Mad Max Minute

When it comes to saving children from kidnappers there are no two finer agents of the Rescue Aid Society than Bernard and Bianca, and now it’s time for them to venture across the ocean to Australia to help a small boy who’s been taken by a ruthless poacher. Cody is an adventurous boy who has befriended the majestic golden eagle, Marahute, and now finds himself in the clutches of the nefarious poacher, McLeach, and his ravenous monitor lizard, Joanna. It’s up to Cody to keep McLeach from succeeding in his goal to capture and sell Harahute, but can Bernard and Bianca save Cody before it’s too late?

When the Federal Narcotics Bureau has a Chinese national in their custody, it’s time to call in an expert. Forget the Man from U.N.C.L.E., they need the Man from Hong Kong, Special Branch Investigator Fang Sing Leng. But after an assassin kills his suspect, it’s up to Fang to take down the infamous drug and gun runner Jack Wilton, played by George Lazenby. With Roger Ward and Hugh Keays-Byrne in tow as his Australian counterparts, it’s up to Fang to chase down every lead and use every resource at his disposal to tear down Wilton’s criminal enterprise and destroy everyone that stands in his way.

Nicholas Hoult lived, he died, and now he lives again, not as a Warboy, but as prolific fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch as young Tolkien navigates English society at the turn of the twentieth century, losing his mother to illness, living with a wealthy benefactor, and enrolling in a boarding school. He finds fellowship with a group of boys who share his appreciation for art and falls in love with Edith, played by Lily Collins. Their courtship is interrupted by Tolkien’s enrollment at Oxford, but once there he’s able to expand his love of language and storytelling. With World War One tearing the world apart, how will Tolkien make it there and back again?

In the wasteland, Charlize Theron portrayed the fearsome and courageous Imperator Furiosa, but this time around she trades the mechanical arm and war rig for the political power and ambition of Charlotte Field, Secretary of State. Charlotte is on her way to the presidency of the United States of America and hires childhood acquaintance Fred Flarsky, played by Seth Rogen, to punch up her speeches. Will she be able to rally enough international support for her environmental initiatives while outmaneuvering political rivals? In the realm of Politics, everything hurts, so pick up what you can and run.

My life fades, the vision dims. All that remains are memories. I remember a time of chaos, ruined dreams, this wasted land. But most of all, I remember the Fist of the North Star: the man we called Kenshiro. This time around we honor a listener request from one of our $5/month Patrons and sit down to watch one of the seminal works of post-apocalyptic animated media. Toyoo Ashida’s vision of Buronson and Tetsuo Hara’s story of a man gifted with fabulous cosmic power and the violent forces that swirl around him. It’s our first foray into the world of anime, will we come out unscathed or are we already dead?

With the dust settling from the whirlwind of Mad Max Fury Road, we take a trip back to London in the 1960’s where The Kray Twins are poised to take control of the city’s underworld. You’re not seeing double, Tom Hardy stars as both Reggie and Ron Kray, one charming and calculating and the other a lit fuse ready to blow. As they battle rival gangs and make deals with the American Mafia, the brothers must balance their personal relationships with the demands of running a criminal organization and staying one step ahead of the law. Do they have what it takes to become legends?

We’ve run out of Mad Max Fury Road to talk about, so in this ultimate episode of the podcast, we take some time to talk about what it’s been like producing this project. We also discuss our final rankings for the series, the hopes we have for the future of the series, and also some fun observations about the podcast as a whole. Most importantly, THANK YOU to everyone who has listened.

Three years, four movies, and several months of emails all come down to this: Rick sits down for a video call with academy award-winning director, writer, and producer, George Miller. We talk about applying music theory to film making, treating lore like an iceberg, and how a pig and penguin helped shape the world of Mad Max: Fury Road. This episode would not have been possible without the help of George’s executive assistant, Rachael who generously gave us a window of time in George’s busy schedule.

Following Mad Max Fury Road’s release in theaters and subsequent success at the box office, George Miller told interviewers that he, at one point, wanted to release the film in black and white, similar to the rough copy used by composers when scoring a film. A year later, the Black and Chrome edition was released in theaters. Today we abandon color to watch that version of the movie.

As we near the end of our time with Mad Max Fury Road we welcome professional stunt performer/coordinator Dayna Grant to the podcast. Dayna is a multi-award winning performer with over two decades of experience in television and film. She sat down with us in a video call to talk about getting into the industry and helping bring Furiosa to life. Special Guest: Furiosa Stunt Double, Dayna Grant

Immortan Joe gave us one of the most amazing wasteland warlords in cinema, but how does he compare to The Toecutter, the villain Hugh Keays-Byrne brought to life 30 years earlier? We also discuss Capable’s necessity in helping Nux transform as a character and wonder if it was necessary for Nux to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Despite the series being about Mad Max, Furiosa burst on the scene to steal the spotlight. In this episode, we discuss Furiosa and whether having her play such a large role in the narrative sets a good precedent for any future stories. We also discuss the women formerly known as Immortan Joe’s wives and what their future could hold.

