Video Recommendations

I would hesitate to call all of the films below "recommendations" for everyone, but it's certainly a collection of films I've found that if you like Mad Max I think you'll at least find something of interest in. For the most part I have listed lesser known films, I figure you'll already have seen all of Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon films, or the really big budget car chase Hollywood action films. Several of the films below have a similar cult following to Mad Max, but beyond that aren't necessarily as widely known these days.

Note that where I have linked available releases, I have mostly linked USA releases, as many films on this list only have limited availability outside the US.

Cars and Car Chases

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
About the only good thing to come out of the recent remake of this film was the fact that it made me aware of the original 1974 version. If you just watch Mad Max for the car chases, then you should definitely give this one a look. The last half hour is one long chase sequence, featuring some spectacular driving, with its fair share of stunts and crashes. This is currently available as a special edition DVD, and is also available on VHS.

Of course you can also get the 2000 remake on DVD, just please don't judge the original 1974 version based on the cgi-laden car chases of the 2000 remake - the original does it for real, and does it much better! The 2000 remake is also available on VHS.

Bullitt (1968)
This film is highly regarded by many for its car chase sequence through the streets of San Francisco. Perhaps it helps to be a Mustang fan, because I must say that personally I thought the car chase was a little lacking - maybe there just wasn't enough wreckage for me. It is currently available on DVD and also available on VHS. (For those who are interested, there was also a limited edition collectors DVD box set, but this now seems to be out of print).

Vanishing Point (1971)
This is one I still haven't seen myself, although I've seen it recommended in car movie lists several times - I'm kinding of waiting for it to make it to DVD (I haven't had much luck finding it locally in Australia anyway).

It is currently available on VHS in the USA, with a DVD due in February 2004. It is also available on DVD in the UK, and DVD in Japan.

To Live and Die in LA
This film features a fairly lengthy car chase, which culminates with the getaway car making a break for it by going the wrong way down an LA freeway - at the oncoming traffic! Unfortunately though it's probably the only memorable moment of the film, apart from the car chase I found the rest of the film to be fairly average. Maybe just hire this one out to watch the car chase, and skip the rest. It was available on VHS, but is getting hard to find.

The Driver
The Driver is about a getaway driver, the jobs he gets involved in, and the cop trying to catch him. It's been many years since I last saw this, and my main memory is obviously of the precision driving sequences and car chases. I really wish it was more readily available so that I could give it another look, and write a more decent review. It is currently only available on VHS.

Duel
This was one of Steven Spielberg's first feature films (originally made for TV), and the best way to describe it would be a case of road rage out of control. Some good sequences, although the film uses just as much on suspense as it does on action - don't expect it to be a non stop car chase or anything. As with many Steven Spielberg films, Duel is currently only available on VHS.

The French Connection

Another classically regarded car chase, although like Bullitt, I think this one is possibly showing its age a bit now. I still probably prefer it to Bullitt (I probably prefer Gene Hackman), the chase scene is just starting to show its age. This is currently available on VHS, and is coming soon on DVD, both as a two disc special edition, and as a special edition DVD box set (including the sequel).

Christine
I haven't seen this in a few years now, and perhaps should refresh myself of the finer details before writing an "in depth" review. Basically though it is adapted from the Stephen King novel about a car that is "possessed", and has a mind of its own. It goes on somewhat of a wrecking and killing rampage, and the best part is that when the car gets a few scrapes, it just repairs itself! Very well done, by legendary horror director John Carpenter. Christine is currently available on DVD, and also available on VHS.

American Graffiti
Like some other films listed here, I've seen this recommended as a good "car movie" quite a few times, but I must say I've never actually gotten around to watching it myself. My impression is that it probably appeals more to people who were involved / interested in the American hot rod and street car scene of the 50's and 60's, which I guess in part is why it doesn't appeal to me that much. But I promise to give it a look as soon as I can, and write a proper review! This is available as a Collector's Edition DVD, and is also available on VHS.

Post Apocalypse / Futuristic SciFi

Escape From New York
I'm not so sure that the setting of the film is supposed to be post apocalypse, but it is definitely set in the decaying society of the future, very similar to the world of the original Mad Max. Manhattan Island has been transformed into a maximum security prison, which Snake Plissken (Kurt Russel) must infiltrate to rescue the President after he is kidnapped. Definitely one of my favourites, and it has finally been released as a SE double DVD set (in the USA). It was also previously available as a standard DVD, and also on VHS.

