The gritty world of Mad Max has become even worse. Since the first movie (in which Max enacts revenge on a vicious bikie group) there has been some apocalyptic event that has left the world looking similar to the Australian desert. The survivors now spend their time much like Max did in the original movie((mdash))driving around((mdash))and as such, the most precious item has become fuel and people like Max have become heroes. Whilst Mad Max was more suspense and car-chase driven, Mad Max 2 lets loose with all-out action. There's no Hollywood-James-Bondy glossiness going on here, and that simple fact makes the violence that much more effective.

The plot (not that it matters much) revolves around Max and his dealing with a small outpost defending itself against a group of bandits after its precious fuel. The final chase, when Max tries to escape with the tanker of fuel, remains one of my favourite action sequences of all time. Come and see "the movie that made Mel Gibson a star" (but didn't do ANY credit at all to Bruce Spence's acting ability).

Martin Riggs (Gibson) is an ex-Special Forces operative and martial arts expert, now serving as an L.A. cop, with a suicidal streak ever since his wife was killed in a mysterious car crash (shades of another Mel Gibson film perhaps?) Roger Murtaugh (Glover) is a family man who has recently turned 50 and is reluctant to stick his neck out. The two become unwilling partners on a case to investigate the apparent suicide of a prostitute. It turns out that the woman was the daughter of one of Riggs's confederates from the Vietnam War years, who are possibly involved in a drug-smuggling racket. As they dig a little deeper, things become difficult for them, as Riggs is shot at and Murtaugh's house is trashed and his daughter kidnapped. Much mayhem follows as they seek to rescue her. This undemanding action film has everything that Hollywood can offer: gunfire, explosions, a high body count, a ruthless albino villain (Busey), and comic repartee between the leads (Murtaugh: "God hates me. That's what it is"; Riggs: "Hate him back. It works for me!"). Enjoy!