stever@cit-vlsi (07/18/85)
From: stever@cit-vlsi (Steve Rabin ) I disagree with Peter Reiher's review of Beyond The Thunderdome. The original Mad Max film was a very strong, emotional, highly depressing narrative, and probably the best such film I have ever seen. Beyond The Thunderdome, on the other hand, is a satirical pastiche of the last 5 years of film. I recognized episodes almost from Dune, Escape From New York, Star Wars, ET, the earlier Mad Max films, Lawrence of Arabia, Of Mice and Men.... One scene I don't yet understand has a fast, almost ludicrous cut to a full moon at night. Did this mean anything to anyone? I am no cinemaphile, but I would imagine, that like Varley's Demon, his Millenium, or some of Glen Cook's stuff, Beyond the Thunderdome is a "stage scene". The plot is not intended to be believable, or to stand on its own, and to judge it on these grounds is to miss the point. Judge it for its dramatic and emotional effect, and for the new ideas and questions with which you leave the theatre. I guess what I am trying to say is that maybe there aren't many fast cars but I liked it a lot anyhow. -s