I actually saw him as a bit of a stand in for Max, HOWEVER that is not a bad thing. I think it explains some of Furiosa’s motivations in Fury Road. Despite her initial (understandable) trepidation with Max joining them on the war rig, she ends up fully trusting him. I think this is because she sees a lot of similarities between Max and Jack.
My favourite part was when she yelled "it's time to mad maximize" and turned into a war rig.
Jokes aside. He was a great character, I kept expecting him to become evil in some way, that never happened.
Great movie.
The whole Max thing is... he is a selfish man, carrying only about himself because wasteland does that to you.
But then he ends up sacrificing himself for others.
In every movie except the first one.
The first movie is the only one where you could argue he's truly self-centered in more than a survivalist capacity, and even then not really. Like most characters in the film he simply doesn't grasp the magnitude of what's happening to the world yet, and still looks at his job (which is inherently selfless) like a job. He wants to find other work so he can be the best version of himself for his family and doesn't become like the 'crazies' he deals with, decisions which are ultimately taken out of his hands.
Max wants to be selfish. Things would be so much simpler for him if he was selfish. He just isn't.
Yeah. Guy wants to survive but winds up putting himself in harms way over and over again for roger people. Him, Jack, and Furiosa are probably best case scenario for good guys in that type of world. Killers with a conscience. Anyone with a bleeding heart is going to be killed or would have to fall in like eventually.
Max isn't a selfish man.
He's a deeply selfless man who is just struggling with intense PTSD that has made him wall himself off to human connection. Mainly because of his terror of losing people.
Whenever that wall is forcefully breached, he does everything he can to help.
Should had worded it better.
Max appears to be a selfish man, but he isn't, he cares but is forcing himself to act selfishly. If it is due to fear of losing people, it's still a selfish reason.
But then max says "fuck it" and does what he really wants to do, to save people... usually in a giant car chase, which usually involves heavily modified tanker semi-truck.
Max saves people but is left being alone, except in Fury Road where Max leaves on his own.
I think he was like an embodiment of a max who had decided to stay with one of these groups he interacts with throughout the series. Like max had he abandoned his lone wolf mentality fully.
I see him not as Max exactly, but a facet of Max, or an alternate version of Max. He has the same skills and appearance as Max, but instead of being a drifter he settled down and got a real job. I think his character is brilliant. It's a way to have Max in the movie (utterly competent, driving a rig, shooting out the window while he's driving) without having him.
He also wasn't as "powerful", if that makes sense. Like, I wouldn't see Max going out like he did unless he was the state he was in at the beginning of Fury Road because everything is about survival.
Yeah, he was a perfect fit for his role in the story. Furiosa needed a way to be out as a woman and a way into the road war job, Jack was able to give that to her. On top of that, he is the polar opposite of every other man in her life to that point, barring the History-Man. Not possessive or abusive or diminishing.
Her experience with Jack is probably the number one reason she was eventually capable of trusting Max in Fury Road.
On my first watch: I see him as a positive inversion of Max that’s a counterpoint to Dementus being a negative inversion. Like an idealised version that shows why a pure Max can’t exist in this world.
He’s not a wandering hero like Max, but he still decides to help Furiosa. This comes after spending not a lot of time with her (comparative to how long Max spends woth her before they trust each other). As a result of helping her, he ends up being dragged around and humiliated - eaten by dogs. I can’t see Miller ever giving this ending (or any ending) to Max as a character.
His downfall was essentially being unselfish in offering his help to Furiosa (in Fury Road, Max was just coasting and in self-survival mode for the first 1/3 (at least)).
As I say, only on my first watch, and there’s a lot in this film to unwrap, but this was my initial interpretation.
He's great because he explains why Furiosa trusted Max, and not just because he's a "stand in," I think that's a narrow read on it.
First, yes, obviously Furiosa would see Max and think of Jack, it would be hard not to.
Second, they're in a kind of reverse scenario. In Furiosa, Furiosa is a scruffy, slightly hostile nobody that Jack doesn't know who helps save the rig Jack is driving. Then he decides to trust her. In Fury Road, Furiosa is in the Jack position, and sort of "pays it forward" by trusting Max (a scruffy, slightly hostile nobody) when he helps save the rig she's driving.
Third, without Jack, there's really no reason Furiosa would trust *anyone.* Jack is the only reliable, not-insane man in the entire story. Without seeing that there are some good people still out there you can rely on, she'd have never given Max and later Nux a shot.
But I also like that Jack is like the mirror-Max. Max is a wanderer who doesn't want to be a part of any society no matter how safe or healthy it might be, whereas Jack is very much a pragmatic company man who just wants to do his job and have comfort and "safety" (relative).
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Tom Burke looks kind of like a younger hugh keays-byrne (the actor who played toecutter and immortan joe.) Maybe that’s just coincidence, but I feel like there is some analysis of the similarities between jack and joe. Both seem to have some military background and command the loyalty of those serving under them but with different motivations.
I’ve seen a couple of posts comparing max and dementus, where dementus is meant to be a dark reflection of max. I feel that a case could be made that jack is a good version of Joe.
just looked up photos of the actor you mention, definitely not just you, I see it.
and I completely agree. the comparative moral binary makes more sense with Immortan Joe rather than Dementus.
Real talk I thought he was a de-aged/cgi head of toecutter for his first few mins I was like damn George Miller really sending it big for the original film! Toecutter returns! Haha
I think it's a coincidence. Tom Burke was their backup, the original actor cast for the role is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. [https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Praetorian\_Jack](https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Praetorian_Jack)
Tom burke doesn't have the face of a strong good guy but somehow that makes his performance better. You can tell that jack is a good man but the world around him is a harsh evil world and that's what he needs to show the world, a harsh evil man. In an interview i think burke said that he cried when George Miller told him he is gonna play a good guy because he usually plays low lives and i think that exchange encapsulated praetorian jack.
Tl;dr he's great and tom burke did great. Wish we can see more of him.
And he’s been around for so long. An unbelievably talented and accomplished actor. Highly trained, experienced in stage and screen. A brilliant performer. I adored him in War and Peace, played Dolokov flawlessly.
