Thunderdome: More Than Just Tina Turner's Wig?

Okay, oliviacinema back at it again, wrestling with adaptations… or, in this case, the lack thereof, since Mad Max is its own beast. But I have a THOUGHT about Beyond Thunderdome that kinda stuck with me after my rewatch. Everyone focuses on the kitsch – and yeah, it's definitely the most stylized of the three, and Auntie Entity's shoulder pads deserve their own museum wing – but I think it's ACTUALLY the most thematically interesting (hear me out!). It's not just a post-apocalyptic action flick; it's got some serious Lord of the Flies vibes going on. That lost tribe of kids waiting for 'Captain Walker' is a direct mirror, I think. They've built a whole religion and culture around this figure of hope, and Max, reluctant as always, gets thrust into the role. The difference is that Max doesn't become Piggy or Ralph; he actually fulfills the prophecy, in a way. He uses his skills – the very things that make him a survivor in the wasteland – to save them. It's… strangely hopeful, for a Mad Max film. And that brings me back to Auntie Entity. She’s not just a villain; she's trying to rebuild something in Bartertown, even if it's built on lies and exploitation. The Thunderdome itself seems like a perverted version of civilized law. Two men enter, one man leaves...it's simple! Raw power! But the film subtly questions if such a brutal system can ever truly be sustainable. Is it worth sacrificing humanity for order? I honestly don't think the film gives an easy answer, which I respect. It's easier to just dismiss it as the 'kid's movie' of the series, but I think there's a lot more simmering underneath that mohawked surface. One quick last thought: is it me, or is the score the best in the series? Maurice Jarre knocks it out of the park! Anyway, just my two cents. Let me know what you all think – am I overthinking it, or is Beyond Thunderdome a surprisingly deep cut?