Join me for the first of the Mad Max films: Mad Max. It's the heartwarming story of a gang of motorcycle roustabouts who run afoul of the law in a vast and desolate near future where fuel is scarce and no one questions your sexuality.

I compare the film to Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior as well as to other fast car pictures, westerns, horror movies, and Mel Gibson's life. I heap praise on nearly every aspect of it to the point that you would think I would call it "nearly perfect" but I don't. I'm not sure why, because the last of the V8s is banging on all cylinders at all times.