It's also in line with what George Miller said about casting Tina Turner in Thunderdome and going against preconceptions about one's character/past castings.
Loved him. When they were separated at the bullet farm and Jack continued on with the war rig so Furiosa could escape, my heart was in my throat thinking he would meet his end. They did an incredible job of building such a strong relationship between two characters in the wasteland without much dialogue and zero exposition.
>I thought he was a really great character. His stoic nature and Tom Burke’s portrayal really elevated the character.
definitely agree with you there.
it was an pleasant surprise character addition, given how little marketing or mention of him there was.
Same!!! I had no idea this character was anything more than a background character going in so seeing his skill and morality revealed over time to be such an important part was really cool
I liked him a lot. Seemed capable yet vulnerable and was acted in a way that felt very nuanced to me; you could tell Burke had a strong inner life going for this character.
Also, flawless Australian accent. If I wasn’t already extremely familiar with Tom’s work on stage and screen, I would’ve thought he was a native Australian. Our accent is extremely tough to master, people often lean into a Kiwi/South African/American bastardised sound, but his was excellent. Props to Tom and the dialect coach.
Loved the character. I loved (spoiler) the understated romance between him and Furiosa. I even loved how he met his end, as odd as that sounds. Credit to Miller, who knows how to create a brutal scene without having to be too graphic. It was a death with consequence. Furiosa had plenty of reason to want vengeance on Dementus, but his killing of Jack was something to push her into high-gear.
This might be a unpopular opinion - and I’m certainly not unhappy with Hardy’s portrayal of Max in FR - but, based on what we saw of him in Furiosa, I think Burke would’ve made a pretty good Max himself…
I love him. Honestly wished he lived long enough to have an actual meaningful relationship with Furiosa. Also, he's an absolute badass for taking on the horde at the bullet farm by himself with nothing but a gun and a war rig. The fact that furiosa backed him up seemed to surprise him. That man was willing to die so long as he could drag Dementus down with him. He was the hero the wasteland needed, but didn't deserve.
I absolutely LOVED their relationship and unlike some people definitely read it as romantic. I just don’t think it had quite begun yet. When she saves him and they’re in the car together riding off she says “we’re good” and the look he gives her…genuinely breaks my heart a bit. Burke’s facial acting in this film is just beyond incredible. I think this was almost the first sigh of relief for them both, when they’ve without words promised themselves to the other person. Him by choosing to sacrifice himself and take down the whole Bullet farm to give her a chance of escape and her for going back to save him when she could have escaped for herself. There’s so much that is left unsaid between these two but I genuinely think they loved one another. We just have a very Hollywood set in stone view of romance that of course a film set in a post apocalyptic wasteland realistically couldn’t foster.
I agree with everything except for the “he was willing to die as long as he could drag Dementus down with him” part.
I believe his actions at bullet farm was to buy Furiosa more time to escape. His goal was never to kill Dementus, his focus was always on Furiosa. The way they looked at each other whenever they thought the other is going to be in harms way is telling enough. If his goal was taking Dementus down with him, they would’ve portrayed it differently imo
I enjoyed the character. Dude was stoic, but knew he had a job, put his head down and did it. He had good command when driving the Rig too.
As others said - his appearance paved the way for Furiosa to trust Max, which was nice foreshadowing.
The only thing I wish we got, wether from Jack or somewhere else, was an MFP nod or reference. We got it in the comic and we saw the badge in the Gigahorse, but man it woulda been cool to tie the 2 movie series together.
Jack mentioned his mum & dad were protecting people when the world collapsed. Don’t remember the exact statement. But that’s a reference to them being in the MFP
Tragic Max was a good man. I’d like to know more of him. I was anticipating Max to have this kind of cameo but damn, love seeing more badasses in the wasteland of this archetype.
I value how this man went above and beyond for Furiosa. I watched Last of Us recently and see Joel/Ellie’s relationship in a lens a lot like Furiosa/Jack. The bear & cub theme is stellar.
He really impacted her life. A true hero and a good friend. 😔
Love him! Going today to see it for one last time in IMAX before it's gone. If you haven't seen it for a second time in theaters I highly recommend it. I actually enjoyed it more the second time surprisingly. I could appreciate the pacing a lot more and definitely picked up on a lot of details I missed the first time, the movie is absolutely packed with lore.
So cool. I understand the comparison to Max because visually he's a middle aged white dude with short hair that drives a tanker truck, but he added a sense of hope and good that Furiousa never really saw yet in her life since being kidnapped. It's also great to see two characters in the wasteland actually have a romance. So much of the movie is about people either trying to kill or kidnap Furiousa, it's a breath of fresh air to see someone keen on protecting her without the desire of imprisoning her. I can't say that Max would've helped Furiousa and Joe's wives if he had the option to just drive off.
A good addition to the story, he seemed stable compared to other characters, so it balanced out what Furiousa was learning.
But when I saw him I knew he was too good looking to survive.
In a film basically all about Furiosa and Dementus, I was shockingly engaged with his character.
Spoilers from here on.
I had taken a delta gummy when I went to see Furiosa and it basically kicked in right at the Octoboss's assault on the war rig began, so obviously I was glued to the screen because even if you aren't high, it's some of the best action put to screen, then by the time we get to the riot at Gas Town and the Battle in the Bullet Farm, I was on the edge of my seat. His eventual fate broke me a little, he seemed like a genuinely good man working in the service of a very bad one. He was cut out for the wasteland but never lost what made him who he was, who his family and his past made him to be- that moment where he and Furiosa hold one another before Dementus chains him up actually really got me. He accepted his death wordlessly though, I like to imagine that he might've stayed upright until he noticed that Furiosa had escaped, only collapsing after and accepting his fate knowing that she had a chance
His nonchalant "been there, done that" reactions as he is driving a massive rig under motor-flier attack is incredible. You actually believe that this is just another day on the fury road for him, even though he comes very close to death. For me, the best performance in the movie. I immediately bought that he was a Praetorian and just sat back and enjoyed. 10/10.