Waterworld
I said I wasn't going to list the big budget Hollywood stuff, but we'll make an exception here, because I know a lot of people did avoid this due to various publicity at the time of its release. Yes, it is basically a direct copy of Road Warrior, but set on the water. Like most of you, I believe that Road Warrior is far superior, however Waterworld still has some great action and impressive visuals - all captured by Road Warrior's cinematographer Dean Semler. Even if you just rent it sometime, it's worth giving it a look. Personally I hope they will eventually release the expanded version on DVD someday, along with some behind the scenes type extras. Waterworld is currently available on DVD as a standard version and as a DTS version, and is available on VHS as a standard edition and a widescreen edition.

The Postman
This is Kevin Costner's second attempt at creating his own post apocalyptic world on film, but personally I think Waterworld was better. The Postman certainly has some interesting ideas, but overall I think it tries to do too much, and ends up being a little bit too long and drawn out. I enjoyed it myself, but I'm a little hesitant to avoid it too strongly, because I know many others didn't like this one as much as Waterworld. This is available on DVD, and also on VHS.

Death Race 2000
This is another one I've seen on a few car movie lists, but, quite honestly, I haven't had the courage to sit down and watch it. From what I've seen of it, it looks a little too cheesy, even for me. I'm sure one day I'll be brave enough to sit down and give it a viewing, but not just yet. I kind of get the feeling that if it didn't have a couple of big names in it (namely Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine), it might have been one of those B movies that was long forgotten by now. It is currently available on DVD, and also VHS.

Australian

Unlike the films above, many Australian movies are unfortunately not as readily available as we would like. Most of these are only available within Australia, and even fewer are available on DVD (in fact, I think only one from this list). The best place to locate these would be The Video Shift in Sydney. Just follow the link to their page, and try entering the titles in the search box - if it's still available in Australia, they'll have it.

Stone (1974)
Despite not being as well known as Mad Max internationally, Stone definitely has a cult following comparable to Mad Max within Australia. It is centred more around bikes than cars though, and obviously has its heaviest following from the motorcyle crowd. Featuring quite a few familiar faces from Mad Max, this is definitely worth a look if you're interested in seeing another Australian cult movie from the 70's. It is available as a special edition DVD in Australia, from The Video Shift.

The Big Steal (1990)
This one is kind of hard for me to describe, I think possibly because the humour is quite Australian, and might not translate too easily to other cultures. It features Steve Bisley (The Goose!) as a dodgy used car dealer, and the consequences of what happens when he tries to pull a fast one on some young kids. I enjoyed it a lot, probably mostly because of Steve Bisley, and I hope at least some of you other Aussies will give it a look, if you haven't seen it already. Unfortunately I could't actually find this for sale anywhere.

Chain Reaction (Nuclear Run in the USA) (1980)
Made not long after Mad Max, this features a selection of the Mad Max cast (Steve Bisley, Hugh Keays-Burne, Tim Burns and more), and was even partly directed by George Miller. Another one I haven't viewed in a while (I need to refresh my memory again!), but if you're a big fan of the first Mad Max I think you'll be interested enough in the people involved to take a look at this one. Like some others though, unfortunately this one is not readily available. (Also, don't confuse it with the 1996 US movie of the same name).

Running on Empty (Fast Lane Fever in the USA) (1982)
I only recently tracked a copy of this down, and haven't had a chance to view it yet. It's basically about fast cars, street racing, and so on, and features a variety of Australian cars. It is available on VHS in Australia, from The Video Shift.

Midnite Spares
This is another one I've heard about, and seen a trailer for, but unfortunately have not yet been able to track down. It's basically about illegal spare parts dealers, stealing and stripping cars by night. It features the usual selection of hot Australian cars from the 70's, along with some familiar faces and stunt men.

The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
This is Peter Weir's cult car film from the 70's about the small town of Paris, which deliberately causes car accidents so the town can profit from them, to keep the local economy going. I haven't seen this for a while, and I must say that when I originally did see it, it didn't really grab me. That was a long time ago though, and I probably should refresh my memory with another viewing. It is currently available on VHS in the USA.

