Mel Gibson in 1979’s “Mad Max.” (Photo credit: Metro Goldwyn Meyer)

By Rick Bentley
The Fresno Bee

LOS ANGELES — Mad Max has roared into theaters after a 30-year absence and the story picks up with Max (Tom Hardy) madder than ever. Dealing with the guilt over the people he hasn’t been able to save over the years, Max is forced into the role of reluctant hero again.

How he got to this place may be a mystery to those who haven’t seen the first three films. The following is a recap of the films in the “Mad Max” series.

“MAD MAX” (1979)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Directed by: George Miller
The plot: In the not-so-distant future, the Australian police prowl the countryside in modified cars. Max is one of the best, but his world is shaken when his close friend is attacked. Max leaves the police force and takes his wife and son on a vacation. That’s where they run into the gang that would forever make Max mad.
How mad is Max?: Three out of 10.
What you will remember the most: This is the only film in the series that takes place before the apocalyptic event that makes the world such a wasteland. Instead of savaging for food, gas and water, Max and his family spend quiet time at the beach, have an ice cream and even pick out a pooch in a moment that would make for a perfect Hallmark card.

“MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR” (1981)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Virginia Hey, Vernon Wells
Directed by: George Miller
The plot: Life has gone very bad in the post-apocalyptic world. Max splits his time between trying to find food, water, gas and ammo while battling marauding gangs. One such battle between Max and Wez ends with the former Australian police officer connecting with a group of people living at an oil refinery. Max makes a deal with the group to help them escape with their fuel as long as they give him all the gasoline he can carry. That leads to a long chase scene across the desert.
How mad is Max?: Six out of 10.
What you will remember the most: The supporting players are far more interesting, including The Gyro Captain, Wez and Warrior Woman. Max spends most of his time either getting beaten up or driving fast. The Gyro Captain offers some comedy with his flying machine, while Wez is a great villain and Warrior Woman could have easily been the champion of her own series.

“MAD MAX: BEYOND THUNDERDOME” (1985)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Tina Turner.
Directed by: George Miller, George Ogilvie
The plot: Fifteen years after his last battle, Max has his camel-drawn wagon stolen. His efforts to get it back leads him to Bartertown where he’s directed by the local leader, Aunty Entity, to get into an arena battle with her rival, Master Blaster. Max wins the fight but refuses to take the life of Blaster when he discovers he’s developmentally disabled. The action gets Max banished into the desert where he ends up with a group of children who are the survivors of a plane crash.
How mad is Max? Eight out 10.
What you will remember the most: The battle sequences in Thunderdome are entertaining because of the blending of gladiator rules with bungee cords, which gives the battles a different dimension. It’s also hard to forget the over-the-top acting by Turner as Aunty Entity. She should have just done the movie’s theme song: “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).”

“MAD MAX: FURY ROAD”
Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Directed by: George Miller
The plot: Max is forced into helping Imperator Furiosa, a driver who is smuggling out a group of young women who have been raised for the pleasure of Immortan Joe, the head of the water community. The attempt leads to a race across the desert and back with very few stops to talk about what is going on in the post-apocalyptic world.
How mad is Max?: 11 out of 10.
What you will remember the most: The stars of this film are the stunt men and cinematographer. Of the 120-minutes running time, only about three include dialogue. This film lives and dies with massive car crashes, flaming battles and stunt work that seems more appropriate for Cirque du Soleil than an action movie. It all plays out against a hauntingly dead backdrop film in magical style.