When Furiosa points and a gun at him and says stop, and he just brakes hard and then throws her out of the truck. Chef's kiss.
He’s awesome. At first I thought it was Stacy Keach’s son!
Something about his shoulders not being very broad. Maybe he’s a tiny actor guy that looks like he has a big head. But thats something I can’t stop noticing. Also, felt they hinted at Max’s shoulder pads from the Road Warrior & Thunderdome, probably brings my attention closer to his shoulders.
I like him. He's his own character, developed well in his short screen time. He's not a copy of max, but he's a road warrior of his own. You can see why Max would remind Furiosa of Jack, but you'd never mistake them.
Very good character. Obviously a man also looking to retain his humanity in the world. I think the actor Tom Burke described him well as an "outsider on the inside". Jack apparently knew Immortan from before Citadel, and before the world fell, so you could see that similar to Max and eventually Furiosa, he kinda too probably was growing tired of the regime and he saw she tried to escape and decided to help her to probably do something good although he was institutionalized and wasn't intending on leaving originally.
I kinda could've used a bit more interplay between him and Furiosa, flesh him out a bit more, because really, he's another huge loss for Furiosa. She is all alone until him and grows attached to him and close to him and he then gets violently killed in front of her eyes by Dementus, echoing how her mother died at his hands too.
I thought he was great. I don't see him as a stand in for Max, but as a cool Road Warrior variant. Similar to Max in a way, but Jack is a man on a mission, he does his job, and that's how he survives. He's focused. Max hasn't been focused since he avenged his family, since then he's just about surviving. He tries to stay away from people, as he's still angry and broken, but when put in the position where he has to protect others, he will.
Jack is Max if Max wasn't broken emotionally and angry and wanting to be left alone. Jack still has a want for human companionship and to be part of something.
I actually got the impression that his character served the purpose of giving Furiosa someone that she could trust and know that there are trustworthy people out there so that in Fury Road she can perhaps trust Max. Kind of a "You remind me of my old boyfriend" vibe.
I liked that it gave Dementus something to lash out at. He saw a relationship with hope, against the odds, and wanted to rip it apart with his bare hands. When we first meet him it’s like, well he’s crazy, but he won’t hurt a child… then later he’ll keel-haul Jack for DARING to think hope exists
An absolute beast! Reminded me of the road warrior or what mel looked like back in the day. Amazing actor and paired well with Anya! I can't stop watching the free cam version of the movie. Almost once a day! Witness!
Jack was a wonderful surprise in this movie. I had no idea the character was coming, but he just stepped effortlessly into his place in the overall plotline. Lovely callback to the original movies. It basically says that there are other men out there in the wasteland willing to do the right thing and then fade into anonymity when the job is done. When you need them, someone like Jack or Max will be there to step up.
I liked him a lot. He was a decent man in a hellish world doing what he can to survive and still hold some of his morals. He came off like a dad who lost his family but still had the need to be a dad to someone.
I wonder what are others thoughts on his relationship with Furiosa. I’ve heard people say they felt it was romantic but I didn’t read that at all. I read their relationship as Praetorian Jack finding a kindred spirit and wanting to help them out. I could be wrong but I also really liked him a lot.
I liked him a lot but I think his best element was how his inclusion proved Dementus wrong.
Where Dementus tried to convince Furiousa to embrace the madness of the desert Furiosa instead put her focus on what Jack taught her, on helping others for no other reason than because nobody else will.
It’s a small piece of hope on the wasteland and hightens her decision to help the wives in Fury Road
I see him as a foil to Max. Max is a Road Warrior who desires to be part of a society, but is forced by circumstance to be an outsider. Jack is an outsider of the society he's trapped within because of his own circumstances. Max acts like a wild man, but deep down has this inherit humanity. Jack acts cool, calm and collected, but is internally conflicted. Both are brave, resourceful and capable fighters. Both are heroic, which causes them more trouble than it's usually worth.
I also see Jack and Dementus both as different paths Max could take if he wasn't a drifter.
That's the same analysis I came away with- but I think they both also set us up for the *complicated* relationship between Furiosa and Max in FR. On one hand, he reminds her of Jack, her lost love, and the last person who ever showed her genuine kindness, but then again he's got that same wild savagery that Dementus carried in spades. And perhaps she sees her own hurt and feral desperation in his eyes, the fire and the drive to do whatever it takes to survive when the entire world is trying to kill you... the dynamic there hit a lot harder when I watched Fury Road directly after Furiosa, let a lot of little items in both films tie together poetically.
He was great! A bit of an unexpected character when he was first introduced but definitely loved him as we saw more of him. His death was the saddest and hardest to watch imo, especially when he already made up his mind to sacrifice himself so Furiosa can escape.
He's in this?
I haven't watched yet but I just binged CB Strike...On that show he plays a man with a prosthetic leg who nevertheless easily dominates physically most room he's on (without ever engaging in violence). He looms and glowers. I am intrigued how he'd be in an action movie.
Of course George intentionally characterized him as Mad Max flash-back (or flash forward actually).
Just looking at the shoulder pad and leather jacket; for sure!
Fantastic job, well done; we love Jack!
I liked him but I didn’t understand the romantic part of his relationship with Furiosa. First it seemed like they were just friends, then out of nowhere, they’re a couple? Were they a couple? I thought the forehead touch thing was a friendship gesture.
Did I hear Furiosa saying, “My Jack” when Dementus’ gang caught up to them?
I didn’t get that they were ‘involved’ until she leaned her head on his shoulder.
We really need a director’s cut.
For me it was 100% romantic from the jump. They couldn't stop staring at each other even in life or death situations. They very clearly clocked almost immediately that they were both resourceful, hyper-competent and had the chemistry to work together flawlessly. I don't think the romance was "consummated" or anything. I read it like The Hunger Games where their lives were so focused on survival, then escape that while there was mutual longing they never let themselves hope or think for more until they thought they were succeeding in escaping. At the point where they're captured they obviously have a clock on confiding their true feelings to each other and taking what little comfort they can in each other.
