Learning from Movies: The Road Warrior

In 1979, George Miller released an “ultimate car crash movie” that changed everything. It was Mad Max.

The movie made Mel Gibson a star, and put Australia on the filmmaking map.

Three years later, Miller released a sequel, The Road Warrior, with Mel Gibson in the lead again. It was immensely popular (100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, where 76% of readers report liking it).

It’s Mel Gibson’s favorite of the three films. 

Oh, and for Farscape fans, it’s a chance to see what Zhaan (Virginia Hey) looked like 18 years earlier and without all the blue make-up.

Seeing as how George Miller returns to the franchise next year, this seems like a good time to revisit The Road Warrior.

Lessons and inspirations from a post-apocalyptic Down Under after the break.

• The keys to survival: You have to be mobile, or you have to be brutal
• A quick fellah might have a weapon under there
• You are what you eat
• You can make a movie with kids and animals that doesn’t suck
• Never threaten a warrior’s dog
• Fear is your ally
• Threatening someone with an empty shotgun is dishonest. It’s just low.
• Stay focused. If you only came for the gasoline, don’t get further involved
• Everybody’s looking for something
• There’s no substitute for boldness
• You can run, but you can’t hide
• Hope keeps you human
• Love breeds more heroes than rage, vengeance, or hatred
• Even in the Wasteland, there’s still right, and there’s still wrong, as long as anyone is willing to stand up for what’s right

See you around, maybe.