Review of Steel Frontier (1995) by Gabriel Arthur P — 03 Apr 2016

"In the tradition of Max Max"? More like Burning Man meets a redneck car-crash derby, all gone horribly wrong and borrowing heavily from the first national bank of "Water World". Suffice it to say, if this Christlike hero was eating radioactive rodent and breathing fallout on a regular basis he'd be crapping his intestines out while his face sloughs away, not riding all pretty around on a motorcycle.

But, I'm sure it'll scare and excite the living hell out of the American breadbasket and bible belt. At least there's none of the hints at coming race war I've come to expect from made-for-CMTV.

All that said, there are some pretty good car stunts and pyrotechnics. And the story actually is kind of what you might expect would be happening in the United States around the same time as the "Road Warrior" sequel, however that style could be cramped by the Star Trek-like technology.

The acting, dialogue and delivery aren't shabby at all with the best deliveries of the film scripted for the villain Ackett, played with star quality by Bo Svenson. Everyone down to the bit and background role puts in their own special touches, with Adolfo Quinones signing a cross with his thumb and kissing it in silence during someone else's lines.

A scene where the hero stares at a photo so degraded you can't see what's on it and proceeds to play "My Country Tis Of Thee" on harmonica is especially poignant. The fight choreography and stuntwork is well done.

Everything from effects, props and costumes, camera and lighting to editing and sound production are top of the curve B-grade. And the scenario of the old-west style shootouts and duels are incarnated in every possible context, so if you like that kind of thing you'll get your belly's full.

It could have stopped at the first ending an hour in but it kept pace for an hour and forty and the second ending is somewhat more satisfying within the standards of the "Mad Max"-like genre.

It's worthwhile viewing even if it feels like watching a pastor-approved version of "Mad Max" in a basement slash post-dispensationalist pentaholocaust prepper sanctuary as a special break from mandatory viewings of Chuck Norris sequelitis.

You can find this modern marvel in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart under the title "Road Fury Collection: 5 Movies". Four out of five stars.