 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Mad Max
- Review Date: January 18, 2010
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1979
Common Sense Media says
Outlandish post-apocalyptic action is too brutal for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this 1979 movie is a celebration and an onslaught of intense, cartoonish violence, though it's probably a bit tamer than some of today's films. The hero, Mad Max (Mel Gibson) is actually a good and kind soul with a loving family that he goes home to at the end of a long day of high-speed chases and shootouts. But he's outnumbered by the evil, sadistic people in this post-apocalyptic world, and despite the dark laughs and adrenaline bursts the movie inspires, the movie presents a more or less hopeless vision of the future. The laughs and cheers stop when characters are raped or burned alive, and the hero's "reward" for trying to be with his family is a terrible punishment; he spends the movie's last ten minutes seeking brutal revenge.
What's the story?
A lunatic called "Night Rider" breaks loose in a stolen cop car and leads several futuristic law enforcement agents on a high-speed wild goose chase. His eventual death brings a much larger gang of sadistic followers to town, where they wreak havoc and pose a threat to Max (Mel Gibson) and his colleague Goose (Steve Bisley). After the bad guys burn Goose alive, Max decides to take his wife (Joanne Samuel) and young son away, but the family soon finds itself face-to-face with the villainous gang. One hideous act later, and Max hits the road in a souped-up car, seeking his violent revenge.
Is it any good?
Directed by George Miller (Babe: Pig in the City, Happy Feet), Mad Max is a groundbreaking low-budget exploitation hit that established a certain set of rules for action movies and inspired many sequels and knock-offs, but today it's perhaps more interesting historically than it is aesthetically. Certain sequences still dazzle, and Miller's close-to-the-street cinematography captures the thrill of speed in highly effective way, but the film doesn't really establish the rules of its post-apocalyptic future, and it's too uneven in tone; the scenes of cartoonish violence are a lot more interesting than the idyllic home life images of Max and his family.
It's the least of the trilogy; the sequel, The Road Warrior, is darker and more streamlined, with a more sustained atmosphere, and the third film, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, is more imaginative and fantasy-based.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the general lawlessness and violence of this post-apocalyptic future. Does it look like fun? Or is it a little scary? If you were Max, would you have tried to go away with your family as well?
This movie is known for its over-the-top violence, before the heydey of such films. What other movies can you think of like this today?
Are there any acts of kindness in the film? How are they received?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Why Would You Want Your Kids to See This Anyway?
The R rating says Restricted Under 17 Unless Accompanied by a guardian. This film is not appropriate for children. I'm sorry, it's just not. They won't like it (unless they're terribly mature for their age) and there's just too much foulness and intensity on display for them to handle. It wasn't made for kids, so don't bother trying to decide whether or not to show them this film. Just don't. It's rated R for a reason. I like this movie a lot, but would never recommend it or try to rationalize how the content in it isn't "that bad" so I can show it to my kids. Stop comparing this to Apocolypto and Saving Private Ryan and just admit that kids shouldn't be exposed to this kind of violence!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | George Miller |
| Cast: | Hugh Keays-Byrne, Joanne Samuel, Mel Gibson |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 93 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 9, 1979 |
| DVD release date: | December 4, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, language, and brief nudity |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
