History YMMV / MadMax2TheRoadWarrior

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny:
** The film's cinematography (particularly the wide-angle shots of the desert), sparse dialogue, and (at the time) unique, creative costuming were all highly praised when it first came out. Flash forward 30-something years and the film has been imitated so much that a lot of the once-unique elements seem run-of-the-mill at best and parodic at worst to a modern viewer.
** Weirdly enough, [[Film/MadMaxFuryRoad the movie's own sequel]] contributes to this effect--''Fury Road'' uses similar cinematography, but pushes all the shots up to eleven with bright coloring and massive sets, has even less dialogue (Creator/GeorgeMiller apparently even edited a version with ''no dialogue at all''), and while some elements of the "bondage gear" villain costumes are still present, they're pretty downplayed compared to the Humungus and limited to just one group of non-main villains (the People Eater and his Gas Town war party), though still unique compared to almost any contemporary Hollywood films. It's pretty jarring to watch the two movies side-by-side and see just how much of ''Fury Road'' is essentially ''The Road Warrior'' updated to account for modern Hollywood standards of cinematography, writing, and costume design.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. Note: There was a reason - Wez was roughing up one of the hostages tied to Humongous's vehicle, and in response,a weapon was thrown at Wez. However, Wez happened to step back and the weapon kinda accidentally hit his partner instead. Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though according to Creator/GeorgeMiller, Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother.[[note]]It's a dubious statement, since he was constantly handcuffed to Wez's bike in a BDSM way.[[/note]] Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Complaints of Max taking a secondary role and advancing someone else's story began in ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' and were a major complaint from detractors of ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad''. Nobody seems to complain about it in Road Warrior, where Max has even less to do with the plan.

* HoYay: No, not Wez and Golden Boy -- that's almost ''text''. The way Lord Humungous calms Wez down after the Boy's death is downright tender, in a BDSM/wrestler way.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. Note: There was a reason - Wez was roughing up one of the hostages tied to the Humongous's vehicle, and in response,a weapon was thrown at Wez. However, Wez happened to step back and the weapon hit his partner instead. Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though according to Creator/GeorgeMiller, Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother.[[note]]It's a dubious statement, since he was constantly handcuffed to Wez's bike in a BDSM way.[[/note]] Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason.Note: There was a reason - Wez was roughing up one of the hostages tied to the Humongous's vehicle, and in response,a weapon was thrown at Wez. However, Wez happened to step back and the weapon hit his partner instead. Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though according to Creator/GeorgeMiller, Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother.[[note]]It's a dubious statement, since he was constantly handcuffed to Wez's bike in a BDSM way.[[/note]] Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. While Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though according to Creator/GeorgeMiller, Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother.[[note]]It's a dubious statement, since he was constantly handcuffed to Wez's bike in a BDSM way.[[/note]] Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is Lord Humungus genuine in his attempt to get the refinery settlers to walk away or [[ILied was he lying]]? This is actually discussed {{in universe}} as there is a division amongst the settlers as to what to do until Max offers to bring them a truck. Papagallo does note it's irrelevent, retorting "Go ''where''?"

** Weirdly enough, [[Film/MadMaxFuryRoad the movie's own sequel]] contributes to this effect--''Fury Road'' uses similar cinematography, but pushes all the shots UpToEleven with bright coloring and massive sets, has even less dialogue (Creator/GeorgeMiller apparently even edited a version with ''no dialogue at all''), and while some elements of the "bondage gear" villain costumes are still present, they're pretty downplayed compared to the Humungus and limited to just one group of non-main villains (the People Eater and his Gas Town war party), though still unique compared to almost any contemporary Hollywood films. It's pretty jarring to watch the two movies side-by-side and see just how much of ''Fury Road'' is essentially ''The Road Warrior'' updated to account for modern Hollywood standards of cinematography, writing, and costume design.

* FoeYay: Wez seems to develop something of an obsession with Max after Max fends him off during the opening chase. The line "YOU! You can run, but you can't hide!" could be interpreted in a certain way.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. While Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though according to Creator/GeorgeMiller, Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother. Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

** ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' is one for Manga/Anime. It his basically Mad Max but with a Creator/BruceLee {{Expy}}.

