MovieChat Forums > Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Discussion > What a ridiculously underrated movie!!

What a ridiculously underrated movie!!

posted 9 years ago by gianlu-1
16 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching this supposedly terrible sequel to the first two Mad Max movies and I have to say, I don't get it. I just don't get it. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is an imaginative, original, and creatively fun summer popcorn movie. Of course it is not a perfect film, and it has its many flaws to be sure, but overall, the good far outweighs the bad in this enjoyable fantasy adventure with an edge.

I don't get all the hate this movie has. Its definitely one of the better popcorn movies I've seen in my life. It has its fair share of originality (Master Blaster is one of the coolest characters I've seen in a fantasy adventure film), its very well shot and directed, and the action scenes are thrilling.

I think the reason why Mad Max fans despise this movie is because it is a little more kid friendly than the first two films. It has more of a whimsical charm to it than its rough darker predecessors. But you know what? So what. It delivers in almost every other way, and the car chase in the end is almost as good as the ending car chase in The Road Warrior.

All I can say is that this film isn't even close to as bad as most people make it out to be, in fact, its quite good. Thank God Roger Ebert, one of the greatest and most prominent film critics of all time not only loved this movie and gave it four stars, but put it on his top 10 list of the best films of 1985.

I'm glad Ebert was on my side.

[–] Sylarfan626 9 years ago

It's those Darn Kids hijacking the plot that make this not nearly as good as the first two! That said I still enjoyed all the Parts with BarterTown!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] ageelg 9 years ago

I liked it too maybe a little more than RW, I also feel that Fury Road takes more from this movie in terms of setting the post"poppoclus" world and how there are islands of broken up civilizations and regimes. We also see more mutants here than deformed/injured people in MM1/RW. Not to mention the crazy car designs here, hello JetCar :D

MM1/RW were more about cars,suffering/fear/rape and gay bikers and main star MadMax.
BTD and FR are more about cars,characters/dialog and MadMax more of a side hero.

Maybe there is no room in today's cinema for gritty/gory movies like MM1/RW or Death Wish but I like how Fury Road compensate with creative crazy cars and characters.

I would rate the MM movies in revers chronological order and my fav would be Fury Road.

[–] DamianGein 9 years ago

I agree. I actually like this one more than the original one.

Esta es mi firma

[–] rindercella 9 years ago

It's super quotable and has great scenes like the laying weapons on the counter, tee hee.

I think the kids thinking Max is their savior is too funny. Mel is like WTH? haaa
Tina was AWESOME, and the cinematography was terrific, esp the ending shots.

The car chase scene had some of the coolest cars ever. It was very good like you said. I like it more each time I watch it.

"Mrs. Walker" that line, LOL.

"Guys like you don't die on toilets." Mel Gibson-Riggs, Lethal Weapon

[–] JurijFedorov 9 years ago

This is the best in the series. The 4, then 2 and then 1. 2 and 4 are both good movies. 1 I dislike a lot. I seriously don't get why people hate this movie. The same can be said about Predator 2. People hate it a lot! Seldom have I seen such a hate group. But I really don't see what they see? Is it some nostalgia feeling that the movie changes the story too much? Tries too many new things?

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] JurijFedorov 9 years ago

People here are weird and don't think things through. Mad Max is always weird and always feels like it is a drug illusion. Even Mad Max 4. So MM3 had it? Great. Because that's a crucial part of Mad Max. If it was a film with him talking and fighting and nothing else it would not be Mad Max. What MM3 archived is illustrate the creation of a culture, a religion and show how it didn't control anything. And it managed it by showing us the gist of these things and not forcing it down our throats. And the public repaid it by hating it.

This is why Matrix was forced to be dumbed down by the producers. They didn't think that the viewers would understand how the minds could create power. So they create power by body heat instead which makes no sence. But at least people get it.

[–] clickbait 8 years ago

I think the reason why Mad Max fans despise this movie is because it is a little more kid friendly than the first two films

 a little more kid friendly??? are you stupid? its like Disney version of Mad Max goes Hook....its just plain retarded from the horse ride and to the end...even that lame ironnoob dying like three times in the end without even dying...and that he even can catch up that train with that handled wagon on the tracks...just retarded juvenile hollywood wanna make mad max like star wars instead of mad max...

~If the realistic details fails, the movie fails~

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 8 years ago

I agree, I quite liked the film. And I find me and Ebert usually agree on film ratings, he also liked Scarface and understood the intent of the film.

The ff are films I liked that are either underrated or unfairly criticized:

Unbreakable
Apocalypto
Equilibrium
Empire of the Sun
Dark City
The Godfather 3
Bobby Deerfield
Watchmen

[–] Culburn (3638) 6 years ago

Apocalypto

The early humor places it nicely. Then when the shit hits the Oscillator the big cheese & that one real bad ass meanie make it so personal---so we gladly, even joyously go along thru the mud, blood & blue paint secure in the knowledge that Mel will clean it up quite splendidly.