Tom Hardy stepped into a role that had been held for decades by another actor, so how did he do? We take some time to discuss Max’s character arc, how Tom Hardy did as the titular character, and wonder if the Road Warrior is a sustainable character or a hero that needs to ride off into the sunset.

With the harrowing tale of Max’s run-in with Furiosa and the War Boys run its course, the movie leaves us with one last thing to ponder. Simple white lettering on a black background shows the words of the unseen First History Man who asks us where the wasteland wanderer should go in search of their best self. Special Guests: Yuri Lowenthal and Travis Sentell from You Are Awaited: A Mad Max Fury Road Podcast

Water pours from the great pipes onto the wretched below as the elevator begins to rise. Max stands on the slowly rising platform and considers his situation. As Furiosa turns to look at him, she discovers that he has disappeared and finds him a moment later moving through the crowd on his way back to the wasteland. They nod to each other as they go their separate ways. Special Guests: Caitlin, Karen, and Liz from Foxes in the Henhouse

The wretched begin to chant, demanding that Furiosa and the others be allowed onto the elevator. With Corpus Colossus remaining silent, a gang of War Pups take matters into their own hands and lower the elevator to the ground. As the Gigahorse drives onto the elevator, the Milking Mothers appear and open the water for the huddled masses below. Special Guests: Caitlin, Karen, and Liz from Foxes in the Henhouse

Max stands over a shrouded figure lying between the Gigahorse’s twin engines and rips away the cloth to reveal the Immortan Joe’s corpse. He tosses it to the ground and the Wretched swarm the body, tearing it apart. Unsure of how to proceed, all eyes turn to Corpus Colossus, who squirms in his seat. Cries erupt from the crowd as Furiosa emerges.

The Gigahorse returns to the Citadel, causing a row and a ruction among the wretched as they press in around the Immortan’s vehicle. The great elevator descends to meet the Gigahorse, but the guards feel that something is amiss and order the elevator to stop. They point their weapons at the vehicle and order its passengers to identify themselves.

Max has to act quickly to save Furiosa from her nearly fatal blood loss. He gathers the necessary tools and performs a blood transfusion, giving his own blood to save Furiosa’s life. As Furiosa lies on the back seat of the Gigahorse, Max takes her head in his hands and finally tells her his name.

The Gigahorse drives through buzzard territory on its way back to the Citadel as Max and the others do their best to treat Furiosa’s injuries. Her side wound has caused one of her lungs to collapse, so Max performs an improvised abdominal decompression. Furiosa is once again able to breathe, but Melita observes that Furiosa has lost too much blood. Special Guest: Alex Robinson from Star Wars Minute

Separated from the others, surrounded by flames, and facing the primal might of Rictus Erectus, Nux looks to Capable and quietly asks for her to witness him. The Gigahorse speeds through the pass and Nux rolls the War Rig, killing Rictus, decimating the Doof Wagon, and sealing the pass so the others can escape. Special Guest: Alex Robinson from Star Wars Minute

The Dag and the others quickly abandon the War Rig, leaving Nux to assure Capable that he is right behind her, but Rictus recovers and quickly cuts off Nux’s escape. Nux tries to shake the towering Rictus from the War Rig, but that only makes Rictus angry. Nux watches as Rictus tears the supercharger from the War Rig’s second engine and lifts it over his head. Special Guest: Alex Robinson from Star Wars Minute

With the help of a well-placed shotgun blast, Max is able to knock Rictus down. Furiosa uses her position on the Gigahorse to attack Immortan Joe and after hooking his mask with a harpoon, lets the line out and rips his face clean off. Max makes it to the Gigahorse and grabs Furiosa before she falls and Cheedo informs the others that Joe is dead. Special Guests: Nathan Porter and Jenny Rist

Max narrowly avoids being crushed by the Doof Wagon and climbs onto the Tanker. Rictus puts Cheedo on the Gigahorse and fights the Vuvalini for the wives. Cheedo helps Furiosa get on the Gigahorse and Max arrives to continue fighting Rictus. Furiosa fights Joe’s Prime Imperator and in the struggle is nearly thrown over the side, barely managing to hang on. Special Guests: Nathan Porter and Jenny Rist

Max leaps down onto the Doof Warrior’s stage, but before he can continue on to the War Rig, He has some Imperators to contend with, a task made easier with the use of the flaming guitar. Elsewhere, Cheedo devises a way to get onto the Gigahorse to help Furiosa and climbs onto the hood to call out to Rictus. Meanwhile, Max manages to leap onto the tanker. Special Guests: Nathan Porter and Jenny Rist