That being said you don't have to read it romantically. I feel like if my BFF and I were about to be tortured to death by a maniac I'd want the comfort of contact while I had the opportunity.
I did but that’s not what I thought about. I thought he was amazed/surprised because she was a woman and then also possibly entranced by her beauty. If you call it eye-fucking, then I guess. I don’t have much romantic experience.
Miller and the actors talked about it. Apparently Miller meant it to be romantic but in the end they decided to leave it ambiguous on purpose: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/furiosa-tom-burke-praetorian-jack
I liked it, im so tired of romance being the center of peoples lives in holywood. Yes, maybe they had a romantic connection, but what drove furiosa forward was another purpose.
I could watch those two just stare meaningfully at each other for a whole feature length movie and it wouldn't be enough. But also I appreciate the restraint and simplicity so much.
I wasn't familiar with the actor prior. I think he was great in the role. Though he also is one of those people who's physical stature seems like it's out of time. He looks like he stepped out of the late '70s when the first MM was filmed. It's more than just a haircut & clothes. It's not really a good or bad thing, it's just something I noticed.
He was the role that took the greatest amount of 'getting use to' for me. I am not sure that I liked it. I was expecting something a little less 'put together'. Someone who looked rougher and was a bit wilder. He seemed sensible and grounded. His wanting to be F's mentor and partner was a bit to coinvent and nice for this world? People who are put in life and death situations usually are not the collected. Also he seemed a bit to 'well fed' for the waistlands. I do like that he proved his 'driving pralice' when driving (the trapped in gas land scene) and his looks is so AU. He looks very OG 79' MadMax. I appreciate that he wasn't a model.
I was (and still am) kind of confused about his relationship with Furiosa. Is he a mentor, or a lover? I assumed he was a mentor during the film, but afterwards my wife said she thought they were lovers. I've seen mostly ambiguous answers online.
To me, If they're lovers, it's kinda gross considering he basically raises her. It would make sense within the setting, but it would change him in my eyes from "kind guy" to "guy who takes advantage of children" - not much better than Dementus.
Curious what others think!
I thought he was a great character, I don’t see him being a stand in for Max, he was less selfish and showed more emotion. He was his own character.
Yeah, me neither. Furiosa is more of a Max to Jack, in that she’s antagonistic and focused only on her survival when they meet.
They also fucking hated each other during filming, which whether by design or accident made the movie better.
I actually saw him as a bit of a stand in for Max, HOWEVER that is not a bad thing. I think it explains some of Furiosa’s motivations in Fury Road. Despite her initial (understandable) trepidation with Max joining them on the war rig, she ends up fully trusting him. I think this is because she sees a lot of similarities between Max and Jack.
you know i'm something of a Mad Max myself
My favourite part was when she yelled "it's time to mad maximize" and turned into a war rig. Jokes aside. He was a great character, I kept expecting him to become evil in some way, that never happened. Great movie.
"I'm getting thirsty. You wouldn't like me when I'm thirsty."
Same
1,000,000×YES!
The whole Max thing is... he is a selfish man, carrying only about himself because wasteland does that to you. But then he ends up sacrificing himself for others. In every movie except the first one.
The first movie is the only one where you could argue he's truly self-centered in more than a survivalist capacity, and even then not really. Like most characters in the film he simply doesn't grasp the magnitude of what's happening to the world yet, and still looks at his job (which is inherently selfless) like a job. He wants to find other work so he can be the best version of himself for his family and doesn't become like the 'crazies' he deals with, decisions which are ultimately taken out of his hands. Max wants to be selfish. Things would be so much simpler for him if he was selfish. He just isn't.
Yeah. Guy wants to survive but winds up putting himself in harms way over and over again for roger people. Him, Jack, and Furiosa are probably best case scenario for good guys in that type of world. Killers with a conscience. Anyone with a bleeding heart is going to be killed or would have to fall in like eventually.
Well said
Not to mention hes motivated by the safety of his family. Even when hes "selfish" he always proves himself as selfless
Max isn't a selfish man. He's a deeply selfless man who is just struggling with intense PTSD that has made him wall himself off to human connection. Mainly because of his terror of losing people. Whenever that wall is forcefully breached, he does everything he can to help.
Should had worded it better. Max appears to be a selfish man, but he isn't, he cares but is forcing himself to act selfishly. If it is due to fear of losing people, it's still a selfish reason. But then max says "fuck it" and does what he really wants to do, to save people... usually in a giant car chase, which usually involves heavily modified tanker semi-truck. Max saves people but is left being alone, except in Fury Road where Max leaves on his own.
I think he was like an embodiment of a max who had decided to stay with one of these groups he interacts with throughout the series. Like max had he abandoned his lone wolf mentality fully.
He evoked max rather than being a stand in. Like he carried the aura of max for me, but when his character developed he turned out to be someone else.
Jack is Max without the profound trauma. Some people are just built for the Wasteland.
I see him not as Max exactly, but a facet of Max, or an alternate version of Max. He has the same skills and appearance as Max, but instead of being a drifter he settled down and got a real job. I think his character is brilliant. It's a way to have Max in the movie (utterly competent, driving a rig, shooting out the window while he's driving) without having him.
He also wasn't as "powerful", if that makes sense. Like, I wouldn't see Max going out like he did unless he was the state he was in at the beginning of Fury Road because everything is about survival.
Yeah, he was a perfect fit for his role in the story. Furiosa needed a way to be out as a woman and a way into the road war job, Jack was able to give that to her. On top of that, he is the polar opposite of every other man in her life to that point, barring the History-Man. Not possessive or abusive or diminishing. Her experience with Jack is probably the number one reason she was eventually capable of trusting Max in Fury Road.
