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FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I was never a big fan of the first Mad Max, but I think the second one can easily stand alone as its own movie – and a damn good one.
In this reboot, whereas originally oil was the scarce commodity, this time it seems to be water.
The story is set up well enough – it's a quest to find a better life – but Immortan Joe's society isn't explained very well. What exactly is Nux, and why do only he and his kin require (or at least use) "blood bags"? Maybe watching it with subtitles will help.
Also, bearing in mind how rare oil was in the original movies, I didn't appreciate how extreme the vehicles were, constantly spewing fire that would most likely waste fuel.
However, the action itself is where the movie shines. This is a welcome return to old-school, authentic stuntwork, making the action scenes all the more visceral and all the more exhilarating.
It was also fun to spot the various nods to the original trilogy, like the scene where Max threatens people with an empty gun.
So, while I still think I like Mad Max 2 (AKA The Road Warrior) better overall, this is still one of the best action movies in recent years, and a good example of how to do a reboot right.
My rating: 80%
