Mad Max- now on 4 K from Kino Lorber & in a limited edition 3 LP color vinyl from Varese Sarabande( Celebrating 44 plus years)-time to see who rules the roadways…!
The time was 1979 and well before the world wide phenomenon of The Road Warrior. That year a lessor known film was released that would change the way we look at and what we would come to expect in the future. Directed by a then unknown George Miller. Featuring a brilliant moving score by Brian May well known Australian film composer(soundtrack review below). Filmed in the back roads and the outback of Australia. It revolutionized the action film. It would become an instant cult classic. It would also introduce the world to a young actor named Mel Gibson. It would also tear up the box-office and make it almost impossible to find a spot at the local Drive-In to park your car. The film-
MAD MAX.
He rules the roads.(Tagline)
Combining high octane action with Sci-Fi elements and then mixing in an intense level of edge of your seat, nail biting tension as the the film shifts gears to a who finds who first chase film.
As if that is not enough George ads what would become cult classic thriller/horror tones. And when we say eye-popping!!! that is no exaggeration.
Set in the near future where unrest in the counter culture societies have reached an all time high-the gangs have seemed to gained an almost upper hand on the very laws that are suppose to keep everything in check.
The MFP (Main Force Patrol) have their hands full. Max(Mel Gibson)and his interceptor crosses paths with one over- the- edge leader- The Toe Cutter. In doing so faces the wrath the entire gang and inevitably puts not only his life but the life of his family in harms way. Thus begins one of the most intense cat and mouse games in film history and once you have crossed the in to the forbidden zone there is no turning back.
Will Max survive -we’ll never tell- you’ll just have to see it!!!
This is a tour de force for Mel Gibson as he brings an eerily manic performance to the screen as things start looking bleak for Max. But the darker the times, the more we root for this character to prevail.
- **Extra-Taglines
They murdered his family…… Now he’s going to run them over!
When the gangs take over the highways… pray he’s out there somewhere!
A 400H.P. movie that runs on adrenalin, high octane and raw nerves!
In this hideous no-man’s land — be thankful for Mad Max [UK video]
The Maximum Force of the Future
The last law in a world gone out of control. Pray that he’s out there somewhere.
When the gangs take over the highway… …Remember he’s on your side.
The Film That Started It All
Now Kino Lorber dares to bring this cult classic in to the future with the 4 K Ultra HD remastered Bluray with bursting colors and ear candy audio featuring the original Australian audio track in 5.1 and Dolby sound.
Loaded with extras including a new audio commentary with Art Director Jon Dowling & Special Effects Artist Chris Murray. A new message/interview with George Miller along with radio spots and two original release trailers. On the same program A retrospect on Mel Gibson, the Mad Max Phenomenon and an extra trailer for Sc-Fi Action film-Stryker(also from Kino). And so much more…
Link to the Kino Lorber — check out the March Madness sale…
Varese Sarabande has been entertaining the world for 40 years since 1977, how ever if you back to 1972 prior to the culmination of Varese International and Sarabande Records one might say really 45 years of an incredible selection of classical and world music and dedication to be the best ..in sound quality…and what I like most the venture into soundtracks starting in 1978 and in he 1980’s and 90’s went from early on being mostly reissues of American Decca and Remington labels to the worlds largest producer of original motion picture score releases on CD. The tradition continues today with Robert Townson overseeing the soundtrack end and Cary Mansfield working with the Vintage side preserving the oldies/reissues -multi genre pop from the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s thru Varese Imprint which in turn means on good old vinyl…but most with a higher end pressing with digital format and at the same time offering a very unique selection of soundtracks and international music…
Over the last 40 years plus Varese Sarabande has given us some of the most exciting and memorable releases-here is just a handful and including some of there recent endeavors highlighting Charles Fox with his truly awesome score for Foul Play and featuring 2 of my favorite Barry Manilow songs -Oscar nominated Ready to Take a Chance Again(an instrumental version as the love theme in the film marvelously arranged to a more mellow motif) and a first time full length album version of Copacabana (when originally released-was an edited version).Every time I listen to this CD I can’t help but to reflect on my own life especially Ready to Take a Chance Again..I think most can relate to some part of their life when starting out into new relationships …when you are most vulnerable and then truly Hitchcockian moments that are represented ..within the film and the soundtrack ..paying homage thru characters like the Cardinal who is not what he appears to be and references from The Man Who Knew Too Much to the very track Beware of the Dwarf which has riffs & overtones to Vertigo/Psycho.In fact a track entitled Scarface with Charles composing the use single of strokes on the piano and then weaving reeds with strings building to a high pitched crescendo then ending with a symbol crash to end the moment…creating an almost nail biting edge of your seat moment and it’s all here on the CD. Ready to put my love on the line with you, because if not your life just goes along as it should all very nice but not very good…think about those words for a moment… brilliant analogy of a mundane, day in day out routine .. afraid to make a change…
Below : art work from Oracle & Odessey
Other releases regarding the Zombies include two that fans will go gaga over …The Zombies: Odessey and Oracle-50th Anniversary which Rolling Stone magazine listed as 100th out the top 500 albums of all time.It has been totally remastered and now comes with 7 bonus tracks…2nd up The Zombies Greatest Hits completely remastered on vinyl includes Time of the Season.