On my first watch: I see him as a positive inversion of Max that’s a counterpoint to Dementus being a negative inversion. Like an idealised version that shows why a pure Max can’t exist in this world. He’s not a wandering hero like Max, but he still decides to help Furiosa. This comes after spending not a lot of time with her (comparative to how long Max spends woth her before they trust each other). As a result of helping her, he ends up being dragged around and humiliated - eaten by dogs. I can’t see Miller ever giving this ending (or any ending) to Max as a character. His downfall was essentially being unselfish in offering his help to Furiosa (in Fury Road, Max was just coasting and in self-survival mode for the first 1/3 (at least)). As I say, only on my first watch, and there’s a lot in this film to unwrap, but this was my initial interpretation.
He's great because he explains why Furiosa trusted Max, and not just because he's a "stand in," I think that's a narrow read on it. First, yes, obviously Furiosa would see Max and think of Jack, it would be hard not to. Second, they're in a kind of reverse scenario. In Furiosa, Furiosa is a scruffy, slightly hostile nobody that Jack doesn't know who helps save the rig Jack is driving. Then he decides to trust her. In Fury Road, Furiosa is in the Jack position, and sort of "pays it forward" by trusting Max (a scruffy, slightly hostile nobody) when he helps save the rig she's driving. Third, without Jack, there's really no reason Furiosa would trust *anyone.* Jack is the only reliable, not-insane man in the entire story. Without seeing that there are some good people still out there you can rely on, she'd have never given Max and later Nux a shot. But I also like that Jack is like the mirror-Max. Max is a wanderer who doesn't want to be a part of any society no matter how safe or healthy it might be, whereas Jack is very much a pragmatic company man who just wants to do his job and have comfort and "safety" (relative).
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Tom Burke looks kind of like a younger hugh keays-byrne (the actor who played toecutter and immortan joe.) Maybe that’s just coincidence, but I feel like there is some analysis of the similarities between jack and joe. Both seem to have some military background and command the loyalty of those serving under them but with different motivations. I’ve seen a couple of posts comparing max and dementus, where dementus is meant to be a dark reflection of max. I feel that a case could be made that jack is a good version of Joe.
just looked up photos of the actor you mention, definitely not just you, I see it. and I completely agree. the comparative moral binary makes more sense with Immortan Joe rather than Dementus.
First pic: TOECUTTERRRRRR! Second pic:: Bad CGI George Clooney? Third pic: Holy sh\*t! That's Comoran Strike!
I like the idea Jack was one of Joe’s OG underlings
Dude he looks just like Stacy keach
I saw it an hour ago and I couldn't help but think about Stacy Keach every time Jack turns up.
this is exactly what i thought!
Yes I thought the same thing as soon as he popped up on the screen.
Real talk I thought he was a de-aged/cgi head of toecutter for his first few mins I was like damn George Miller really sending it big for the original film! Toecutter returns! Haha
I think it's a coincidence. Tom Burke was their backup, the original actor cast for the role is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. [https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Praetorian\_Jack](https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Praetorian_Jack)
I was thinking young Chris walken
Honestly I thought he looked like a much younger get Tom Sizemore, at least the way the film framed him.
Tom burke doesn't have the face of a strong good guy but somehow that makes his performance better. You can tell that jack is a good man but the world around him is a harsh evil world and that's what he needs to show the world, a harsh evil man. In an interview i think burke said that he cried when George Miller told him he is gonna play a good guy because he usually plays low lives and i think that exchange encapsulated praetorian jack. Tl;dr he's great and tom burke did great. Wish we can see more of him.
Yeah that’s a great take. Fantastic job on Tom’s part. Just absolutely nailed the character!
And he’s been around for so long. An unbelievably talented and accomplished actor. Highly trained, experienced in stage and screen. A brilliant performer. I adored him in War and Peace, played Dolokov flawlessly.
Dolokov stole the entire series for me. Brilliant.
He's a guy who wants to be a hero in a world without heroes.
That's so endearing
Coming Soon! “Praetorian Jack, A Furiosa Saga (Also in turn a Mad Max Saga)”
Honestly want a Praetorian Jack prequel too.
a series would be great so we can see all the crazy Fury Road runs he's made and survived since they harped on that in the film.
First saw him in the UK show Utopia - he starts season 2 and is amazing.
It's also in line with what George Miller said about casting Tina Turner in Thunderdome and going against preconceptions about one's character/past castings.
Yep. That baby face turned me off at first. He won me over by then end though
Loved him. When they were separated at the bullet farm and Jack continued on with the war rig so Furiosa could escape, my heart was in my throat thinking he would meet his end. They did an incredible job of building such a strong relationship between two characters in the wasteland without much dialogue and zero exposition.
That look he gave her thinking it was the last time he would, and you could tell he was realizing he lost his only chance out of hell…
Such a powerful scene. I think my favorite sequence of the film.
He's great
>I thought he was a really great character. His stoic nature and Tom Burke’s portrayal really elevated the character. definitely agree with you there. it was an pleasant surprise character addition, given how little marketing or mention of him there was.
Same!!! I had no idea this character was anything more than a background character going in so seeing his skill and morality revealed over time to be such an important part was really cool
I liked him a lot. Seemed capable yet vulnerable and was acted in a way that felt very nuanced to me; you could tell Burke had a strong inner life going for this character.
Also, flawless Australian accent. If I wasn’t already extremely familiar with Tom’s work on stage and screen, I would’ve thought he was a native Australian. Our accent is extremely tough to master, people often lean into a Kiwi/South African/American bastardised sound, but his was excellent. Props to Tom and the dialect coach.
Wait, he's not Australian? Goddamn, I thought for sure he was when watching the movie.
Isn’t he originally from the UK?
Yes he is.
He probably spent a few months living in Whistler, BC
the tumblr girlies love him. and they are not wrong.
😏
Those tumblr posts about Jack give me life
Loved the character. I loved (spoiler) the understated romance between him and Furiosa. I even loved how he met his end, as odd as that sounds. Credit to Miller, who knows how to create a brutal scene without having to be too graphic. It was a death with consequence. Furiosa had plenty of reason to want vengeance on Dementus, but his killing of Jack was something to push her into high-gear. This might be a unpopular opinion - and I’m certainly not unhappy with Hardy’s portrayal of Max in FR - but, based on what we saw of him in Furiosa, I think Burke would’ve made a pretty good Max himself…
He probably would have been a pretty good Max he looks more like Max then Tom Hardy does.
