Overrated

Fantastic!

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Unfortunately I'm not able to compare this to the original because, well, I haven't seen the original, only the remake. Unfortunately I'm not able to compare it to the remake because, well, that probably wouldn't be all that fair, or appropriate. Anyway, it is a film made in the early 80s, so there is going to be quite a few differences, not counting the special effects. Actually, come to think of it, until the remake was released, I never really thought all that much of these films, and certainly didn't go our of my way to watch them. However, I've decided to at least give some of them a go, just to see what they are like. Anyway, the film is set five years after the first one, and Paul Kersey finds himself in Los Angeles, having moved there after his girlfriend takes up a job at a local radio station. His daughter seems better, and things seem to be going well, that is until pretty much the same thing happens that happened in New York. Not surprisingly, he decides not to help the police, and goes out and takes matters into his own hands. Unlike the first film, in this one he does go out to hunt down the perpetrators of the crime. This film certainly shows its age, and in fact I suspect that what happens here simply would not be tolerated in a more modern sense. For instance there are a couple of rape scenes, and they are pretty explicit. In fact these scenes seemed to go pretty overboard to the point that it is almost bordering on the exploitation of women. In a way scenes like these simply would not be tolerated in modern cinema, and in fact I can't recall any such scenes in any of the films that I've seen in a while. It turned out that I didn't really mind this film all that much, and it did actually keep me interested. Still, it wasn't something that stood out all that much, and it is a shame that I haven't had the opportunity to see the first one yet. However, other than some rather explicit scenes (which these days seems to be replaced by excessive gore), this film was okay. However, unlike the first one, it did have a bit more of a plot, and while once again Kersey manages to get away with murder, things don't always go quite his way, particularly at the end.

The original "Death Wish" practically screamed sequel, and we get it here when Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) relocates to Los Angeles and hell follows with him. Sounds like the Book of Revelations, doesn't it? Chapter Six, Verse Eight to be exact.Well, there's little of redeeming social value here, but it's not as over the top as the series would get with the follow up to this one, "Death Wish 3". You just had to know that when five thugs rape the maid, beat up on Kersey and kidnap his daughter, it's not going to be a good day. For the bad guys that is. Kersey takes his one man wrecking crew job seriously, and proceeds to blow away everyone who took part in the initial violence. Laurence Fishburne appears as one of the bad guys in what could have been a career ending move but things fortunately worked out for him OK.Catching these films in the series out of order, I was surprised to see Jimmy Page's name attached to the credits list as the music composer for "Death Wish 3"; little did I know he got the nod for this one as well. I already used the 'Dazed and Confused' analogy in writing up my review for that picture, but in keeping with the spirit of things, it seemed to me that the page Bronson was taking out of the Led Zeppeling songbook this time would have been something like 'Your Time is Gonna Come'.

For reasons I am not entirely sure of, I revisit this movie every few years, this particular time having just watched the unrated version for the very first time. I will freely admit that in many ways, this movie simply isn't very good. The script is often simple- minded and unbelievable, with various plot turns and character actions that in real life would simply not happen at all. Director Michael Winner's direction often has as much subtle force as a swift sledgehammer. And the movie display of rape and violence is more often than not pure exploitation.Yet as I indicated in my subject line, there is something about this movie that makes it strangely compelling. It's kind of hard to pin down exactly why. I think one reason might be that as crude as the movie is executed at times, it all the same brings out an effective visceral response from the viewer. You'll really want Bronson's character to kill the gang that raped and murdered his housekeeper and daughter. Also, while Michael Winner's direction is often crude and sleazy, it does have some considerable bite to it, enough to keep the viewer interested. You will really feel the run down locations and eccentric residents of them, for one thing. And the movie certainly isn't dull - there's not one boring moment. "Death Wish II" is not my favorite of the series (my favorite being the over-the-top part 3), and I certainly don't think it's a good movie. But the movie all the same is weirdly watchable, like so many other tacky Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus movies of the 1980s. It's certainly not for everyone - many people will hate it, and for good reasons. But if you're a fan of Golan/Globus and Bronson, then there is a good chance you'll find it peculiar and offbeat enough to be worth a watch.

A grossly underrated movie , as good as the first , and a far cry from 3 and 4 . Kersey's relationship with Bronson's actual wife , Jill Ireland , is quite believable , and there's no mistaking the chemistry . That a man would go on a rampage of revenge over the rape and brutal death of his already traumatized daughter is something any real man can understand ( and there are some beautifully sensitive moments here ; Robin Sherwood , as Carol Kersey , is brilliant ) . Some critics seem to regard the rapes as especially lurid , perhaps purposefully titillating , but I could not disagree more . Rape is not pretty, and regardless of the attractiveness of the two rape victims , one must really have a sick mind to find those scenes titillating . The unexpected ending adds gusto to an already solid movie . This is more than a must for Bronson fans : It's a damned good movie , period .