The Essence of Max

Post by **Docc** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 8:55 pm

It's no secret that Mad Max falls into a distinct pattern of religious imagery. "Mad Max" leaves our anti-hero as a husk of a man, as his wife and child are brutally brought down by a roving gang of bikers; the movie is about the "death" of a man. Mad Max 2 follows our lugubrious protagonist as he scavenges the wasteland. Despite his tacit decision to remain apart from society, he aids his fellow man and is reborn anew. "Beyond Thunderdome" is generally believed to be the Redemption of Max. When he helps a scavenging band of children find their own paradise, and does so out of little or no thought to his own personal benefit, many have argued that this is symbolic of Max's Redemption. [/font][/font]

Yet we now must contest with an entirely new animal: Fury Road. If Max were already redeemed, what more could there be to tell of his story? It was Thomas Aquinas who stated, "Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do." Max has only started his journey to salvation in the "Road Warrior," and therefore "Fury Road" is necessary to complete his moral code." If this is true, we must adjust the structure of Max's story. [/font][/font]

One possibility is that Max was not redeemed with the human race after Thunderdome. He was left behind in "Thunderdome" just as in the second film, and he was not able to taste the sweet freedom of paradise. Yet this was not by choice, as it was in the "Road Warrior".[/font][/font]

However, in order to integrate Fury Road successfully into the series, Thunderdome's message must be revisited. Thunderdome was not about redemption, but about reconciliation. Max became a part of the human race again, but his quick return has to be tested in "Fury Road" through trials and tribulations before he can truly be said to be redeemed. After all, as Karl Barth once said, "Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace."[/font][/font] Would any man argue otherwise?

Post by **Tycho** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:47 pm

That's a very profound and intelligent post coming from the guy who wanted Honda Civics and Chris Tucker...

I totally agree with your post Docc. However although Max has once again become a decent human being, with feelings of morality and honour, The rest of the wasteland has not. The values that Max was once again regaining throughout 2 and 3, "sympathy", "morality" and "compassion" were not exhibited in any of the denziens he encountered in Bartertown nor the wastes (except perhaps the GyroCaptain and Jedidiah). So whether he has been redeemed or not, the dangers of the wastes will once again test his skill and abilities to the Max (geddit?). Otherwise the title would no doubt be "Mad Max 4: A new hope" or something like that.

Post by **Uncle Entity** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:47 pm

Docc,

You're great.

Please, post this same magnificent post to:

http://thunderdome.proboards13.com/index.cgi

Register yourself, we're waiting... you could fit in the forum perfectely. I trust in you!

Post by **townshend88** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:51 pm

docc, your post makes a lot of sense when considering the trilogy thus far. i hope miller thinks along the same lines.

Post by **Uncle Entity** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 10:01 pm

Docc,

General consensus says "MAD MAX" was "DAMNATION", "ROAD WARRIOR" was "REDEMPTION" and "THUNDERDOME" was "ASCENSION". RW wasn't that much as redemption movie, it only hinted it (the accomplishment was achieved in Thunderdome). Mad Max wasn't that much as damnation movie, it only hinted it (it was truly achieved in Road Warrior). Thunderdome was more concerning "reconciliation" and dealing with human race again. Every subsequent movie was the expansion of the previous movie's theme. So I suppose FURY ROAD will be the real ascension.

Damnation, Redemption, Ascension... Heritage?

Post by **kwakka 9** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 1:54 pm

lets get one thing straight. Max is NOT the Son of God. You might be in heaven when you watch the show, but there is about as much religious imagery in the trilogy thus far as there is in Rocky I-V. If GM is true to his roots, and stays with his original idea, then Max will truly be mad for 1 last apocaplyptic time. Forget 'ascension' , I know its Easter and everything, but gimme a break !!!!

Max is gonna be Mad as Hell, all carnage will erupt in a final battle for control which he will ultimately lose. Max will not inherit the earth. The story cannot continue to grow from previous episodes, there will be a definitive ending to Max's story. Call me the devils advocate, but without closure, GM will simply leave a question unanswered. Any closure where Max and his son/wife/goat have a big group hug under a setting sun will get a big fat raspberry from this little black duck.

Post by **townshend88** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 3:21 pm

im not so sure about there being no imagery, it might not be intentional, but you can make a pretty good case the three movies do parellell certain tenets of the christian faith. i mean, theres a bunch of movies that do this to an even greater degree and some people view them as just plain badass action movies---the matrix for example, granted it was intentional.

i think the best case for some sort of meaning, and i would possibly argue religious, to the three films is the case of thunderdome. if miller hadnt wanted to make a statement, why on earth would he have made this film? no one can like tina turner that much.

in fairness to UNCLE though, im gonna try and go rent thunderdome this weekend and give it another shot (because i didnt even consider buying it when it came out.) plus, i really havent seen it much, and it deserves another look just bearing the name mad max.

(i wont tell you the exact number of times ive seen thunderdome, but i will tell you you could count the number of times ive seen the whole thing on one finger.)

Post by **Uncle Entity** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 4:51 pm

Town,

That's great! Go for it, brother...

Post by **Interdictor** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 5:09 pm

It's definately worth repeated viewings. Miller graces his films (MM ones at least) with a staggering amount of visual information. You simply can't see everything in one sitting (or 10, or 100.) If I pay close attention, I pick up on something new every time I watch.

Post by **Motar** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 9:20 pm

Perhaps the only thing left to do for max is helping rebuild the world again,but he didn,t seem to care to much for that In MM2.Let,s hope they don,t f*ck up fury road with super mutant creatures like gigant scorpions or wez with 2 heads!