- Actors: Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence, Adam Cockburn, Frank Thring
- Directors: George Miller, George Ogilvie
- Writers: George Miller, Terry Hayes
- Producers: George Miller, Doug Mitchell, Marcus D'Arcy, Steve Amezdroz
- Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English, French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 30 July 1997
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 0790731932
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 203,855 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third part of George Miller's post-apocalyptic Mad Max trilogy, is certainly the least of the bunch (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the undisputed masterpiece, and maybe the best action movie ever made), it has still got a good share of imaginative industrial-wasteland-pastiche imagery. And casting Tina Turner as Aunty Entity, the queen of Bartertown, was a masterstroke. Mel Gibson's character Max is pitted in a battle to the death against the bizarre Master Blaster in the Thunderdome, flying around on rubbery straps inside a sort of gigantic overturned colander with bloodthirsty spectators clinging to the outside. Miller's producing partner, Byron Kennedy, was killed in a helicopter crash while scouting locations for this film. Miller was devastated, only agreeing to direct the action sequences--and, somehow, you feel his heart wasn't entirely in it. --Jim Emerson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Slightly annoyed Max" was Barry Norman's rather dismissive comment on this film when he reviewed it for the BBC. While it is certainly true that Mel Gibson had indeed toned things down quite considerably for this, the third and final outing for Max, the franchise had become mainstream along with its star and so the producers went for a more family friendly view of this post nuclear future.
Now reduced to animal drawn vehicles in the main, the opening scene has Max being bushwhacked and his stuff hauled off but his opponents had failed to finish him off - a fatal mistake!
We soon get our first sight of Barter Town where anything can be traded. Barter Town is one of the newly emerging powers in this post nuclear future and rule is split between the mysterious Master who provides electricity for the Town and the all-too-visible Auntie Entity whose roost lets her see all that goes on inside the Town. Max's presence causes the hidden tensions between the two to explode when he finds that the Master has his equipment, Auntie (played with brilliant exuberance by Tina Turner) gets Max into the Thunderdome against Master's henchman the massive Blaster, leading to one of the most inventive fights in cinematic history involving all sorts of weapons from mauls to chainsaws.
There's also a tribe of children, survivors of a final flight before the bombs flew, looking for a saviour to return them to civilisation. Max finds himself cast reluctantly in that role.
This is certainly the most extravagantly designed of the Mad Max films, with Barter Town in particular being wonderfully decadent! It also has something resembling a coherent plot especially when compared with Mad Max 2s pure gorefest. The main sound track is provided by the Royal Phillomonia Orchestra and Tina Turner sings the opening and closing songs with the verve she brings to her stage performances.
Now reduced to animal drawn vehicles in the main, the opening scene has Max being bushwhacked and his stuff hauled off but his opponents had failed to finish him off - a fatal mistake!
We soon get our first sight of Barter Town where anything can be traded. Barter Town is one of the newly emerging powers in this post nuclear future and rule is split between the mysterious Master who provides electricity for the Town and the all-too-visible Auntie Entity whose roost lets her see all that goes on inside the Town. Max's presence causes the hidden tensions between the two to explode when he finds that the Master has his equipment, Auntie (played with brilliant exuberance by Tina Turner) gets Max into the Thunderdome against Master's henchman the massive Blaster, leading to one of the most inventive fights in cinematic history involving all sorts of weapons from mauls to chainsaws.
There's also a tribe of children, survivors of a final flight before the bombs flew, looking for a saviour to return them to civilisation. Max finds himself cast reluctantly in that role.
This is certainly the most extravagantly designed of the Mad Max films, with Barter Town in particular being wonderfully decadent! It also has something resembling a coherent plot especially when compared with Mad Max 2s pure gorefest. The main sound track is provided by the Royal Phillomonia Orchestra and Tina Turner sings the opening and closing songs with the verve she brings to her stage performances.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Beyond Thunderdome was a lost opporunity. The feeling at the time was that director George miller had ended up making a maudlin memorial to his friend Byron Kennedy (producer of the first two films) who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash during 1983. If Mad Max 2 is a fuel injected suicide machine this is a battery powered, hollywood-lite, remake. Complete with stupid rock sountrack, depressing supporting cast of unfashionable rock stars and a shot for shot revamp of the classic Mad Max 2 tanker chase...but with a train (a train!) this is a silly, silly film. We even get Bruce Spence coming back in a confused "new" role. I'm only rating this so highly because I love the saga as a whole, for anyone else it really is no better than Waterworld.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
On TV, even '80s films are starting to look like old films, and as action flicks get the most airplay, the thrills are quick to wane. One gets all too used to a faded pan & scan experience, ending up with a lesser impression of the film itself. So with films being spruced up and returned to their original aspect ratios, "a new lease of life" is no empty cliche, and on DVD 'Thunderdome' really thunders. However, despite being awash with terrific set pieces, the film fails to live up to the reputation of its predecessors and methinks that too much money may have been part of the problem. Quite frankly, the saga has lost its edge - the future feels nowhere near as dangerous as in 'The Road Warrior'. And there's the feeling of deja-vu too, in that the tribe of children are merely an extension of the Feral Kid from the previous film and, of course, they're not as effective. Tina Turner proves the real highlight - a true scene stealer. Getting her to stick a song on the end titles would have been completely inappropriate to the first two films. Here, though, given the nature of 'Thunderdome', it sort of fits. The bottom line? It's hard to be rough when there's too much gloss.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best Mad Max
Most people will disagree but I think this is the best Mad Max as the action is fast and cool and it's still exciting to watch all the years later. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Universal Soldier
Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome
Very happy with the product. It was a present and has not been used at the moment. However,as it was brand new I presume it will be in excellent condition.
Published 17 months ago by Suey
Max Maxxed.
I want to hate it.....I need to despise it.
This should have been just so awful but is nearer to a post modern classic. Read more
This should have been just so awful but is nearer to a post modern classic. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by Observer
WORST MAD MAX, HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT
after the great original and the good first sequel, this second sequel is miles away from that quality. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2008 by Sick-o
Two Men Enter. One Man Leaves.
Gibson Takes on The Barbarians of The Post-Nuclear Future, While Tina Turner Plays a Power-Mad Dominatrix.Great 80's Film, And the Best of The Mad Max Tilogy. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2007 by Mr. Adam Conradie
No ,future without courage and spirituality
The motor vehicles are going to be there, even a plane. The desert is going to be there too. But the whole world has regressed for a reason we don't know - but do we care? Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2007 by Jacques COULARDEAU
I wish it hadn't gone beyond the Thunderdome.
The blurb on the back of the DVD case reads "Tina Turner steals whats left of the screen as power-mad dominatrix Aunty Entity". Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2007 by J. Poole
The best mad max film
The mad max films are all about life after the appocalypse,the roaming gangs and tribes killing each other lawlessly for the last of the food and water,mad max (mel gibson),is an... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2005 by Mr. Stephen J. Makin
A new beginning, a new hope
Beyond Thunderdome is my personal favourite of the Mad Max series for many reasons. The films are set in a post Nuclear Holocaust world where fuel is something to fight for, among... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2004 by Andy
A nice end to a colourful trilogy
For followers of this film, chances are likely that you have seen the previous two installments of what rates alonside Star Wars as a near perfect trilogy. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2001
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