Death Wish II (1982)

Excellent, a Must See

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I can see why there was controversy over this movie and others like it, but for the sake of the film and reality, the rape scenes provide a much needed realistic motive for Bronson, and it sheds light on the scum that does exist. I absolutely do not think it's anti-women. The story line is as messed up as it gets for the main protagonist, and the film showcases the spiral into cold blooded revenge. Watch it if you want a dose of a real revenge movie that will disturb you a little bit. They capture the seediness of the surroundings quite well, not as over the top at all as Death Wish 3 which is why I say it's a way more realistic movie. I love the hospital scene that's pretty inventive and fun. Just watch it, but there's nothing lighthearted or funny about this movie.

Michael Winner's follow-up to his cult vigilante classic offers more of the same, with less satisfying results, and reeks of a senseless, exploitational cash-in. Seemingly it's a film centred around one distasteful and graphic rape scene, using it as an excuse to set off Bronson on another round of shooting punks and youths. What irritated me most about this film was the sheer lack of imagination involved - scenes of Bronson going around simply shooting the thugs and bad guys with corny one-liners simply don't stand up against the mincing machine/mercury dumb-dumb bullet deaths that made THE EXTERMINATOR a minor classic of vigilante cinema.It may be a low budget film but the camera-work is fine, and some of the shoot-outs are staged in an exciting way. It's certainly a lot more polished-looking than THE EXTERMINATOR was. It's just a shame that the so-called "plot" is a mere retread of the original and offers up absolutely nothing of originality or much interest. All characters in this film are bland, cardboard cut-outs so it's hard to get worked up about anything that happens.Bronson here is particularly wooden, and often seems to be an automaton when he prowls the streets. He doesn't get upset about the death of his daughter, or even change his expression when she dies. Jill Ireland's role in the film is pointless. Vincent Gardenia is probably the best character, a likable detective who's trailing Bronson, but even he is wasted. The mindless thugs who kill Bronson's maid and daughter are just that, mindless thugs, there's nothing particularly cruel or evil about them. They're probably chiefly of interest today for the appearance of Laurence Fishburne in their ranks, an actor who has certainly gone on to bigger and better things.Although the film is heavily cut (by over three minutes) here in the UK, it still manages to be thoroughly unpleasant in the snippets of the rape scene that we do get to see - and for once, I'm with the censors on this. What irritates me most is that the eventual 'justice' that Bronson brings to the rapists doesn't even match the awfulness of the original crime, he just shoots them dead and that's it. As I mentioned, the shoot-outs are interestingly and fluidly staged but still become repetitive, although the film's running time does seem to fly by. There are no messages here and Winner's direction is flat. DEATH WISH II is a waste of time unless you're a fan of cold, pointless violence, and everything that a sequel shouldn't be.

After essentially being chased out of New York, "Paul Kersey" (Charles Bronson) has relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles in an effort to start life all over again. Living with him is his daughter, "Carol Kersey" (Robin Sherwood) who is gradually recovering from the trauma she experienced in New York which resulted in her father becoming a vigilante in the first place. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, a gang of young men break into his apartment and after severely beating Paul and killing the housemaid, "Rosario" (Silvano Gallardo) forcibly take Carol with them. Later on she is gang-raped and dies attempting to escape. This event results in Paul returning to his vigilante ways and his specific targets are those who participated in the death of his daughter. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, other than the location and the introduction of a couple of new characters, this film mirrored the first movie to a very great extent. Even so, it was certainly watchable and for that reason I have rated it as slightly above average.

Michael Winner once again pushes the buttons of Hollywood with this sequel to his controversial hit, Death Wish. Plot follows a familiar trajectory, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) is now in Los Angeles living a normal life, when wouldn't you know it, some scumbag youths cross his path after administering some rape and pillage on folk close to him...The problem here, and the reason why some critics positively burst blood vessels after watching it, is that for the first half it just is pure exploitation, this in spite of some decent production value. Did it really need to be another sex crime? Could it not have been a murder et al? There gets a point in the film where you sense it's boobs for boobs sake. Though you have to wonder if Winner dared to ask Chuck and Jill Ireland (playing girlfriend of Chuck...) if Jill would do a nude scene? I think a broken nose may have come about if that subject had of been broached...Once Kersey (Bronson hard as nails again) goes about dealing out his brand of justice, the film hits its straps, teasing the viewers with moral - cum - ethical outrage or conversely, vicarious thinking. Vigilante films are always going to swim in tricky waters, provoking anger and heated debate from all walks of the political spectrum, but better to have them out there to provoke a response than not. Surely?There is nothing remotely high end here, but it's a film worthy of its above average rating on IMDb. It can shock, annoy, dismay and even induce unintentional mirth (three of the rapist thugs dance the campiest dance ever), but it will not be ignored and people are still seeking it out today to watch for the first time. Michael Winner still showing the ability to pique interest with his vigilante franchise. 6.5/10