As the War Party enters the Rock Rider’s canyon, Furiosa tries to get out in front of the Gigahorse, but Immortan Joe uses his speed to block the War Rig. Furiosa leans over to Nux and tells him that she needs him to drive so she can get Immortan Joe out of their way. Max watches from the top of the Doof Wagon as Furiosa climbs out onto the Rig. Special Guests: Jonathan Howell and Chris Ramirez from Minute Impossible

The People Eater’s Limo begins to explode forcing Max to take a dramatic leap onto the War Rig. He’s quickly snatched by one of the Polecats and after dispatching his abductor, finds himself sailing through the air as the People Eater’s Limo explodes in the background. Max tries to make it back to the War Rig, but he’s forced onto the Doof Wagon. Special Guests: Jonathan Howell and Chris Ramirez from Minute Impossible

Max accelerates the People Eater’s Limo, quickly catching up to the Gigahorse. Immortan Joe tries to shoot Max, but The People Eater provides more than enough cover. Furiosa takes this chance to escape the vehicles boxing her in and returns the favor by flattening a buggy that’s harassing Max with a flamethrower. Special Guests: Jonathan Howell and Chris Ramirez from Minute Impossible

With Citadel forces closing in on all sides, Slit returns driving the Razor Cola and gunning for Max. Furiosa is quick to act and sandwiches Slit between the War Rig and the People Eater’s Limo, destroying the Razor Cola. Nux emerges from the engine cavity and helps Max get onto the People Eater’s Limo, of which he quickly takes control. Special Guests: Doug Greenberg and Jason Hanes from Rocky Minute

Max is able to recover and acts quickly to keep more Polecats from harming those inside the rig. In the melee, Max is thrown from the side of the Rig, but Furiosa is able to catch him by the leg. While distracted, Furiosa is stabbed by the Polecat in the black mask who has returned. Amidst all of this, Nux is able to finish his repairs and the War Rig returns to full power. Special Guests: Doug Greenberg and Jason Hanes from Rocky Minute

Max and the Vuvalini continue to fight off the Polecats, but Max is ambushed by a Polecat in a black mask and uses uncanny reflexes to impede a bolt launched at His head. The black masked Polecat then tries to attack Furiosa but is thrown from the War Rig. Meanwhile, another Polecat drops in and grabs Toast, taking her from the rig and dropping her on the Gigahorse. Special Guests: Doug Greenberg and Jason Hanes from Rocky Minute

Surrounded by the polecats, from Gastown, Max and the Vuvalini struggle to combat the melee fighters landing on the tanker all around them. The polecats also advance on the rig, using a smoke grenade to fill the cab with smoke and using a catch pole to grab Furiosa around the neck. The Keeper of the Seeds is quick to defend Furiosa but is slashed in the neck, gravely wounding her. Special Guests: Rob, Joe, and Duff from A Free Podcast

Max rushes to the back of the tanker, hoping to cut the lines that impede the War Rig’s escape, but for every line cut, another one replaces it. As Max struggles against the plow cars, a large tow truck, brimming with harpoons, attacks the Rig, tearing away a large portion of the roof and killing another one of the Vuvalini. Max is able to cut the last harpoon chain as the polecats arrive. Special Guests: Rob, Joe, and Duff from A Free Podcast

Knocked to the ground, The Valkyrie grabs a rifle and begins firing at the approaching Gigahorse. It’s no use, and though she and the other Vuvalini avoid being run over, they’re quickly blind-sided by the People Eater’s Limo. At the back of the Tanker, the plow cars fire their harpoons, hoping to stop the War Rig’s escape. Special Guests: Rob, Joe, and Duff from A Free Podcast

The Valkyrie appears, riding on the back of a motorcycle, and kills the War Boy driving the Razor Cola, sending it spinning out into the dust. The War Rig begins to protest being pushed and Furiosa has to slow down. Max returns to the cab and sends Nux into the engine compartment to do repairs as he takes one of the Vuvalini to begin detaching the fifth wheel.

Despite the massive engines in the War Rig, it struggles to stay ahead of the Razor Cola. Nux sees Slit blowing fuel directly into the engine and decides to do the same, but despite the extra kick, the War Boys still manage to spike the tires on the War Rig. Nux swallows some fuel and begins to cough, but Max is quick to relieve him on the hood.

Tensions run high in the War Rig as all around it flares pop from behind sand dunes signaling the scattered war party to regroup and begin the chase once more. Despite the anxiety felt by the wives, The Vuvalini are primed for action. The War Rig quickly encounters its first adversary, Max’s own retrofitted interceptor, carry a vengeful Slit on the hood.

