# Did Mad Max know? (possible Road Warrior spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 26, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340 "2001-11-26T19:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/21 "2001-11-28T03:11:36Z")
You guys are really making me want to see this movie again! Rocketeer, you make good points about Papagallo. If anyone were going to tell Max the truth, it would be him. But try this scenario: Max has already volunteered to drive the truck. Papagallo figures that everyone who goes with the tanker is going to die (and almost all do). So why tell Max the truth if they are both going to be dead in a few hours? Max will “play his part” better if he thinks the truck is full of fuel, anyway. I keep going back to the scene where Max puts his hands in the sand running out of the tanker. I just can’t see him doing this if already knew. And I distinctly remember thinking, the first time I saw the movie “Damn, the refinery people fooled the bikers, the audience, AND Max!” El Kabong makes a great point about the amount of time and effort needed to load the tanker with sand, though. Maybe they work on “Star Trek Time”, you know, the way Scotty could always repair massive damage to the Enterprise in half and hour… ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/22 "2001-11-28T14:08:55Z")
Okay, **Lagomorph** , your scenario makes sense, and I agree that the hands in the sand bit tends to mitigate against Max knowing. On the other hand, he could just be introspectively running his hands through the sand…thinking rueful thoughts about wasted lives, or some such thing? A possibly related question: Why did Max turn the tanker around? Surely he didn’t expect to go back to the fortified camp? Did Pappagallo brief him to go out X distance, then turn around? And if so, wouldn’t that argue in favor of Max knowing about his cargo–I mean, how could Max square instructions like that with taking a cargo of fuel to a safe refuge on the coast? ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/23 "2001-11-28T14:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rocketeer \* > \*\ ***Kingpengvin** , interesting points, especially the one about a man without a car being nothing. But don’t your points A and D contradict each other? “Max did not know” and “Max knows it’s a suicide mission”? > > And I think I agree with **El Kabong** that the grins at the end meant something like: “heckuva ride, eh?” \*\* No contradiction, he could believe that both the tanker has gas and there isn’t a hope in hell that the plan would work. And he was right as you saw, the tanker was wrecked and all but a few defenders killed. May have been heck of a ride but where was the “what the fu…” look on his face when he notices sand pouring out of the tank. I think I’d be a little shocked… come to think of it I was. Think about your own reaction to that revelation and then you have to wonder why Gyro Captain didn’t have the same expression as you. (sorry to contract your quote) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/24 "2001-11-28T17:25:51Z")
> [@](#): > > A possibly related question: Why did Max turn the tanker around? Story-wise, not much reason, although since he started out going in the opposite direction to the escapees, he was going to have to turn around eventually (OTOH, dragging the remainder of the Humongus’ horde back in their direction was indeed not very helpful). IMO, it was down to little more than the director’s need to set up the head-on collision (the climactic event in all three MM films) with the Humungus. ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/25 "2001-11-28T17:57:41Z")
I think it was pure business up to the time he got his car back. Do yer job, get fuel, etc. Hence why he was scum to the refiners when he got the truck and quashed any offer to drive it in the first place. With good reason, he was offering life of the original escapee to get some fuel so he was already bad in their eyes (I am surprised they did not figure him for a raider outright…what with the black leather and all) However when they blew up his car and shot his dog, it was personal. The car was his link to his old life as a family man and cop and the dog was something he could care for with what little caring he had (he threw out the Feral Kid because he did not want more things to care about). Without his ties after the accident he was a broken man and probably would have died without the help of the Gyrocaptain and the selfless medication of the refiners. Max knows this and volunteers for the drive without any qualms. He does not care other than to repay a debt and get a little revenge perhaps. Papagallo sees this in Max and uses it to the advantage. Does he tell him? Probably not, so Max will push himself to the breaking point to escape the raiders or take as many out as possible. The rest of the defenders know it may be a suicide mission but Max cannot. Papa takes into effect that Max has a mad on and can see it so gives him the helm to drive hard. Like it or not, Max has some scruples and feels the debt will be paid if he drives. So when he discovers that its full of dirt, he laughs that his ‘old ways’ got the best of him and that he was taken advantage of. Sorta the “damn I am a idiot” type of thing. Still he got a new car outta it…so it cant be all bad ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/26 "2001-11-28T18:26:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Heath Doolin \* > \*\* > Probably not, so Max will push himself to the breaking point to escape the raiders or take as many out as possible. The rest of the defenders know it may be a suicide mission but Max cannot. > \*\* Max cannot know this is a suicide mission?!?! One thing the first two movies show is that Max may be Mad but he is a realist and practical. He did not survive in the wastelands by having his head in the clouds. He would look at the situation 1 tanker filled with gas (as far as he knew) a few defenders some hastily put together armour and a 24 hour repair job done in 12 against dozens of souped up vehicles driven by desperate and vicious drivers and he saw that the plan had no hope in hell of working. He took the job so the others would get away (his 2nd act of selflessness) and he had nothing to lose. If he stayed he was dead. He also knew that if he ran with the others he may be dead as well because he had no control over the situation with the tanker. He believed he was the best chance of getting the tanker as far as possible from the escaping villagers as possible, if they actually succeeded fine, but he was going to make sure he gave them a fighting chance. As for turning the rig around… I think El\_Kabong had it right. It made no sense in any way whatsoever (whether you believed he knew about the sand or not). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/27 "2001-11-28T19:17:06Z")