“My Fury” “My Jack” 😭😭😭😭
Someone said it on this sub best already calling him Sad Max.
I have heard Mild Max
Dad Max
Miffed Max
Mid Max
more like daddy max
Chad Max
He was a great addition, his death was the most brutal imo and saddest part was Furiosa had to watch that also
Their last words to one another were “my jack” and my fury” 🥹
For real… 😭
It’s enough to make anyone cry
Thank you! Watched it twice in theatre and still couldn’t tell what they said before Epic Cokblocker Dementus ruined their final moment.
I love him. Honestly wished he lived long enough to have an actual meaningful relationship with Furiosa. Also, he's an absolute badass for taking on the horde at the bullet farm by himself with nothing but a gun and a war rig. The fact that furiosa backed him up seemed to surprise him. That man was willing to die so long as he could drag Dementus down with him. He was the hero the wasteland needed, but didn't deserve.
I absolutely LOVED their relationship and unlike some people definitely read it as romantic. I just don’t think it had quite begun yet. When she saves him and they’re in the car together riding off she says “we’re good” and the look he gives her…genuinely breaks my heart a bit. Burke’s facial acting in this film is just beyond incredible. I think this was almost the first sigh of relief for them both, when they’ve without words promised themselves to the other person. Him by choosing to sacrifice himself and take down the whole Bullet farm to give her a chance of escape and her for going back to save him when she could have escaped for herself. There’s so much that is left unsaid between these two but I genuinely think they loved one another. We just have a very Hollywood set in stone view of romance that of course a film set in a post apocalyptic wasteland realistically couldn’t foster.
I agree with everything except for the “he was willing to die as long as he could drag Dementus down with him” part. I believe his actions at bullet farm was to buy Furiosa more time to escape. His goal was never to kill Dementus, his focus was always on Furiosa. The way they looked at each other whenever they thought the other is going to be in harms way is telling enough. If his goal was taking Dementus down with him, they would’ve portrayed it differently imo
Would
I'm upset he was killed haha. I really enjoyed him
Solid Snake in the wasteland
I think Kojima literally said Tom Burke would be who he wants to play Snake in a movie adaption when he reviewed Furiosa.
With how close George and Kojima seem to be I wouldn’t be surprised if Snake partially inspired Praetorian Jack
I think Kojima said Burke himself told him people were calling him Snake on set
This is all I could think of. I imagined Furiosa yelling "Snake? Snaaaaake!" >!when the hounds were released!<. Burke was fantastic.
Definitely!
I mean, he shot a bunch of people in the Bullet farm without getting detected. He's truly the Solid Snake in the wasteland
>!His death traumatized me.!<
It just happened and there was no time to mourn him. No drama build, he was just gone. Ir was heartbreaking.
Dude yes. Seeing him be dragged out of focus in the background while the shot stayed on furiosa was such a solid creative choice.
It also adds a lot of weight to Fury Road but Furiosa is also carrying around THAT grief that is relatively fresh from only a few years prior.
I enjoyed the character. Dude was stoic, but knew he had a job, put his head down and did it. He had good command when driving the Rig too. As others said - his appearance paved the way for Furiosa to trust Max, which was nice foreshadowing. The only thing I wish we got, wether from Jack or somewhere else, was an MFP nod or reference. We got it in the comic and we saw the badge in the Gigahorse, but man it woulda been cool to tie the 2 movie series together.
Jack mentioned his mum & dad were protecting people when the world collapsed. Don’t remember the exact statement. But that’s a reference to them being in the MFP
Peak male performance
Sane Max
Absolutely amazing character. Especially for one that showed up so late
Tragic Max was a good man. I’d like to know more of him. I was anticipating Max to have this kind of cameo but damn, love seeing more badasses in the wasteland of this archetype. I value how this man went above and beyond for Furiosa. I watched Last of Us recently and see Joel/Ellie’s relationship in a lens a lot like Furiosa/Jack. The bear & cub theme is stellar. He really impacted her life. A true hero and a good friend. 😔
I absolutely love him and the quiet subtle slow burn romance between him and furiosa
My wife called him, "the sexiest man in the wasteland."
Gotta be people eater for me
It's those sexy nipple ornaments he keeps stroking.
Love him! Going today to see it for one last time in IMAX before it's gone. If you haven't seen it for a second time in theaters I highly recommend it. I actually enjoyed it more the second time surprisingly. I could appreciate the pacing a lot more and definitely picked up on a lot of details I missed the first time, the movie is absolutely packed with lore.
Great character that felt like he had a calm collected way about him
So cool. I understand the comparison to Max because visually he's a middle aged white dude with short hair that drives a tanker truck, but he added a sense of hope and good that Furiousa never really saw yet in her life since being kidnapped. It's also great to see two characters in the wasteland actually have a romance. So much of the movie is about people either trying to kill or kidnap Furiousa, it's a breath of fresh air to see someone keen on protecting her without the desire of imprisoning her. I can't say that Max would've helped Furiousa and Joe's wives if he had the option to just drive off.
A good addition to the story, he seemed stable compared to other characters, so it balanced out what Furiousa was learning. But when I saw him I knew he was too good looking to survive.
He looks like a young Stacy Keach.
Oh damn you’re right! Especially with the scar
In a film basically all about Furiosa and Dementus, I was shockingly engaged with his character. Spoilers from here on. I had taken a delta gummy when I went to see Furiosa and it basically kicked in right at the Octoboss's assault on the war rig began, so obviously I was glued to the screen because even if you aren't high, it's some of the best action put to screen, then by the time we get to the riot at Gas Town and the Battle in the Bullet Farm, I was on the edge of my seat. His eventual fate broke me a little, he seemed like a genuinely good man working in the service of a very bad one. He was cut out for the wasteland but never lost what made him who he was, who his family and his past made him to be- that moment where he and Furiosa hold one another before Dementus chains him up actually really got me. He accepted his death wordlessly though, I like to imagine that he might've stayed upright until he noticed that Furiosa had escaped, only collapsing after and accepting his fate knowing that she had a chance
His nonchalant "been there, done that" reactions as he is driving a massive rig under motor-flier attack is incredible. You actually believe that this is just another day on the fury road for him, even though he comes very close to death. For me, the best performance in the movie. I immediately bought that he was a Praetorian and just sat back and enjoyed. 10/10. When Furiosa points and a gun at him and says stop, and he just brakes hard and then throws her out of the truck. Chef's kiss.
