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038 Mad Max (1979)
Manage episode 372446138 series 3497338
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“I AM A ROCKER, I AM A ROLLER, I’M AN OUT-OF-CONTROLLER!”
On this episode of Retro Grade Podcast, we talk about the most prestigious high-octane, post-apocalyptic film franchise in cinema history. We are talking about where is all began in Mad Max, from 1979, directed by George Miller, produced by the late Byron Kennedy, and starring the infamous Mel Gibson. With a very humble budget of about 350,000 dollars, this film would go on to make 100 million dollars, putting Australian cinema on a global scale. In fact, Mad Max became the most profitable film ever made until the mid nineties when it would be dethroned by The Blair Witch Project.
We talk about how much this film means to Austin, who has been a fan of the series ever since he caught a glimpse of Mad Max on TV as a kid with his dad, and how Jorge has never seen any of the old Mad Max’s despite being a huge fan of Fury Road. We talk about the undeniable impression the films have had on pop culture with their unique quotes and terminology, and becoming the measuring stick for all post-apocalyptic films and video games to come out after Mad Max 2.
We talk about how the film was a labor of love from people who really wanted to make a movie. Inspired by the 1973 Oil Crisis, George Miller’s experience while working as a medical doctor in emergency rooms, and the desire to make a “kinetic picture” that could be understood on an international level without subtitles, you could tell that the film was made by someone destined to be a film director. Shot on used camera lenses, stunt men directing crazy stunts from wheelchairs, and edited on a homemade rig in a borrowed apartment, the film is definitely rough around the edges but is it enough to keep it from being appreciated today? (Spoiler alert: Hell no.)
One of the highlights of doing this podcast is talking to people who are equally, if not more, passionate about the films in discussion. On this episode, we are fortunate enough to be joined on this episode by amazing Twitch streamer and Mad Max expert, Nebula!
Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.
Artwork by @jannelle_o
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