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41 out of 50 people found the following review useful: Mind-blowing masterpiece of sleaze, 14 January 2004 Author: fertilecelluloid from Mountains of Madness
Be grateful for Michael Winner's sledgehammer sensitivity because it produced this classic.None of Paul Kersey's (Charles Bronson) remaining family and friends get off lightly in this twisted nightmare of domestic violence, anal rape, vigilante justice and simplistic politics.For fans of rough justice, the rape of Bronson's Mexican housemaid is truly amazing and eroticized like crazy by Winner's leering direction.Thomas F. Duffy as Nirvana, the film's lead thug, is really horrible and a joy to behold (in a perverse way).Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page provides a rock score that scorches the L.A. imagery and Vincent Gardenia returns as the cop who prefers to look the other way.A Cannon-backed sleazefest that brings home the groceries if you like eating trash.Screw GONE WITH THE WIND. This is much more entertaining.
21 out of 25 people found the following review useful: May cause a desire to take a shower (and that's the point), 15 August 2006 Author: Brandt Sponseller from New York City
The second Death Wish film has a very strange concatenation of qualities. It can come dangerously close to running off the rails altogether, but overall, I think it's a more successful film than the first Death Wish.The first peculiarity is that much more strongly than the first film, Death Wish II's urban crime-ridden backdrop is exaggerated to a point of caricature. Of course, there was plenty of crime in Los Angeles during this era, but not as depicted here. This is almost Broadway-style crime, with choreographed gaggles of hoodlums running out of control in designer gang-wear, making spectacles of themselves. It's over the top but serious in a way that feels uncomfortable at first, but then, that's just the point, and it helps anchor the plot developments that follow.And that plot should be no surprise to anyone who first watches Death Wish I. Death Wish II follows the plot of its predecessor as if it were a fairly rigid template. Even the events that cause Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) to take charge and clean up society's scum by his lonesome are very similar. I don't see this as a flaw here (as I don't in many other sequels that use a template approach, including series like Friday the 13th). This is a direct continuation of the story of the first film, and the similarity gives Death Wish II both a natural, logical flow and a nice symmetrical structure.Although Death Wish I had its brutal moments, Death Wish II amplifies that atmosphere and sustains it through its length. Like the films that best display gritty 1970s New York City--such as Taxi Driver (1976) and Basket Case (1982)--Death Wish II makes you feel almost dirty (in the grimy despair way, not a sexual way) while watching it. It's ironic, maybe, that Death Wish II does this so well when the setting is Los Angeles as opposed to actually being New York City, as in the first film. That director Michael Winner is able to perpetuate that atmosphere, whether by accident or design, results in the viewer being sucked into the setting and vicariously experiencing the range of unpleasant emotions felt by both the protagonists and the antagonists.Also helping on that end is the score, provided by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Although Winner sometimes incorporates Page's music in a discordant, jarring way--over the opening credits when it fights for volume with radio banter, for example--more often than not the score gives Death Wish II a sublime, otherworldly and eerie edge. It's too bad that Page didn't go on to score many more films.This is certainly not a film to show during family time, and it's not particularly uplifting or overflowing with positive messages or socially redeeming values. But it's not trying to be any of those things. It's just a visceral (especially on an emotional level), disturbing revenge flick, and at that, it meets its goals well.
20 out of 24 people found the following review useful: Pure Revenge, 26 November 2005 Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States
Charles Bronson picks up where he left off in the famous "Death Wish" movie of 1976, going after punks and eliminating them. The only differences: he's moved from New York to Los Angeles and the violence is more graphic.Despite the B-movie feel to this (produced by the kings of the cheapo movies of that era (70s and early 80s) : Golan/Globus, it still is very enjoyable and satisfying - if revenge is your thing. Here, Bronson revenges the death of his daughter. At least her death is quick and bloodless, unlike the unpleasant rape-and-murder scene in the first film.Also, unlike the first film there is no need for a long setup. Bronson gets back in his vigilante mode in a hurry here and never lets up. If you want a short dose (an hour and a half) of action, this is your movie. One of the gang members in here, by the way, is a young Laurence Fishburne.The negatives are (1) sub-par acting performances by Bronson and his real-life wife, Jill Ireland; (2) some blatant credibility problems with the story ( such as how Bronson could get across town all bloody but never be noticed;) and (3) not exactly the most intelligent dialog!Yet, this is still an appealing movie to our conditioned satisfaction for instant revenge. So, if you've had a bad day and need a release of your hostilities, this is a good remedy!
