Apocalypse wow

“The Road Warrior” (1981)

The model of post-apocalyptic sci-fi to which all others aspire, director George Miller’s sequel to “Mad Max” finds Mel Gibson’s stoic, leather-clad wanderer roaming an Australia scorched by nuclear war. He reluctantly serves as protector to a group of survivors guarding precious fuel from a savage biker gang.

That turns out to be a good thing for car-chase aficionados. The climactic pursuit, involving hulking, scrap-metal vehicles, is staged with inventive flair.