Immortan Joe sits quietly contemplating when suddenly a polecat spots the War Rig speeding across the wasteland. Rictus and the People Eater wonder what Furiosa is doing, but Joe quickly realizes that she’s heading back to the Citadel because it’s undefended. Joe calls his War Boys and the pursuit begins again. Special Guests: Norman Mitchell and Cassandra Fredrickson from The Lord of the Rings Minute

Capable suggests that they use Nux as a cover to get them into the Citadel, and he agrees, saying that it feels like hope. The Keeper of the Seeds points out that this could be there chance to start anew. Max admits that the going will be hard, but the rewards will be worth it. He holds out his hand, Furiosa considers the plan one last time, then takes it. Special Guests: Norman Mitchell and Cassandra Fredrickson from The Lord of the Rings Minute

Toast and The Dag tell the Vuvalini all about the Citadel, Immortan Joe, and His iron grip on the region. The Valkyrie is hesitant to go with Max’s plan citing the time it will take to go around the mountains, but Max suggests a more direct approach. They will cut straight through the middle of the war parties and seal the canyon behind them. Special Guests: Norman Mitchell and Cassandra Fredrickson from The Lord of the Rings Minute

Max gets on his motorcycle and rides after Furiosa, quickly catching up to her. Once stopped, Max presents Furiosa with the map he’s drawn and explains that they shouldn’t be running away. Instead, they should return to the one place with a reliable source of clean water and fertile soil. Furiosa and The Wives quickly realize that he means the Citadel. Special Guests: Sean German & Dave Pallas from Groundhog Minute

Max refuses Furiosa’s offer to join her and the others in their trek across the salt. The next morning, Max is standing on the edge of the plains of silence watching the others leave when he hears a voice. It’s the child, Glory, who appears and gives him a concerning premonition of the future. Max stares out into the distance where the ghostly shape of a child appears. Special Guests: Sean German & Dave Pallas from Groundhog Minute

Max is working on his hand-drawn map when Furiosa approaches and asks to speak with him privately. Max obliges her and Furiosa explains how she’s spoken with the others and they are planning on taking supplies from the War Rig and heading out across the plains of silence. Furiosa tells Max that one of the motorcycles is for him and he is welcome to come with them. Special Guests: Sean German & Dave Pallas from Groundhog Minute

The Dag looks at the rifle that The Keeper of the Seeds is maintaining and asks about her proficiency with the weapon. She confirms that She is quite deadly with it, which causes The Dag to scoff. The Keeper of the Seeds calls The Dag over and shows her the bag of seeds that She’s been maintaining and carrying from place to place in hopes of finding fertile ground.

As night falls, The Vuvalini make camp around the War Rig. Cheedo and Toast discuss old world technology with a few of The Vuvalini. Nux and Capable cuddle together on top of the tanker. The Keeper of the Seeds overhears The Dag talking to her unborn baby and offers her a glimmer of hope for the unborn child, pointing out that it may be a girl.

The Vuvalini tell Furiosa of how The Green Place became spoiled and died giving way to useless mud and crows. Their words fade away to noise as Furiosa trudges out onto the dunes, discarding her mechanical arm, to fall to her knees and cry out in despair in the face of all her shattered dreams. Max watches from the War Rig

Though some in the Vuvalini are cautious about Furiosa’s traveling companions, the two groups quickly merge as introductions are made. This pleases Furiosa and she expresses her eagerness to reach The Green Place so The Wives can see it. Her happiness is quickly dashed as the Vuvalini tell Furiosa that The Green Place is no more. Special Guests: Liz Whitaker & Alyson Grimm from Mean Girls Minute

The Vuvalini gather around Furiosa as The Valkyrie arrives after descending from the tower. The two embrace as they recognize each other after being separated for many years. The other Vuvalini begin to question Furiosa, wanting to learn more about her time away from them. Seeing that there is no danger, The Wives leave the War Rig. Special Guests: Liz Whitaker & Alyson Grimm from Mean Girls Minute

Furiosa holds out her hands to show she is unarmed and announces to any unseen eyes that she is one of the Vuvalini, of Clan Swaddle Dog. At this proclamation, the woman on the tower signals the others and women on motorcycles appear from every direction. Max, Nux and the wives sit in the War Rig as the motorcycles surround Furiosa. Special Guests: Liz Whitaker & Alyson Grimm from Mean Girls Minute

Furiosa scans the horizon, looking for landmarks when Toast notices a tower in the distance with mirrors hanging from it to catch the light. Furiosa decides they should approach the tower, but as they get closer to it, Max expresses his distrust of the situation. Furiosa tells everyone to stay in the Rig and departs to talk with a woman seemingly trapped on the tower. Special Guests: Gary Roby and Victoria Cope from Harry Potter Minute