** The Warrior Woman, for being an early ActionGirl in the series, and having some DefrostingTHeIceQueen dynamics towards Max.

* {{Fanon}}: There's a growing movement that believes that Max from ''Fury Road'' is the Feral Kid from ''Road Warrior.'' {{Jossed}} by George Miller.

** Weirdly enough, [[Film/MadMaxFuryRoad the movie's own sequel]] contributes to this effect--Fury Road uses similar cinematography, but pushes all the shots UpToEleven with bright coloring and massive sets, has even less dialogue (George Miller apparently even edited a version with ''no dialogue at all''), and while some elements of the "bondage gear" villain costumes are still present, they're pretty downplayed compared to the Humungus and limited to just one group of non-main villains (the People Eater and his Gas Town war party), though still unique compared to almost any contemporary Hollywood films. It's pretty jarring to watch the two movies side-by-side and see just how much of Fury Road is essentially The Road Warrior updated to account for modern Hollywood standards of cinematography, writing, and costume design.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. While Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though [[WordOfGod according to the director]] Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother. Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]]. Although being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason. Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* SpiritualSequel: The ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series owes much of its flavor to this movie in particular.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The film's cinematography (particularly the wide-angle shots of the desert), sparse dialogue, and (at the time) unique, creative costuming were all highly praised when it first came out. Flash forward 30-something years and the film has been imitated so much that a lot of the once-unique elements seem run-of-the-mill at best and parodic at worst to a modern viewer.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. While Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least. Though [[WordOfGod according to the director]] Golden Boy wasn't Wez's lover, he was his adopted son/little brother. Which makes Wez's reaction [[PapaWolf something else altogether]].
** Though being close (in both proximity and emotionally) to the lieutenant of a besieging force is a valid reason.
** Even if they were lovers, [[FairForItsDay it does humanize Wez]] and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

** Even if they were lovers, it does humanize Wez and makes his motivations [[ItsPersonal personal]].

* AntiClimaxBoss: Lord Humungus, as he and Max are never directly face to face at any point until Max smashes into his vehicle with the tanker truck.

* EvenBetterSequel: The first was impressive for a low-budget action film to come out of Australia, though by today's standards is rather slow-paced and tedious (despite some excellent auto-stunts). The second film practically popularized the ScavengerWorld and TheApunkalypse in film, filled with balls to the wall action and was the best remembered film in the series until ''[[Film/MadMaxFuryRoad Fury Road]]'' 30+ years later.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is Lord Humungus genuine in his attempt to get the refinery settlers to walk away or [[ILied was he lying]]? This is actually discussed {{in universe}} as there is a division amongst the settlers as to what to do until Max offers to bring them a truck.

** The board game ''[[https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/804/thunder-road Thunder Road]]'' (1986) "The ram and wreck survival game" is about driving through the desert and fighting with the other drivers.

* ValuesDissonance: One of the most prominent villains is a DepravedHomosexual in leather bondage gear, whose [[ViewerGenderConfusion effeminate-looking]] boyfriend is brutally killed by one of the protagonists for no reason. While Wez does seem [[PetTheDog genuinely grief-stricken]], the whole thing is still pretty cringeworthy nowadays, to say the least.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Complaints of Max taking a secondary role and advancing someone else's story began in MadMaxBeyondThunderdome and were a major complaint from detractors of MadMaxFuryRoad. Nobody seems to complain about it in Road Warrior, where Max has even less to do with the plan.

* SpiritualAdaptation: The board game ''[[https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/804/thunder-road Thunder Road]]'' (1986) "The ram and wreck survival game" is about driving through the desert and fighting with the other drivers.
** In the same vein, TabletopGame/{{Gorkamorka}} is about leading your tribe of crazed, violent, speed-obsessed raiders in vehicular combat against other such tribes on a radioactive desert world, albeit as [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]] in the TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 universe. Indeed, most of the Ork's entire technological aesthetic and design philosophy in 40k comes straight out of this film.
* SpiritualSequel: The {{Fallout}} series owes much of its flavor to this movie in particular.