mike@projection-booth.com mike@projection-booth.com

May 15, 2019

Episode 415: The Mad Max Series

Special Guests: Roger Ward, Vernon Wells, Virginia Hey, Bruce Spence, Luke Buckmaster, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Thompson, Ben Buckingham

On this epic episode of The Projection Booth, we remember the road warrior, the man we called Mad Max. In the roar of an engine, he lost everything and became a shell of a man, a burnt-out desolate man, a man haunted by the demons of his past, a man who wandered out into the wasteland. And it was here, in this blighted place, that he learned to live again.

Ben Buckingham and Mike Thompson join Mike White to discuss the ever-shifting landscape of George Miller’s Mad Max series from its audacious beginning as a bikie exploitation / revenge Mad Max (1979) to the post-apocalyptic Western Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) to the troublesome Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and concluding (?) with the spectacular Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Interviews feature actors from three of the four films — Roger Ward, Vernon Wells, Virginia Hey, Bruce Spence, Hugh Keays-Byrne — as well as writer Luke Buckmaster, author of Miller and Max.

Listen/Download Now:

Interview: Terry Hayes

Bonus: Stone (1974):

Bonus: The Man from Hong Kong (1975):

Watch:












15 comments:

  1. Shame the audio clips were taken from the dubbed US version.

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    Replies
    1. Just the trailer and when we were pointing out how terrible the dubbing is AFAIK.

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  2. Max's partner is not the Goose its the Dark One who we meet later on when Jesse discovers Cundalini's hand the guy named "Ziggy". Also Max asks May Swaisey to call the Dark One when Jesse has trouble in the woods. Both front wings of Max's car say "Max Rockatansky" and "The Dark One" come on guys if you are going to do a podcast synopsis of a film please get the facts correct.

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    1. Thank you for that! Never caught The Dark One references. I appreciate your insight!

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    2. Here's every remaining mention of The Dark One in dialog:

      611
      01:07:56,906 --> 01:07:59,366
      May, you call The Dark One.

      612
      01:07:59,659 --> 01:08:02,786
      And you tell him
      to get here as fast as he can.

      613
      01:08:02,871 --> 01:08:04,329
      Why? What's going on?

      614
      01:08:04,414 --> 01:08:07,750
      I think we've got some hoon trouble.
      It's gonna be all right.

      615
      01:08:08,168 --> 01:08:12,629
      Come on, darling. Come on, Jessie.
      Well, let's go into the house.

      616
      01:08:25,852 --> 01:08:29,062
      You've had an awful time, darling.

      617
      01:08:30,023 --> 01:08:32,649
      But it's all over now.

      618
      01:08:32,984 --> 01:08:35,944
      Everything's going to be all right.

      619
      01:08:40,867 --> 01:08:43,744
      I've just got to go and make a phone call

      620
      01:08:43,870 --> 01:08:46,872
      and then we'll have a nice hot cup of tea.

      621
      01:09:05,183 --> 01:09:08,519
      The Dark One, and hurry it up,
      will you?

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    3. I can't believe we missed such a richly defined character: https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/The_Dark_One

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    4. Theory: This is all a ruse by a Thunderdome Apologist you offended.

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    5. I can't believe you missed him either and assumed Goose was Max's partner, not sure how you partner on a motorcycle either?? Sarcasm sucks Mike eh

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  3. STFU NERDS!!! This was amazing, thank you guys for doing this.

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    Replies
    1. Not about being a nerd and i never said it wasn't good just the fact if you are going to do a synopsis you need to factually correct and actually of paid attention to the films you are reviewing. Entertaining all the same

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  4. Similar to one of your co-hosts, I let out a sigh of relief when it became evident how much you love FURY ROAD!

    Mike, I definitely think BLACK & CHROME is worth watching for anyone who appreciates FURY ROAD's filmmaking as much as you do. I love both versions. What strikes me about B&C is the way it hones in on shape and texture. (EG: all the tiny grains of sand on Max's skin refracting in the sunlight.) Watching B&C literally made me thirsty, I could feel the relief when Max finally got to drink from the water hose. B&C may make you appreciate the value of a cold glass of water.

    If anything, for me, B&C enhances what the film has to say about the commodification of natural resources like water. (Not a bad double feature with the documentary TAPPED in this regard.) Immortan Joe surrogates exist now all across the globe, exploiting "Aqua Cola" for profit & leverage over countless human lives.

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  5. I enjoyed the podcast, not much else to say except Bruce Spence's character in Mad Max 2 is actually called the Gyro Captain.

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  6. Pulled out my 3D Blu-ray of Fury Road for a watch after listening. Need to make time to see the Black & Chrome version but that Dolby Atmos soundtrack? DAMN!!!

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  7. Bravo Mike!

    What a wonderful and tremendously epic show (and this is coming from an unabashed Thunderdome apologist :P). However, as great as Mike and his Aussie friends' discussions were (and they were), the interviews with the stars of the films truly knocked the ball out of the park for me (what nice guys Fifi and the Toecutter turned out to be!).

    Anyway, the only thing left to cover would be the recent Mad Max 'open world' video game.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Max_(2015_video_game)
    And while it's true that this game probably represents what Mad Max sequel directed by someone other than George Miller would look like, it still has a pretty interesting (if simple) story that does not shy away from revisiting the tragedies of the first movie.

    If you care to learn more, check out the movie montage of all two hours of cinematic cutscenes from the game:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJbNOMqh30
    (there are several good movie montages of the game out there, but this one is the shortest)

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