> [@](#): > > He took the job so the others would get away (his 2nd act of selflessness) and he had nothing to lose. If he stayed he was dead. He also knew that if he ran with the others he may be dead as well because he had no control over the situation with the tanker. Agreed, and a good example of the cleverness and complexity of Max’s character. In addition to the above I would add that Max, ever pragmatic, could see that the tanker was a) the most heavily armored and therefore resistant to attack, and b) the Humungus could not afford to press his attack too hard, in fear of destroying the tanker and losing his prize. Thus Max is playing the percentages as best he can. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/28 "2001-11-28T20:50:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kingpengvin \* > \*\* > > E)DVD Fans in North America will be happy to know that Mad Max will be released in January with both the crappy (well except for the guys that did the over the top Toe Cutter and Buba Zeneti) American Dubbed sound track and THE ORIGINAL AUSTRAILIAN SOUNDTRACK! after all these years it is about freakin time! \*\* Bubba Zeneti is my favorite bad guy in this movie! He rocks! (rocked, at least) “EASY…I KNOW what I’m doing…” ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/29 "2001-11-28T23:29:45Z")
Something I’ve always wondered: Bruce Spence played both the **Gyro Captain** in _Road Warrior_ and **Jedediah the Pilot** in _Thunderdome_. Are these the same charcter, or just a case of Miller liking his looks, and perhaps his ability to fly (assuming that yes, he actually IS a pilot). Oh, and off the topic, Spence is playing the **Mouth of Sauron** in _The Lord of the Rings_ ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/30 "2001-11-28T23:38:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > **Bruce Spence played both the Gyro Captain in _Road Warrior_ and Jedediah the Pilot in _Thunderdome_. Are these the same charcter, or just a case of Miller liking his looks, and perhaps his ability to fly (assuming that yes, he actually IS a pilot).** It’s been a while since I’ve seen either of these (and I went to Blockbuster looking for them today as a result of this thread and they don’t carry ANY of the movies!) But in Thunderdome, Max recognizes Jedediah and knows he can fly. This leads me to believe they’re the same character. I doubt he’d recognize the guy from the brief encounter at the beginning of Thunderdome, he didn’t really get a look at his face then, did he? ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/31 "2001-11-28T23:46:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kingpengvin \* > \*\* > Max cannot know this is a suicide mission?!?! > One thing the first two movies show is that Max may be Mad but he is a realist and practical. \*\* Ok ok…I agree with that. (actually I should have taken that out along with the reason I made after it) The One thing I am wondering about is how the hell did the refiners keep themselves relatively clean and actually healthy in a fort with apparently no running water or food? Last time I read, Super Unleaded was not part of a complete breakfast. Oh yea, and How the heck did Wez not get a SEVERE canvas burn on his exposed buttocks when he slid down that sheet? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/32 "2001-11-29T00:46:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, and off the topic, Spence is playing the Mouth of Sauron in The Lord of the Rings. Which in turn reminds me. Was that Spence in those recent commercials where where he orders a bunch of pillows from Yahoo to protect his trailer from a falling satellite? ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/33 "2001-11-29T13:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\* But in Thunderdome, Max recognizes Jedediah and knows he can fly. This leads me to believe they’re the same character. I doubt he’d recognize the guy from the brief encounter at the beginning of Thunderdome, he didn’t really get a look at his face then, did he? \*\* It seems unlikely they are one and the same. In the closing narration of Road Warrior we find out the Gyro captain became the “Cheif of the great Northern Tribe” followed by the Ferral Kid (Who happens to be the Narrator) It seems unrealistic but Max must have recognized him as the guy who stole his stuff. That is why Jedediah has a look of dread instead of “How you been doin partner?” on his face. You know… I think I really like analysing these movies . ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/34 "2001-11-29T14:28:16Z")
> [@](#): > > It seems unlikely they are one and the same. In the closing narration of Road Warrior we find out the Gyro captain became the “Cheif of the great Northern Tribe” followed by the Ferral Kid (Who happens to be the Narrator) Sorry to pipe up once more, but if you check I think you’ll find that it’s actually the _Feral Kid_ who grows up to lead the tribe (and narrate the story). ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340/35 "2001-11-29T18:03:48Z")
I stand corrected, the Ferral kid did describe himself as the Leader of the great northern Tribe, But that doesn’t change the fact that the Gyro Captain took over for Pappagallo until Ferral grew into manhood. Thus making it improbablele for him to be the same character [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mad-max-know-possible-road-warrior-spoilers/95340.md?page=1)