Customer Reviews

Death Wish 2 [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is the worst movie in the Death Wish series, without the relevance of the first movie or the sheer stupid-but-highly-entertaining mayhem of Part 3. Mostly, this film shot itself in the foot by going overboard on the rape scenes. But, to see exactly *how* overboard they went, you'll have to dig up an old version, because what's on the DVD is missing about 5 minutes. I haven't watched the entire DVD yet, but I noticed some things missing around the beginning and so I went back and checked the ancient videotape I made of a Cinemax showing years and years ago, and the running time on that was 94 minutes and 40 seconds (according to my VCR's counter, anyhow). The DVD clocks in at about 89 minutes.

I'm usually strongly against anything being cut out of a movie, but considering that at least some of the stuff that's missing from this DVD consists of parts of the extremely repulsive and protracted rape scene at the beginning of the movie, I don't really mind so much, because I don't mind if I never see that stuff again. I'm not a big fan of rape scenes in general, but understand that sometimes you have to have them to advance the plot. But in its original form, that rape scene was so overboard that it was overkill, and nothing Charlie could do to those guys later on would be satisfactory payback. So, the film may actually be improved by a little "toning down" in that area - what's left more than does the job of making you hate these scumbags, and you'll still be happy to see 'em gunned down.

Still, even though I can't imagine even the sickest viewers getting much out of that scene and can't imagine anybody missing it, I still figured people should be made aware that the DVD is trimmed a bit. It's also a bit too dark as compared to my Cinemax tape, and I *really* wish people would quit putting things on DVD that aren't letterboxed (of all the Death Wish series on DVD, only part 1 is widescreen). Not the best treatment that MGM's ever given a DVD release - they usually take more care than that. Still, Bronson's gone (R.I.P.) and isn't going to be making any more films, so it's good to have whatever's out there available and immortalized on tinfoil. Bring on Death Hunt and Stone Killer, and re-release Red Sun already!

Death Wish II DVD


By 1982, crime rates were still high enough to warrant another "Death Wish" film. Enter "Death Wish 2," a picture that finds New York City vigilante Paul Kersey pulling up roots from the place of his first exile (Chicago) in order to head to sunnier digs in Southern California. Los Angeles provides our architect with a new outlook on life, a place where he can tend to his still mentally and physically damaged daughter Carol (Robin Sherwood in this outing) and his new girlfriend Geri Nichols (Jill Ireland). In fact, Paul and Geri hope to wed one day. Unfortunately, a curse falls on the House of Kersey when a crew of mangy vermin, the most important member being Cutter (Laurence Fishburne), invades our hero's bungalow. The gang brutalizes Kersey's maid Rosario and abducts the shattered Carol. In the process of submitting Paul's daughter to an indignity nearly identical to the horrors she suffered in the first film, the poor young lady takes her life by plunging out of a warehouse window. Predictably, Kersey arrives home to find a deceased Rosario stretched out in the hallway and his daughter gone. Within a few minutes the authorities break the sad news to Paul; they found his daughter's body outside of a known gang hideout. The horrors of New York are starting all over again, and Paul Kersey must once again go forth and battle the forces of evil.

Unlike in the first film, Kersey specifically targets the criminals responsible for the slaying of his daughter. He finds out where they hang out and rents a grungy hotel room in the area to serve as a base of operations. Every night Paul drives down there, dons a knit cap and dark duds, and roams the streets looking for riffraff. As soon as he stumbles over one of the thugs in question, he pulls out a gun and dispatches them with extreme prejudice. The police, led by Lieutenant Mankiewicz (Ben Frank), take note of the sudden rash of killings and start to put the pieces together, namely that a vigilante is working the city streets. Kersey's name soon pops up, thanks to his reputation from New York years earlier, and the authorities bring in Inspector Frank Ochoa (Vincent Gardenia) from the first film to help them put a stop to Paul's rampages. Kersey becomes aware of Ochoa's presence, leading to a cat and mouse game that threatens Paul's ability to wreak vengeance on his enemies. Nonetheless, after a shootout gives Kersey a temporary respite from the attention of the authorities our man continues to hunt down his enemies. He goes so far as to infiltrate a mental hospital to pursue a victim, but his single-minded pursuit carries personal costs in his relationship with Geri Nichols.