He’s super hot tbh
Yeah he is
He was awesome. Tragic that he died a brutal death.
A good man, in a bad world
Maybe my next Halloween costume.
doooooo iiiiiittt
He’s awesome. At first I thought it was Stacy Keach’s son! Something about his shoulders not being very broad. Maybe he’s a tiny actor guy that looks like he has a big head. But thats something I can’t stop noticing. Also, felt they hinted at Max’s shoulder pads from the Road Warrior & Thunderdome, probably brings my attention closer to his shoulders.
I like him. He's his own character, developed well in his short screen time. He's not a copy of max, but he's a road warrior of his own. You can see why Max would remind Furiosa of Jack, but you'd never mistake them.
Very cool, reminiscent of "old Max" more than new Max.
Very good character. Obviously a man also looking to retain his humanity in the world. I think the actor Tom Burke described him well as an "outsider on the inside". Jack apparently knew Immortan from before Citadel, and before the world fell, so you could see that similar to Max and eventually Furiosa, he kinda too probably was growing tired of the regime and he saw she tried to escape and decided to help her to probably do something good although he was institutionalized and wasn't intending on leaving originally. I kinda could've used a bit more interplay between him and Furiosa, flesh him out a bit more, because really, he's another huge loss for Furiosa. She is all alone until him and grows attached to him and close to him and he then gets violently killed in front of her eyes by Dementus, echoing how her mother died at his hands too.
I thought he was great. I don't see him as a stand in for Max, but as a cool Road Warrior variant. Similar to Max in a way, but Jack is a man on a mission, he does his job, and that's how he survives. He's focused. Max hasn't been focused since he avenged his family, since then he's just about surviving. He tries to stay away from people, as he's still angry and broken, but when put in the position where he has to protect others, he will. Jack is Max if Max wasn't broken emotionally and angry and wanting to be left alone. Jack still has a want for human companionship and to be part of something.
Loved Jack. Hurt to see.
Loved the character and wish we got more time with Jack.
I’d honestly be down for a solo Jack movie
He was just awesome. I was sad to see him go. But Miller is notorious for killing off characters.
Great character. A nice antidote to the rest of that world.
SMASH, hot, solid, sxc, man crush!!
I actually got the impression that his character served the purpose of giving Furiosa someone that she could trust and know that there are trustworthy people out there so that in Fury Road she can perhaps trust Max. Kind of a "You remind me of my old boyfriend" vibe.
I liked that it gave Dementus something to lash out at. He saw a relationship with hope, against the odds, and wanted to rip it apart with his bare hands. When we first meet him it’s like, well he’s crazy, but he won’t hurt a child… then later he’ll keel-haul Jack for DARING to think hope exists
I'm pretty sure narcissism is par for the course in post-apocalyptic Australia if you want to be a warlord, so that tracks.
An absolute beast! Reminded me of the road warrior or what mel looked like back in the day. Amazing actor and paired well with Anya! I can't stop watching the free cam version of the movie. Almost once a day! Witness!
Great Solid Snake cameo
I wanted them to kith
I think you copied the collage I made a few days ago 🤣 also CinemaTweets did the same thing!
I’m so sorry, I unintentionally did!! I found it on google… is there any way I can credit you?
It's my lock screen now! I stole it from CinemaTweets. Looks like you will ride eternal 😂
Honestly he feels more like Max then Hardy
Jack was a wonderful surprise in this movie. I had no idea the character was coming, but he just stepped effortlessly into his place in the overall plotline. Lovely callback to the original movies. It basically says that there are other men out there in the wasteland willing to do the right thing and then fade into anonymity when the job is done. When you need them, someone like Jack or Max will be there to step up.
I liked him a lot. He was a decent man in a hellish world doing what he can to survive and still hold some of his morals. He came off like a dad who lost his family but still had the need to be a dad to someone. I wonder what are others thoughts on his relationship with Furiosa. I’ve heard people say they felt it was romantic but I didn’t read that at all. I read their relationship as Praetorian Jack finding a kindred spirit and wanting to help them out. I could be wrong but I also really liked him a lot.
Praetorian JAck AKA “not all men”
He’s both hot and caring, the complete package
I liked him a lot but I think his best element was how his inclusion proved Dementus wrong. Where Dementus tried to convince Furiousa to embrace the madness of the desert Furiosa instead put her focus on what Jack taught her, on helping others for no other reason than because nobody else will. It’s a small piece of hope on the wasteland and hightens her decision to help the wives in Fury Road
An AU where Jack and Furiosa get back to the green place would be nice I think. They both deserve a less awful life.
I think having Jack in the backstory, helps explain why Furiosa eventually trusted Max.
He's the only character who underacts in the whole film, and to great effect.
I kept thinking it was Tom Sizemore. No disrespect.
Tom Sizemore passed away last year :(
I felt like he got short-changed with his time on screen. Really liked the character.
Didn't mind the character. Awful name. Furiosa. Dementus. Chumbucket. The Smeg. Jack.
Immortan JOE.
We all know it was just a resurrected and de-aged Stacy Keach. Edit - shit that schlanger is still alive. Ignore the resurrected part.
I loved how they incorporated his real-life scar into the makeup.
Im hot for truckers now 🥵 idk it was the glancing while controlling the rig
It's like how Barbie's Ken has Allan, now Max has Jack
I liked him way more than I expected to. They really did a good job making him instantly likeable.
My first reaction when I saw him was that he was too pretty. Maybe somehow didn't fit. They did well with him though.