Mad Max Trilogy- Gray,Sand & Black(3 discs on color vinyl-limited release-2000 units) released April 14th, 2017-again remastered featuring Tim Bradstreet of Marvel Comics art work on the outer sleeves depicting images from all three films and music by Brian May(Road Games starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis)for both Mad Max and the Road Warrior which Brian May received the equivalent of an Oscar from the Australian Film Board for Mad Max.Brian was known for his work with piano and violin and are used to various degrees in Mad Max to create some very suspenseful and disturbing tones using brass instruments that match and help set the mood for a world gone berserk-overrun with motor cycle gangs who seem to rule the roadways of the not too distant future earth.. and then with The Road Warrior(Mad Max II) Brian opens up the film score to a larger scale pseudo western using some horns and violins & other strings mixed to produce a theme for Max that suggests the sheer desolation in a world that has become but a vast wasteland,one where he is that last in the line of the police force…and destined to be alone…. A real treat is a 4 minute plus track showcasing sound effects with music cues …including the gyro copter and boomerang.. that lies on the 2nd disc side 4
We Don’t Need Another Hero- the 1st track on disc 3 side 5 of the Black lp is such an iconic piece of music and really painted a different picture for Max …the “people” just want to get beyond Thunderdome and if they can accomplish this it doesn’t matter whoever helps to achieve this..Tina Turner sings with great conviction and you can feel that tone thru out and I loved the instrumental version also used which a slightly different arrangement gives some overtones of sadness with max trying to figure out just where he stands as the survivors try to rebuild the world…
I highly recommend this limited edition and especially for all you Road Warriors and fans of post-apocalyptic films you will not be disappointed…in fact every CD and LP I have had the opportunity ti listen to is nothing short of magnificent..always crisp and clear audio with bonus tracks to boot…and all their releases exude the sweat and hard work that goes into producing an album including the extra step .. collaborating with the original artists when ever possible on not just the Vintage series but the scores and songs from for the soundtracks and sometimes that means that to see one LP or CD make it to the production stage may have taken several years ..now that requires a passion and love not only for music but what you do over all … so again I say a very well deserved Happy !! Almost 45th Anniversary!! Varese Sarabande.
More from VARESE:
All three John Wick soundtracks, Issac Hayes Shaft on a 2 LP Vinyl, the whimsical score by Jerry Fielding to The Bad News Bears(a matching yellow colored LP), a newly remastered Deluxe Edition CD of Popeye(Robin Williams) soundtrack featuring previously unreleased tracks and in cooperation with Harry Nilsson.
See link for Varese Sarabande:
And if your local as in Daytona Beach,Fl please stop in say hi to my friends at Atlantic Sounds also celebrating an anniversary of almost 40 years in the biz. Selling everything from CDs to LPs- new and used a place that started with just Mike Toole, 500 used vinyls and $500.00 in his pocket.. quite an achievement..if they don’t have it they can order it…
138 W. Int’l Speedway Blvd.Daytona Beach ,Fl 32114 and on Facebook @alanticsoundsvinyl
I leave with one my favorite songs from back in the day..Mr Al Stewart and Time Passages…so for now this Doc saying remember who sent ya..have a great week and enjoy life and cherish your friends and family… I know I do ..always …till next time…
