time to… FACE OFF! This episode of Face Off is written by Matthew Hacunda, narrated by Shawn Knippelberg, and edited by Lance Vlcek. But don’t let us have the final word — tell us in the comments which post-apocalyptic action flick is your pick — Mad Max: Fury Road vs The Road Warrior! May you ride eternal, shiny and chrome.