In The Red is a new Australian car movie, featuring Steve Bisley among others. Unfortunately I don't know a lot about it, and have not yet seen it (it went straight to video / DVD). To find out more check out the listing at the AutoSpeed web site (if anyone knows anyone else selling this one online, please let me know).
The film has apparently been released in the US as "Red Lined", and is available through amazon.com - see the listing at their web site for further information. Some additional information, including a trailer to download, can be found at this web site.

Back to the Mad Max FAQ

	Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) About the only good thing to come out of the recent remake of this film was the fact that it made me aware of the original 1974 version. If you just watch Mad Max for the car chases, then you should definitely give this one a look. The last half hour is one long chase sequence, featuring some spectacular driving, with its fair share of stunts and crashes. This is currently available as a special edition DVD, and is also available on VHS. Of course you can also get the 2000 remake on DVD, just please don't judge the original 1974 version based on the cgi-laden car chases of the 2000 remake - the original does it for real, and does it much better! The 2000 remake is also available on VHS.
	Bullitt (1968) This film is highly regarded by many for its car chase sequence through the streets of San Francisco. Perhaps it helps to be a Mustang fan, because I must say that personally I thought the car chase was a little lacking - maybe there just wasn't enough wreckage for me. It is currently available on DVD and also available on VHS. (For those who are interested, there was also a limited edition collectors DVD box set, but this now seems to be out of print).
	Vanishing Point (1971) This is one I still haven't seen myself, although I've seen it recommended in car movie lists several times - I'm kinding of waiting for it to make it to DVD (I haven't had much luck finding it locally in Australia anyway). It is currently available on VHS in the USA, with a DVD due in February 2004. It is also available on DVD in the UK, and DVD in Japan.
	To Live and Die in LA This film features a fairly lengthy car chase, which culminates with the getaway car making a break for it by going the wrong way down an LA freeway - at the oncoming traffic! Unfortunately though it's probably the only memorable moment of the film, apart from the car chase I found the rest of the film to be fairly average. Maybe just hire this one out to watch the car chase, and skip the rest. It was available on VHS, but is getting hard to find.
	The Driver The Driver is about a getaway driver, the jobs he gets involved in, and the cop trying to catch him. It's been many years since I last saw this, and my main memory is obviously of the precision driving sequences and car chases. I really wish it was more readily available so that I could give it another look, and write a more decent review. It is currently only available on VHS.
	Duel This was one of Steven Spielberg's first feature films (originally made for TV), and the best way to describe it would be a case of road rage out of control. Some good sequences, although the film uses just as much on suspense as it does on action - don't expect it to be a non stop car chase or anything. As with many Steven Spielberg films, Duel is currently only available on VHS.
	The French Connection Another classically regarded car chase, although like Bullitt, I think this one is possibly showing its age a bit now. I still probably prefer it to Bullitt (I probably prefer Gene Hackman), the chase scene is just starting to show its age. This is currently available on VHS, and is coming soon on DVD, both as a two disc special edition, and as a special edition DVD box set (including the sequel).
	Christine I haven't seen this in a few years now, and perhaps should refresh myself of the finer details before writing an "in depth" review. Basically though it is adapted from the Stephen King novel about a car that is "possessed", and has a mind of its own. It goes on somewhat of a wrecking and killing rampage, and the best part is that when the car gets a few scrapes, it just repairs itself! Very well done, by legendary horror director John Carpenter. Christine is currently available on DVD, and also available on VHS.
	American Graffiti Like some other films listed here, I've seen this recommended as a good "car movie" quite a few times, but I must say I've never actually gotten around to watching it myself. My impression is that it probably appeals more to people who were involved / interested in the American hot rod and street car scene of the 50's and 60's, which I guess in part is why it doesn't appeal to me that much. But I promise to give it a look as soon as I can, and write a proper review! This is available as a Collector's Edition DVD, and is also available on VHS.