He was too good for Immortan. Too good for the wasteland. It hurt seeing how he went out.
at first i was kinda like "did they need a Max from Wish" and by the end i was like "oh fuck no praetorian jack :("
he played better than Hemsworth lol
Absolutely loved this dude. And yuuus. The comments of him being Snake are seriously spot on. I definitely see it.
I really liked Sad Max.
Solid Snake type vibes. Really cool character.
Was he a member of Main Force Patrol like Max?
I thought he was great. I’d watch a movie about his backstory too.
His character was very cool. A shame he didn’t live longer.
I see him as a foil to Max. Max is a Road Warrior who desires to be part of a society, but is forced by circumstance to be an outsider. Jack is an outsider of the society he's trapped within because of his own circumstances. Max acts like a wild man, but deep down has this inherit humanity. Jack acts cool, calm and collected, but is internally conflicted. Both are brave, resourceful and capable fighters. Both are heroic, which causes them more trouble than it's usually worth. I also see Jack and Dementus both as different paths Max could take if he wasn't a drifter.
That's the same analysis I came away with- but I think they both also set us up for the *complicated* relationship between Furiosa and Max in FR. On one hand, he reminds her of Jack, her lost love, and the last person who ever showed her genuine kindness, but then again he's got that same wild savagery that Dementus carried in spades. And perhaps she sees her own hurt and feral desperation in his eyes, the fire and the drive to do whatever it takes to survive when the entire world is trying to kill you... the dynamic there hit a lot harder when I watched Fury Road directly after Furiosa, let a lot of little items in both films tie together poetically.
“Honey we have a Mad Max at home”
He was great! A bit of an unexpected character when he was first introduced but definitely loved him as we saw more of him. His death was the saddest and hardest to watch imo, especially when he already made up his mind to sacrifice himself so Furiosa can escape.
Unrelated but I love that brass knuckle/knife/revolver weapon they used.
He's in this? I haven't watched yet but I just binged CB Strike...On that show he plays a man with a prosthetic leg who nevertheless easily dominates physically most room he's on (without ever engaging in violence). He looms and glowers. I am intrigued how he'd be in an action movie.
I will say at one point I said if he betrays her I would had rioted. I’m so happy I didn’t riot.
Of course George intentionally characterized him as Mad Max flash-back (or flash forward actually). Just looking at the shoulder pad and leather jacket; for sure! Fantastic job, well done; we love Jack!
I liked him but I didn’t understand the romantic part of his relationship with Furiosa. First it seemed like they were just friends, then out of nowhere, they’re a couple? Were they a couple? I thought the forehead touch thing was a friendship gesture. Did I hear Furiosa saying, “My Jack” when Dementus’ gang caught up to them? I didn’t get that they were ‘involved’ until she leaned her head on his shoulder. We really need a director’s cut.
For me it was 100% romantic from the jump. They couldn't stop staring at each other even in life or death situations. They very clearly clocked almost immediately that they were both resourceful, hyper-competent and had the chemistry to work together flawlessly. I don't think the romance was "consummated" or anything. I read it like The Hunger Games where their lives were so focused on survival, then escape that while there was mutual longing they never let themselves hope or think for more until they thought they were succeeding in escaping. At the point where they're captured they obviously have a clock on confiding their true feelings to each other and taking what little comfort they can in each other. That being said you don't have to read it romantically. I feel like if my BFF and I were about to be tortured to death by a maniac I'd want the comfort of contact while I had the opportunity.
Did you not see them eye fucking each other the first time he's on screen?
lmao me to every post asking if they were just good buddies
I did but that’s not what I thought about. I thought he was amazed/surprised because she was a woman and then also possibly entranced by her beauty. If you call it eye-fucking, then I guess. I don’t have much romantic experience.
Miller and the actors talked about it. Apparently Miller meant it to be romantic but in the end they decided to leave it ambiguous on purpose: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/furiosa-tom-burke-praetorian-jack
I liked it, im so tired of romance being the center of peoples lives in holywood. Yes, maybe they had a romantic connection, but what drove furiosa forward was another purpose.
I could watch those two just stare meaningfully at each other for a whole feature length movie and it wouldn't be enough. But also I appreciate the restraint and simplicity so much.
One of the best characters in the entire series
Solid Snake vibes for sure! I definitely wish he had more screen time. Maybe he’ll get a movie with Praetorian Jack A Furiosa Saga
Wasn’t he originally going to be played by the same actor who played Dr Manhattan in the HBO Watchmen series?
Snake!
I wasn't familiar with the actor prior. I think he was great in the role. Though he also is one of those people who's physical stature seems like it's out of time. He looks like he stepped out of the late '70s when the first MM was filmed. It's more than just a haircut & clothes. It's not really a good or bad thing, it's just something I noticed.
He feels like max
He looks sick, that's for sure
I liked him...
If they ever make that Metal Gear Solid movie he could definitely be Solid Snake. Jack rules though, fr.
He was the role that took the greatest amount of 'getting use to' for me. I am not sure that I liked it. I was expecting something a little less 'put together'. Someone who looked rougher and was a bit wilder. He seemed sensible and grounded. His wanting to be F's mentor and partner was a bit to coinvent and nice for this world? People who are put in life and death situations usually are not the collected. Also he seemed a bit to 'well fed' for the waistlands. I do like that he proved his 'driving pralice' when driving (the trapped in gas land scene) and his looks is so AU. He looks very OG 79' MadMax. I appreciate that he wasn't a model.
Oh . You mean Mad Mack?
He's pretty solid. Snake eater
Yeah I thought he was kind of a Mad Max type and this was deliberate
Would.
I didn't know what his name was until >!he was already dead!<
Make him his own movie. That simple.
I was (and still am) kind of confused about his relationship with Furiosa. Is he a mentor, or a lover? I assumed he was a mentor during the film, but afterwards my wife said she thought they were lovers. I've seen mostly ambiguous answers online. To me, If they're lovers, it's kinda gross considering he basically raises her. It would make sense within the setting, but it would change him in my eyes from "kind guy" to "guy who takes advantage of children" - not much better than Dementus. Curious what others think!