It's obvious from the start that the makers of "Death Wish 2" went straight for the sleaze effect. The first film sought to examine crime and vigilantism in a serious way, even going so far as to have the Paul Kersey character become physically ill after attacking a criminal. "Death Wish 2" throws all introspection out the window, replacing a message with gory deaths and memorable one-liners rivaling anything Dirty Harry ever tossed out. Carol's death scene is particularly tough to watch, as are the atrocities visited upon the poor Rosario. The dialogue is magnificent in an extraordinarily entertaining way. "Goodbye" says Paul Kersey immediately before pulling the trigger on a helpless thug twisting in pain on the floor of a warehouse. "Do you believe in Jesus?" asks Kersey of another goon, who replies with "Yes, yes I do." "Well, you're going to meet him," responds our vigilante as he opens fire. Great stuff! This isn't dialogue churned out by some hack; it's holy scripture chiseled on stone tablets that someone carried down from a mountaintop. If you can get your mind around the idea that "Death Wish 2" is completely devoid of a message, you'll love this movie. Too, make sure and listen to the Jimmy Page soundtrack; you'll hear it again in "Death Wish 3."

Recommended for Death Wish Fans and Charles Bronson fans.

Gunner January, 2008

REASONS TO BUY:
Unlike the first part, Bronson has a strong unyielding character. He's not the least bit afraid to get the job done this time and doesn't stop untill he gets every single on of those creeps that killed his daughter. It really gives you a sense of staisfaction even if it's just a movie.

REASONS NOT TO BUY:
This is the cut version. Evidently, some people believe that we are not intelligent enough to view certain scenes. I think it's worth the time to search the internet for the full uncut version.

DEATH WISH 2 is one of those movies that screams "CASH GRAB!". The late, great Charlie Bronson is reteamed with Michael Winner and Hal Landers and Bobby Roberts (DEATH WISH 1), along with the immortal team of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus (most of Bronson's 80's flix, ditto Chuck Norris, AMERICAN NINJA series et al) for this thoroughly scummy retread of the original.
There is a difference however: DW2 is purely for exploitation value, and is certainly not a movie to be watched with Mum (especially my Mum, or my Grandmas- maternal or paternal).
The plot is practically identical. Charlie and his reporter girlfriend (Jill Ireland) take his daughter Carol (Robin Sherwood- betcha ten bucks that isn't her real name)- still institutionalized after being assaulted in DW1- on an outing to the market. However at the market Charlie runs afoul of a band of scummy pot smoking muggers one of them played by a young Larry Fishburne- (Laurence Fishburne the 3rd, thank you very much!) who blast Jimmy Page's "Jam Sandwich" on their retro 80s ghetto blaster. The thugs steal Charlie's ice cream money, but also his wallet.
Unfortunately the thugs get Charlie's address from his ID and head to his house, break in and gang rape his maid, Rosario (Silvana Gallardo). A rather icky scene. Unlike the brief bash round the head in the first movie, the rape scenes here are extended (in NZ the film runs 87 mins- there's actually FIVE MINUTES of rape missing! Gross!).
Then Carol is abducted by the thugs and raped again, and while fleeing the sexual sadists runs through a window and is convieniently impaled on an iron picket fence.
Meanwhile the cops are at Kersy's house, when he is called in to identify Carol's body. (Considering where the LOCATION of the corpse was it's pretty easy to finger the gang, isn't it?). But no, this is a DEATH WISH movie, the cops are DUMB. Charlie makes up a story about blacking out, but of course he remembers everything. And it's not long before he hits the streets of LA with his trusty .44 Magnum, hunting down the scum and blowing several shades of poop out of them (Fishburne's "death" gives a new meaning to "Ghetto Blaster"!).
Highly recommended, even if it's cheap, inept, sadistic and bloody. Viewer discretion is advised though. The music (another high point) is by Jimmy Page of Led Zep. I just found it odd how NZ's censors didn't add a warning note about the sexual violence in the film. However if you have the stomach for it, make sure you check out DEATH WISH 2. Despite it's violence its utterly compelling. If you think otherwise, well you know how to contact me.

A discussion of Charles Bronson that fails to mention the "Death Wish" series isn't really a discussion at all. The first entry in this seminal series arrived on the scene in 1974 during a period in American history when all types of crimes skyrocketed. We can thank the moral laxity inflicted on the rest of us by the Counterculture for the increased numbers of murders, arsons, burglaries, robberies, rapes, and countless other forms of physical and mental assaults that soon became common occurrences on every street in the country. A large percentage of the population, referred to by Nixon as "The Silent Majority," ached to find a way to fight back against the vermin committing these atrocities. Since our embrace of vigilante justice faded away due to the abuses of lynching in the South, and our legal system began letting the scum back out on the streets, only Hollywood seemed to offer refuge to the growing number of victims. Enter the revenge and vigilante genre, the most notable entries of which consisted of the Clint Eastwood "Dirty Harry" pictures. In these films, a cop or outraged citizen would hunt down criminals outside the law, meting out a savage brand of justice we could all cheer about.