24 out of 34 people found the following review useful: "Do you believe in Jesus?", 27 September 2003 Author: Renaldo Matlin from Oslo, Norway
"Yes," says the crying thug, knowing his last breathing second on this planet has come. Bronson replies: "Now you'll get to meet him," and blows a hole in his chest! This scene found me laughing in disbelief, shocked and horrified over what the Paul Kersey-character has become, and at the same time impressed that somebody actually dared to make this stuff more than 20 years ago, and even starring one of the biggest movie-stars in the world!This once bleedin' heart liberal family man has for sure turned into a messenger of death, with about as much mercy for the criminals as a hungry stray cat has for a limp mouse! It's shocking to watch, but at the same time fascinating because the whole movie looks great, the atmosphere gets under your skin, and you still find yourself rooting for Bronson's character.This is still the best of the "Death Wish"-sequels, and it still packs a wallop and manages to stir controversy even today. It's a movie you will either like or hate, there is no middle road here, and it makes for a great conversation piece.One final note: this movie sure is a reminder and evidence that when it came to movie tough-guys Charles Bronson WAS the baddest of them all. After the sad news of Bronson's passing a lot of people say he was second behind Clint Eastwood as far as action icons go. I'm a huge Eastwood-fan but Bronson still beats him any day. It really hit me as I was watching this movie. Bronson is driving through down-town Los Angeles, after brutally executing the thug in the above mentioned scene, he passes a movie-theater and sees a guy pretending to be a cowboy outside the theater, and what is the double-billing at the theater? Those silly comedies with Clint Eastwood and that big monkey Clyde!That kinda' sums it up doesn't it?Charles Bronson was THE MAN.
16 out of 22 people found the following review useful: death wish, you wish, we all want a death wish..., 31 March 2005 Author: Jonny_Numb from Hellfudge, Pennsylvania
The supposed correlation between violence/sexuality in art and violence in reality has been shoved to the forefront of our culture, especially in the past decade, when incidents such as the Columbine massacre confirmed politicians' fears of an unregulated entertainment industry in need of a spanking. In non-fanatical, everyday reality, however, I have come to disagree with the equation above. Some would argue that ugly, violent, nihilistic, and generally misanthropic films like "Death Wish" and its sequels do nothing but contribute to intensifying the more unsavory impulses that lay dormant in the viewer's id.Yet therein lies the purpose of such rough-edged, unpleasant entertainment. It sparks the id, pummels it into submission, so that when the experience is over, a sigh of relief is uttered.The original "Death Wish" was a well-done exploitation flick with the professional gloss of an A picture; despite its relatively shallow insight into the murky moral terrain of vigilante justice, it contained an intensely subdued performance by Charles Bronson, and confident direction by Michael Winner.By comparison, "Death Wish 2" is a typical sequel, taking what the original had and dumbing it down to milk some cash for the franchise. In addition to Bronson (in the role of architect Paul Kersey), a few other characters return to provide at least a superficial connection to the original (Robin Sherwood as his daughter; Vincent Gardenia as the cop that uncovered his identity). The plot is as before: Paul Kersey has begun a new life (courting the cheerfully cardboard Jill Ireland) which is shattered when a gang of punks (including a young Laurence Fishburne) rape and murder his housekeeper and daughter. Unlike the original, no time is spent watching Kersey contemplate his actions; he simply goes to work, and in the process is rendered a stoic killing machine. The characterization/motivation for the punks is given even less thought--they exist for the sole purpose of showing how scummy the scummiest scum of society can be. The film moves from one random encounter to the next, wherein Kersey stumbles across gang members and kills them.Of course this doesn't sound like highbrow film-making, but "Death Wish 2" never teases the audience with any notions of greatness. In spite of the meager attention given to Kersey's character, we root for him anyway; and in spite of the inexplicably-written punks, we hope for their demise. Michael Winner once again gives the film a gritty yet polished look, though he is clearly directing a flat-out B picture; the pacing is tight (the film runs just under 90 minutes), and the action is competently choreographed (though the romantic subplot provides a respite from the relentless violence, it is shallow and cloying). Jimmy Page's offbeat musical score only adds to the unusual charge this film packs.In the best-case scenario, "Death Wish 2" is no masterpiece, but the perfect Novocaine to apply after a particularly rotten day. It will numb you into a state of apathy and wash your troubles away (that's a compliment).
