Customer Reviews

Mad Max: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is not the Brian May of Queen fame, but rather an Australian film composer with the same name.

A great, moody score by a good composer I know and value. (By the way, who on Earth is "Brian May of Queen" that some people seem to confuse with THE Brian May, the composer of this soundtrack???)

I must admit I adore stories where the ultimate good takes the ultimate evil to the woodshed. I actually saw the first two MAX films in reverse order and to this day they still look great, and sound FANTASTIC thanks to the genius of the late Australian composer Brian May. One critic remarked that if the film is playing in the background one would be hard pressed to keep their eyes off of the TV screen since the soundtrack music itself is so compelling. I second that comment and will add that both MAD MAX and THE ROAD WARRIOR soundtracks are entities unto themselves.
One of my weekend rituals when I rise in the crepuscular hours is to begin a music filled day with a soundtrack of some type, usually instrumental. Yesterday it was CATS (one of the exceptions). This morning it was ALIEN, & ALIENS. Last week it was THE OMEGA MAN (intersting aside... Ron Grainer, who composed THE OMEGA MAN also gave us the DR. WHO theme!!!!). About two or three weeks ago I recall a medley of MAD MAX and THE ROAD WARRIOR and both still bring to mind the most memorable moments from the films: the spectacular stunts (too many to comment on), the endearing moments (Max and Jess in the morning... who can forget Max wearing the TOR JOHNSON mask as Jess says "I'm not grumpy!", OR as he's leaving and Jess does the sign language bit, "OY... Crazy about ya!"... priceless!
Let me focus on MAD MAX now (although I highly recommend THE ROAD WARRIOR soundtrack too). Special admiration must go to the original because it was done on a very low budget, but what a stellar job they did with what they had, and you can't beat George Miller's invaluable direction. Add to that May's sophisticated orchestral depiction of society on the brink of apocalyptic breakdown, in addition to a near flawless cast of unforgettable, colorful characters... even The Night Rider with a brief blitz in the beginning full of macho, rough and tumble, psycho and sociopathic bravado, followed with a touch of the labile, breaking down in tears before the crash, the quirky mechanic, Jim Goose, Ziggy, Mae, Benno, Sprog, Fifi watering the plants, The Toe Cutter, Bubba, the station attendant ("Didn't leave much of 'em did they?" BUBBA: "Must have cut his heart out"), Johnny the Boy ("YOU CAN'T KILL ME, MAN!!!") and you've got all the elements which compose a brilliant film. PLUS, as stated in the beginning, good triumphs over evil... in this case one of the most malignant, malicious, black-hearted, mean-spirited collections of rat filth conjured, rightly eradicated by someone you definitely want on your side ("PRAY THAT HE'S OUT THERE!"): a stand up cop, an excellent role model, husband, father, and friend.
In conclusion, I cannot single out any of the musical pieces for review because the soundtrack is as solid as neutronium (any STAR TREK FANS out there?????). An absolutely FABULOUS score! I'm elated that Brian May composed THE ROAD WARRIOR, as well, and deeply saddened that he was not involved with BEYOND THUNDERDOME. Even worse, while anticipating the upcoming MAX films, it's tragic that May's passing will leave the composition duties to another.
As always, Balthazar says, "Check it out!!"
Live Long and Prosper!!!

Such a cult low budget classic like Mad Max needed to have a haunting, aggressive score. I feel that the tunes provided by Brian May do carry the cutting edge George Miller wanted to convey while telling the story of the doomed cop played by Mel Gibson.
Even though this is the type of score that works better when attached to the movie itself, it has some distinctive moments that immediately come to mind when you hear it. This goes also for the score composed for Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior).

This is a masterpiece how The road warrior or Jerry Goldsmith...
Very interesting listening in your room,car or in the same film.
Beatiful stuff with many influence ,power , fear , romantic.
This soundtrack is very good,but very rare.In Europe very hard buying material.So,you can buy it at amazon.Here is it!!!!

Though I love this album, I have to say I am disappointed that it doesn't include the Nightclub/Cabaret song "Licorice Road". That performance is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

Yes, great orchestra piece, but... I must reply:
Brian May "of Queen" is THE Brian May most people around the world know, the guitarist of the British rock band Queen, who wrote songs like "Who wants to live forever"(Highlander film), "Flash's Theme" (Flash Gordon film) and "We will rock you", that people sing in sports events, just to name a few. The other Brian May who wrote the Mad Max soudtrack is not that famous... sorry. The fact that two contemporary musicians who wrote music for movies have the same name is just a funny coincidence. No need to be jealous, ok? Best Regards.

As this cd is placed under the solo-releases of Brian May of Queen you think this is also a release made by him. My collegue is right - it is not Brian of Queen! This Brian May is indeed an Australian composer of filmmusic and died a few years ago I believe of cancer. Should I have know this before I would not have bought both the CD and the 2VIDEO.

I watched Mad Max on Saturday and I don't think I have seen it in since it was released. This score was so out of place, out of context and so 70s movie-bad-orchestral-overdone. I think it might be the worst-matched movie score of all time.