BATTLETRUCK (WARLORDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY)

US, 1982, 91 minutes, Colour.
Michael Beck, Annie Mc Enroe, James Wainwright, Bruno Lawrence.
Directed by Harley Cokliss.

Battle Truck is one of the many futuristic adventures that came immediately after the worldwide success of Mad Max 2. This film was made in New Zealand, taking advantage of the rather different beautiful locations from those expected from American film-making. Michael Beck (Xanadu) in the warrior hero, confronting 21st century pirates and their specially armoured truck during the oil shortage crises.

The material is familiar, the style of the whole film is derivative of the Mad Max films - but it is sufficiently action-filled and fast paced to satisfy those who enjoy this kind of film.

1. Entertaining action film? The overtones of futuristic science fiction and politics?

2. The qualities of the New Zealand1U.S. production? The use of the New Zealand locations? The futuristic communities? The importance of the editing, the special effects? The score?

3. The appeal of futuristic films: the prologue and the explanation of the oil crises, international wars, devastation, pockets of survival? The presentation of the groups, the return to a feudal system and self-support, farm , government by collaboration? The military survival and power? The clash of integrity with military might? The loners and the saviour-figures? A satisfying blend of these common ingredients?

4. The focus on the military commander: background of the Vietnam war and its language, napalm, weapons, trucks etc.? The imposing giant battletruck? The Commander himself and his obsessions (straight out of Robert Duvall’s Kilgore of Apocalypse Now)? The mad henchmen? Driving through the desolate landscape? The chasing of the farmers and killing them? The finding of the oil supply? The Commander wanting his daughter to kill the farmer? The chase of the daughter? The attack on the village and the siege? The attack on Hunter? The control, the ruthlessness? The Commander and his relationship with his daughter - more than fatherly love? His not wanting her to be harmed? His pursuit of Hunter? His confrontation with the traitor? The final confrontation and his death? The parody of the harsh military type? The consequences of despotic militaristic cruelty?

5. The sketch of the mad henchmen? Their cruelty? Deaths?

6. The Commander's daughter: wanting her to kill, her escape, the encounter with Hunter, her being welcomed by the group but not telling them the truth, her finding a place, the attack and her escape and warning Hunter, the night with him and the relationship? The return and the group accepting her? Knowing her identity? The traitor and his charm and kidnapping her? Her being gained by her father and her hatred of him? Her options?

7. Hunter as the laconic hero, the loner on his bike, the saviour-figure on the bike against the battletruck? His equality of military skills? The saving of the girl, taking her home, taking her to the village? Her appealing to his help, his love for her, the night together, the future? His skills and the escape? The chase and his being wounded? The building of the new car to confront the battle truck? The final attack and his winning?

8. The details of the village: isolated, farming, mutual help? Men, women and children? The woman helping the daughter? The man building the car? The traitor? Knowing the traitor and his collaboration, kidnapping the girl, the car ride to the Commander, firing the arrow on Hunter, trying to persuade the Commander to take him, his death?

9. Predictions for the future in this kind of survival world?

10. Images of the new future - in the tradition of science fiction and comics? Effective of its kind?