“Mad Max 2” is full of great chase scenes and a great sense of adventure like the one found in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It’s not so much a sci-fi like some claim it to be, it’s more just a chase/action film.

The movie’s backstory is explained brilliantly in a great prologue. We then proceed to find Mad Max (Mel Gibson “Signs”, “Forever Young”), who in this post-apocalyptic future is forced to knock the gang’s vehicles off the road to get the petrol due the massive oil issue. A small community enriched with oil is being terrorised by the villainous Humungus and his gang of crazed bikers and only Max can help.

I really like the Mad Max character because he’s tough but he doesn’t fire off the endless rounds we see most action heroes do. I really liked the bad guys as they’re all deranged. The community Max helps are bland but that is to be expected. I really liked the little kid with the metal boomerang, who turns out to have a larger role than first expected. I also like the inclusion of the unnamed dog Max has with him on his journey as it isn’t done for some silly comedic effect.

With lots of cars being rammed into each other and a sensible amount of blood and ammo “Mad Max 2” knows to not overdo it and enter the realms of dumb action flicks and that’s why it succeeds. Although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch the first picture I have seen the third outing and while this one lacks the fun caged battle to the death I did prefer this one. “Mad Max 2” is as smart as some of the other great action pictures out there and I liked the fact it isn’t overly violent as the high certificate had me worried it was just going to be a gore fest.