Mad Max (1979)

Genre

Action

Director

George Miller

Country

Australia

Cast

Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Lisa Aldenhoven, David Bracks, Bertrand Cadart, David Cameron, Stephen Clark, Robina Chaffey, Jerry Day, Howard Eynon, Max Fairchild, John Farndale, Sheila Florence, Nic Gazzana, Paul Johnstone, Vincent Gil, Steve Millichamp, John Ley, George Novak, Reg Evans, Nico Lathouris

Storyline

In an Australian dystopia of decaying order and violent highways, patrolman Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) cruises the squalid back road that has become the breeding ground of criminals foraging for gasoline and scraps. When his wife (Joanne Samuel) and child meet a grisly end at the hands of a motorcycle gang, Max sets out across the barren wastelands in search of revenge.

Opinion

Before watching the highly acclaimed "Mad Max: Fury Road" I thought it'd be fair watching the original Mad Max films. Seems like the franchise didn't start off too well.

Paced too fast, especially in the action sequences, Mad Max is mostly bland and surprisingly manages to be tedious.

The major problem is that the film seems like it's never going to begin. Most of the plot seems like an introduction to the real story, that basically occurs in the last thirty minutes or so of the film. 

Also, I wouldn't go too far and call it a 'revenge movie' or a 'post-apocalyptic movie' because the revenge doesn't start until that last part I've mentioned before, and dusty rural roads are not enough to convince me it's a post-apocalyptic Australia or a science fiction film for that matter.

However, I have to admit that the action sequences, despite the fast pacing, are quite exciting, especially Max's revenge sequence, and quite good considering the time's standards. 

In one of his earliest performances, Mel Gibson did a quite good job with his character, even though he has to wait around for most of the film, and the writers didn't bother writing an interesting character you can care about. Aside from Gibson, everyone else seems to put on some amateurish performances. 

If flat plot, lack of decent dialogue, explosions, car wrecks and motorcycle crashes are your thing, I'm quite sure you'll enjoy this film.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Genre

Drama

Director

Mel Gibson

Country

USA

Cast

Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Monica Bellucci, Hristo Zhivkov, Francesco De Vito, Luca Lionello, Hristo Shopov, Rosalinda Celentano, Claudia Gerini, Fabio Sartor, Luca De Dominicis, Mattia Sbragia, Chokri Ben Zagden, Toni Bertorelli, Jarreth Merz, Sergio Rubini, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo, Roberto Bestazoni, Sabrina Impacciatore, Pietro Sarubbi, Matt Patresi, Emilio De Marchi, Roberto Visconti, Lello Giulivo

Plot

The film is a depiction of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth (Jim Caviezel), which opens with his betrayal by Judas (Luca Lionello), followed by his condemnation by the Pharisees and his appearance before Pontius Pilate (Hristo Shopov).

Opinion

Director Mel Gibson said, "This is a movie about love, hope, faith and forgiveness." I'd rather say The Passion of the Christ is an extremely violent, sadistic and bloody film, with graphic details of Jesus' torture, which obscures whatever message the film is trying to deliver. Furthermore, if I were a Christian, I'd feel offended - wounded maybe - by such a superficial transposition, and historical and biblical inaccuracy.

Are the Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew languages supposed to make the viewer feel closer to Christ? Because it didn't really work for me.

Director of photography Caleb Deschanel did a good job, the cinematography is wonderful indeed, but the Italian city of Matera - because the film wasn't even shoot in Jerusalem - did most of the work.

Now comes the best part of the film: the acting. Jim Caviezel's performance is powerful as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern is great as Mary, and Hristo Shopov is fantastic as Pontius Pilate.

Quotes

Jesus: Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.

Rating

4.0/10