	Escape From New York I'm not so sure that the setting of the film is supposed to be post apocalypse, but it is definitely set in the decaying society of the future, very similar to the world of the original Mad Max. Manhattan Island has been transformed into a maximum security prison, which Snake Plissken (Kurt Russel) must infiltrate to rescue the President after he is kidnapped. Definitely one of my favourites, and it has finally been released as a SE double DVD set (in the USA). It was also previously available as a standard DVD, and also on VHS.
	Waterworld I said I wasn't going to list the big budget Hollywood stuff, but we'll make an exception here, because I know a lot of people did avoid this due to various publicity at the time of its release. Yes, it is basically a direct copy of Road Warrior, but set on the water. Like most of you, I believe that Road Warrior is far superior, however Waterworld still has some great action and impressive visuals - all captured by Road Warrior's cinematographer Dean Semler. Even if you just rent it sometime, it's worth giving it a look. Personally I hope they will eventually release the expanded version on DVD someday, along with some behind the scenes type extras. Waterworld is currently available on DVD as a standard version and as a DTS version, and is available on VHS as a standard edition and a widescreen edition.
	The Postman This is Kevin Costner's second attempt at creating his own post apocalyptic world on film, but personally I think Waterworld was better. The Postman certainly has some interesting ideas, but overall I think it tries to do too much, and ends up being a little bit too long and drawn out. I enjoyed it myself, but I'm a little hesitant to avoid it too strongly, because I know many others didn't like this one as much as Waterworld. This is available on DVD, and also on VHS.
	Death Race 2000 This is another one I've seen on a few car movie lists, but, quite honestly, I haven't had the courage to sit down and watch it. From what I've seen of it, it looks a little too cheesy, even for me. I'm sure one day I'll be brave enough to sit down and give it a viewing, but not just yet. I kind of get the feeling that if it didn't have a couple of big names in it (namely Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine), it might have been one of those B movies that was long forgotten by now. It is currently available on DVD, and also VHS.

	Stone (1974) Despite not being as well known as Mad Max internationally, Stone definitely has a cult following comparable to Mad Max within Australia. It is centred more around bikes than cars though, and obviously has its heaviest following from the motorcyle crowd. Featuring quite a few familiar faces from Mad Max, this is definitely worth a look if you're interested in seeing another Australian cult movie from the 70's. It is available as a special edition DVD in Australia, from The Video Shift.
	The Big Steal (1990) This one is kind of hard for me to describe, I think possibly because the humour is quite Australian, and might not translate too easily to other cultures. It features Steve Bisley (The Goose!) as a dodgy used car dealer, and the consequences of what happens when he tries to pull a fast one on some young kids. I enjoyed it a lot, probably mostly because of Steve Bisley, and I hope at least some of you other Aussies will give it a look, if you haven't seen it already. Unfortunately I could't actually find this for sale anywhere.
	Chain Reaction (Nuclear Run in the USA) (1980) Made not long after Mad Max, this features a selection of the Mad Max cast (Steve Bisley, Hugh Keays-Burne, Tim Burns and more), and was even partly directed by George Miller. Another one I haven't viewed in a while (I need to refresh my memory again!), but if you're a big fan of the first Mad Max I think you'll be interested enough in the people involved to take a look at this one. Like some others though, unfortunately this one is not readily available. (Also, don't confuse it with the 1996 US movie of the same name).
	Running on Empty (Fast Lane Fever in the USA) (1982) I only recently tracked a copy of this down, and haven't had a chance to view it yet. It's basically about fast cars, street racing, and so on, and features a variety of Australian cars. It is available on VHS in Australia, from The Video Shift.
	Midnite Spares This is another one I've heard about, and seen a trailer for, but unfortunately have not yet been able to track down. It's basically about illegal spare parts dealers, stealing and stripping cars by night. It features the usual selection of hot Australian cars from the 70's, along with some familiar faces and stunt men.
	The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) This is Peter Weir's cult car film from the 70's about the small town of Paris, which deliberately causes car accidents so the town can profit from them, to keep the local economy going. I haven't seen this for a while, and I must say that when I originally did see it, it didn't really grab me. That was a long time ago though, and I probably should refresh my memory with another viewing. It is currently available on VHS in the USA.
	In The Red is a new Australian car movie, featuring Steve Bisley among others. Unfortunately I don't know a lot about it, and have not yet seen it (it went straight to video / DVD). To find out more check out the listing at the AutoSpeed web site (if anyone knows anyone else selling this one online, please let me know). The film has apparently been released in the US as "Red Lined", and is available through amazon.com - see the listing at their web site for further information. Some additional information, including a trailer to download, can be found at this web site.