Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie
Written by Terry Hayes and George Miller
Starring Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Robert Grubb and Angelo Rossitto

After being banished from a town in the desert and forced to travel through the dry wasteland with no provisions, a former Australian Policeman is rescued by a tribe of children who inhabit an oasis in the center of an apocalyptic dystopia.

It is remarkable how three films in the same series can be so similar, yet so unique in their own way. To the point where it feels as though they are different stories set in the same universe.

The second movie of this series completely abandoned any form of civilization that the first film had established. And in this third movie, civilization has begun to grow again. It’s almost like a complete evolutionary cycle revolving around the destruction and rebirth of man.

As it has already proven to be a fun and enjoyable action series, the final chapter (at least until this May) is no different. Filled with intense chase sequences, interesting characters and remarkable machines, it still holds up as a great adventure, even by today’s standards. And while there is undoubtedly little gasoline and water in this world, there is definitely no shortage of hairspray.

The 80s were a much simpler time.

What I love most about this movie series is each film’s ability to completely ignore its predecessor, while at the same time flow as a single, coherent story. That and the ridiculous, over-the-top style. In a civilization where mohawks are apparently uniform for law enforcement, this film delivers exactly what it promises: Action. Violence. Australian accents. It doesn’t try to be anything else, and that makes it oh so sweet.

My Rating: 7/10

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Directed by George Miller
Written by Terry Hayes, George Miller and Brian Hannant
Starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Vernon Wells and Kjell Nilsson

In the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline rich community escape a band of bandits.

An apocalyptic dystopia, this movie (and to a lesser extent, the first one) created a genre. Whether you consider it an achievement or not, without this film there would be no "Waterworld" or "Doomsday", among many other films inspired by the wasteland that George Miller created.

This action-packed thriller has a simple formula. Blood, car crashes and explosions. And quite frankly, that's all this movie needs. With a climax that rivals even the most advanced car chase movies of the modern day, the scale of this picture is not only impressive for it's time, but today as well.

And an S&M-esque beefcake of a villain… There's a lot of ass-less chaps in this movie.

Though many of the character designs have not withstood the test of time, it is still quite an impressive achievement. This film will get your blood pumping and even make you laugh at how very 80s some scenes are. Overall, this is just a fun, action-packed adventure. And it got me even more excited for the new one coming out in May.

My Rating: 7/10

Get the Gringo (2012)

Directed by Adrian Grünberg
Written by Mel Gibson, Stacy Perskie and Adrian Grünberg
Starring Mel Gibson, Kevin Hernandez, Daniel Giménez Cacho and Dolores Heredia

An American with a lengthy criminal record gets picked up by Mexican authorities after crashing his car just across the U.S./Mexico border. Finding two-million dollars in the car, the corrupt Mexican officers throw him into a tough prison and keep the money for themselves. He must now learn to survive in this prison that is unlike any he has been in before.

A balanced mix of a modern take on old western movies and a prison break heist, this movie is entertaining. While I would find it hard to believe if I found out that the film makers didn't take any creative liberties in their depiction of Mexican prisons, it is certainly an interesting comparison to the prison movies Americans are used to.

Think what you will about Mel Gibson in his personal life, but it would be ignorant to say that he doesn't know how to make a good movie. His writing proves itself to be unique and slightly over the top and his performance shows that even at 56 (the age he was when this was made), he can still hold his own in an action movie.

He's really good at having everyone around him get shot and

coming out unscathed.

This is no "Lethal Weapon" (which I haven't seen, but there must be a reason people still talk about it). It doesn't match up to "Braveheart" or "The Patriot". But it is a fun movie that is worth the watch. And there are so many taco stands throughout, it will make you want taquitos.

My Rating: 6/10