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Punks shouldn't enter Kersey's Matrix, 26 March 2005 Author: movieman_kev from United States
Charles Bronson is back as Paul Kersey. After some punks (including a young Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne) get away with his wallet, they find his house. He's not home so they rape and kill the housekeeper. When Kersey and his daughter return, they knock him out and kidnap her. After raping her back at an abandoned warehouse, she jumps out the window, killing herself. Bronson being Bronson, it's time once again for revenge, while hiding it from his new girlfriend.Not as good as the original. As sequels rarely are. But I enjoyed it. Bronson as an actor just kicked so much ass.My Grade: B Eye Candy: Silvana Gallardo and Robin Sherwood show much flesh, but due to the subject matter, it's not really eye candy. Leslie Graves and Melody Santangello's topless scenes are more palatable.
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful: He's Doing This...For You, 24 February 2005 Author: braindog from United States
It's hard to believe that anyone who didn't like the first one wouldn't like this one. Bronson is back, this time avenging the death of his daughter and he's angrier than he's ever been. This one takes more of a action hero approach than the first one, but that's okay, you see, Bronson is a bad ass and that's all that matters. Movies like this aren't made to win best picture or best screenplay, they're made to be entertaining and filled with action, and that's what this is. Bronson has a great line he give to a punk just before he blows him away; he asks the punk if he believes in Jesus as the punk clutches a cross around his neck. The punk says "yes sir" so Bronson pauses and then tells him "you're going to meet him." Then he shoots him twice, it's great. Classic. I found no insight in this film, all I found was an awesome character who you can't get enough of that gets away with killing pieces of trash that rape, mug, and murder civilians. This formula is timeless, and the whole Death Wish series should be appreciated for proving so, because I'd watch one of these films before I watch any action film that may be produced today.
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Formulaic but satisfying revenge film, 7 December 2002 Author: smokehill retrievers from Chancellorsville VA
Hard-hitting action movie, just like the first one but with more graphic and shocking violence -- depending on which version you see. The "original" uncut Death Wish 2 is extremely graphic but usually they show a badly chopped-up version on TV.Almost as entertaining as the film is reading the hysterical rantings of the wilting pansies who wrote scathing comments on this film. There are two kinds of people -- those who enjoy seeing vicious punks getting slaughtered (mostly social conservatives, probably). and those whose pathological attachment to liberal philosophy tells them that nice people should never use guns even against bad people. This latter group is usually so upset at the whole idea of regular people using guns to protect (or avenge) their families that they have an instant, visceral hatred of Death Wish films .... probably because it graphically portrays the intellectual bankruptcy of their philosophy. This is painfully apparent in some of these Comments, wherein they complain that Death Wish doesn't rise to the standards of Citizen Kane. One can only take solace in the knowledge that these whining, effeminate trolls are far more likely to have their families killed by muggers, thereby improving the gene pool considerably.That said, it all boils down to: if you like action films and don't like Sarah Brady, you'll like this one. If your wrists are a bit limp and you think Ted Kennedy is a great statesman, go rent a Disney cartoon or something with a lot of bunny rabbits in it.
6 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Even better than the first, 16 April 2006 Author: pulpnicktion from St.paul, .MN
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Death Wish 2 was bashed by reviewers.In Lenared Maltins review he states "Made by profiteers not filmmakers". I don't know if that is true or not but I think that no matter what it is DW2 is still a great movie.Plot:Paul Kersey returns with a new life, and a new girlfriend. Picking up the pieces of his life from what happened to him in the first movie. Kerseys daughter is still traumatized from being raped. One day he takes his girlfriend and his daughter out. Kerseys wallets stolen by five street punks.The five go to Kerseys house brutally rape and kill his maid.Later Paul comes back to his house with his daughter to find the gang at his home. They knock him out, kidnap his daughter,then rape her. She runs out of a window from were they were raping her. She lands on a spiked gate. Kersey hits the streets once again to find the gang then kill them! I loved the fist one, but the sequel is even better! A total thrill-ride and a knockout. Forget what the reviewers say.
6 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Not As Bad As Critics Say, 9 March 2006 Author: woljm45 from United States
Of all the Death Wish sequels, this was the best. I think once they got to up part 3 with all the machine guns and rocket launchers, then it started to get a little stupid. The story almost has an identical plot outline as the first one and the action is just as good, if not, then even better. The shootout at San Pedro park was awesome!!! The only difference is that they make Paul Kersey have more emotional interaction with the creeps he kills which makes it seem to be more "Hollywood". In the first Death Wish, Kersey would just kill them stone cold without having a conversation. That's why the original was so good as so realistic.
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