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Though I might be paraphrasing a saying -- or perhaps even mashing a few together when I say this -- it's often been said that "While failure is an orphan, success breeds imitators."
That's never been truer than it is in the world of film, and the 1979 SciFi sleeper hit from the great 'land down under' (Australia) Mad Max -- along with its sequel The Road Warrior (1981) -- certainly can be credited with the birth of the modern post-Apocalypse thriller. The bombed-out desolation people by what remains of an uncivil society became reasonably commonplace at the cinemas and video stores of the 1980's -- largely thanks for Max and his adventures -- and film fanatics were treated to one road race after another over the next decade. Granted, there was a whole lot of trash -- both literally and figuratively on the screen -- left in mankind's wake, but those of us who appreciate the downside of humanity found equally as much treasure in the experiences.
Billed as a joint Spanish/Italian production, The Exterminators Of The Year 3000 roared onto movie screens on this day back in 1983 (in its native Italy). The feature's overall look clearly let audiences know right away that, indeed, it was inspired by the Aussie original. Written by the team of Elisa Briganti, Dardano Sacchetti, and José Truchado, the cinema spectacle was directed by Giuliano Carnimeo. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the year 3000, the Earth has been rendered a desert by nuclear war. A group of survivors goes in search of rare and valuable water, but standing in their way are the evil Exterminators, who live only to cause pain and misery."
That's never been truer than it is in the world of film, and the 1979 SciFi sleeper hit from the great 'land down under' (Australia) Mad Max -- along with its sequel The Road Warrior (1981) -- certainly can be credited with the birth of the modern post-Apocalypse thriller. The bombed-out desolation people by what remains of an uncivil society became reasonably commonplace at the cinemas and video stores of the 1980's -- largely thanks for Max and his adventures -- and film fanatics were treated to one road race after another over the next decade. Granted, there was a whole lot of trash -- both literally and figuratively on the screen -- left in mankind's wake, but those of us who appreciate the downside of humanity found equally as much treasure in the experiences.
Billed as a joint Spanish/Italian production, The Exterminators Of The Year 3000 roared onto movie screens on this day back in 1983 (in its native Italy). The feature's overall look clearly let audiences know right away that, indeed, it was inspired by the Aussie original. Written by the team of Elisa Briganti, Dardano Sacchetti, and José Truchado, the cinema spectacle was directed by Giuliano Carnimeo. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the year 3000, the Earth has been rendered a desert by nuclear war. A group of survivors goes in search of rare and valuable water, but standing in their way are the evil Exterminators, who live only to cause pain and misery."
Though I've not seen this one -- and I've really stumbled upon no really flattering review in my reading and research -- Exterminators is almost universally panned by those who did partake of its pleasures as being entirely derivative of the Mad Max universe (of its day) with the narrative exceptioni being that instead of pursuing gasoline everyone is after water. (Perhaps fuel isn't in as short supply as the Aussies would have us think?) Whatever the case may be, the film might best be christened as a huge case of 'buyer beware' ... which honestly could be ascribed to damn near any B-Movie of the area ... no matter its country of origin.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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