We have a real treat for you today! In this weeks “Versus” segment we have a same character match up played by 2 different actors! We introduce to you Mad Max from the Mad Max franchise! The character many might know has now been played by two different actors – Mel Gibson and Tom Hardy! But the question of this match up is who makes the better Mad Max? We will let you decide.
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller, produced by Byron Kennedy, and starring Mel Gibson. James McCausland and Miller wrote the screenplay from a story by Miller and Kennedy.
The film earned $100 million worldwide in gross revenue. It held the Guinness record for most profitable film at one point and has been credited for further opening up the global market to Australian New Wave films. The film became the first in a series, spawning the sequels Mad Max 2 (a.k.a. The Road Warrior, 1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).
Maximillian “Max” Rockatansky started his apocalyptic adventure as a Main Force Patrol officer who fought for peace on the decaying roads of Australian civilization. Max served as the last line of defense against the reckless marauders terrorizing the roadways, driving a V8 Interceptor. With the world about to crumble, Max said little and paid little awareness to his ever growing reputation as the cop that successfully put away the gangs due to his outstanding, and increasingly ruthless, driving skills. In fact, the audience is introduced to Max as he joins the pursuit of the man calling himself “Nightrider,” the self-proclaimed “fuel-injected suicide machine.” In order to stop Nightrider’s rampage, Max rammed the man’s car at top speed, sending it wheeling out of control, unto total destruction.
Max, as a symbol of civilization, was a very emotional figure whose range soared as high as laughter and comedy with friends and family, right down to fear and depression when he realized he was becoming no better than the ruthless, vicious gangs terrorizing the roads. It is through the eyes of Max Rockatansky that the overall theme of the film series, the Darwinian concept of “survival of the fittest,” is classically illustrated.
Resigning from the Force Patrol, Max left with his wife, Jessie, and infant son, Sprog, for a life of solitude in the quiet countryside. But the gang, led by the cunning “Toecutter,” stalked the Rockatanskys. Ruthlessly, they ran down and murdered both his son and wife before his eyes, deaths which had an obviously psychologically shattering effect on Max, transforming him into a bitter being full of hatred and anger. With his lighter emotions vanquished, Max embraced his darker side; he broke out his MFP leathers and commandeered a supercharged black Interceptor prototype called the Pursuit Special, thereby forever more becoming “Mad Max.” As Mad Max, he carried out bloody revenge killings of those responsible for his family’s deaths — Toecutter and his crazy gang. Having been reduced to a shell of a man as a result of those deaths, Max then permanently left behind what little was left of this ever crumbling civilization and drove off into the desolate wasteland, apparently never to return.
Max possesses considerable skill with firearms and is an excellent shot, but his most apparent skill is combative driving: he can shoot accurately with one hand while driving with the other. At the time of Mad Max, he was considered the “top pursuit man” in the MFP. He can easily pursue or evade gangs in the wasteland, whether overrunning another vehicle at high speed or ramming vehicles off the road. This skill is apparent with trucks as well as automobiles, as he drives a tractor-trailer truck after sustaining serious injuries in the second film.
Max displays fast reflexes in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior by grabbing a snake before it can bite him and in Mad Max: Fury Road stomping a two-headed lizard that runs towards him from behind. This leads Auntie Entity to choose him to kill Master Blaster in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, as he was the first to survive her “audition.” Max also displays a fair amount of mechanical and electronics ability, performing minor repairs on his own vehicle and rigging two to explode should someone tamper with them or his fuel tanks. He also improvised a time delay fuse with only a cigarette lighter, a lamp housing and the leaking fuel of an overturned vehicle.
Max is primarily a survivalist in the wasteland and can tolerate discomfort and pain in achieving a goal, but unlike many movie protagonists, Max is susceptible to realistic and sometimes permanent injury: his left knee is blown out by a gunshot towards the end of the first film, he walks with a slight limp with the help of a leg brace in the second film, and the knee is still tightly bandaged in the third film. An injury to his left eye as a result of the crash of the Pursuit Special in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is evident years later in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Although this is the same character, we can see some differences between the actors.
Mel Gibson’s Max seems to be more focused, resourceful, and skillful. He has extreme driving skills, and doesn’t seem very disoriented from what needs to be done. Revenge is his reason for living. Survival is his goal, but distractions always seem to get in his way!
Tom Hardy, at first glance, seems very resourceful and dangerous, but it shows that he’s more of a regular guy, and not as much of a survivalist! Also, his driving skills are top notch! There is a scene in the film which would have proved he was what the character should of lived up to, but it’s all off screen! The character is made softer than the original. Maybe this is something that can change for this character as the franchise may grow!
There you have it – a little about the character, Mad Max, as a whole, and then a little about each actor that played him! Who would you choose? Who is your favorite Mad Max? We want to know. Vote now! Make a difference! Want to hear us talk more about this? You now can! Go to the archive section of www.podcastunlimited.com, and listen to or download episode 73. Vote below! And let us know what’s on your mind!