By 1982, crime rates were still high enough to warrant another "Death Wish" film. Enter "Death Wish 2," a picture that finds New York City vigilante Paul Kersey pulling up roots from the place of his first exile (Chicago) in order to head to sunnier digs in Southern California. Los Angeles provides our architect with a new outlook on life, a place where he can tend to his still mentally and physically damaged daughter Carol (Robin Sherwood in this outing) and his new girlfriend Geri Nichols (Jill Ireland). In fact, Paul and Geri hope to wed one day. Unfortunately, a curse falls on the House of Kersey when a crew of mangy vermin, the most important member being Cutter (Laurence Fishburne), invades our hero's bungalow. The gang brutalizes Kersey's maid Rosario and abducts the shattered Carol. In the process of submitting Paul's daughter to an indignity nearly identical to the horrors she suffered in the first film, the poor young lady takes her life by plunging out of a warehouse window. Predictably, Kersey arrives home to find a deceased Rosario stretched out in the hallway and his daughter gone. Within a few minutes the authorities break the sad news to Paul; they found his daughter's body outside of a known gang hideout. The horrors of New York are starting all over again, and Paul Kersey must once again go forth and battle the forces of evil.

Unlike in the first film, Kersey specifically targets the criminals responsible for the slaying of his daughter. He finds out where they hang out and rents a grungy hotel room in the area to serve as a base of operations. Every night Paul drives down there, dons a knit cap and dark duds, and roams the streets looking for riffraff. As soon as he stumbles over one of the thugs in question, he pulls out a gun and dispatches them with extreme prejudice. The police, led by Lieutenant Mankiewicz (Ben Frank), take note of the sudden rash of killings and start to put the pieces together, namely that a vigilante is working the city streets. Kersey's name soon pops up, thanks to his reputation from New York years earlier, and the authorities bring in Inspector Frank Ochoa (Vincent Gardenia) from the first film to help them put a stop to Paul's rampages. Kersey becomes aware of Ochoa's presence, leading to a cat and mouse game that threatens Paul's ability to wreak vengeance on his enemies. Nonetheless, after a shootout gives Kersey a temporary respite from the attention of the authorities our man continues to hunt down his enemies. He goes so far as to infiltrate a mental hospital to pursue a victim, but his single-minded pursuit carries personal costs in his relationship with Geri Nichols.

It's obvious from the start that the makers of "Death Wish 2" went straight for the sleaze effect. The first film sought to examine crime and vigilantism in a serious way, even going so far as to have the Paul Kersey character become physically ill after attacking a criminal. "Death Wish 2" throws all introspection out the window, replacing a message with gory deaths and memorable one-liners rivaling anything Dirty Harry ever tossed out. Carol's death scene is particularly tough to watch, as are the atrocities visited upon the poor Rosario. The dialogue is magnificent in an extraordinarily entertaining way. "Goodbye" says Paul Kersey immediately before pulling the trigger on a helpless thug twisting in pain on the floor of a warehouse. "Do you believe in Jesus?" asks Kersey of another goon, who replies with "Yes, yes I do." "Well, you're going to meet him," responds our vigilante as he opens fire. Great stuff! This isn't dialogue churned out by some hack; it's holy scripture chiseled on stone tablets that someone carried down from a mountaintop. If you can get your mind around the idea that "Death Wish 2" is completely devoid of a message, you'll love this movie. Too, make sure and listen to the Jimmy Page soundtrack; you'll hear it again in "Death Wish 3."

My only problem with the "Death Wish 2" DVD, aside from the unacceptable fullscreen presentation and a trailer as the only extra, concerns MGM's inexplicable decision to put an edited version of the film on the disc. I remember seeing a more vicious version of the film back on cable in the mid 1980s, mainly one with a longer sequence involving the gang and Rosario, which obviously didn't make it to the DVD. Why MGM saw fit to give us this version is a mystery. Nevertheless, "Death Wish 2" is highly entertaining; it's must see viewing for Bronson fans.

I got both , the mgm and region 2 uncut version and i will say. this full frame mgm version has a trailer that is missing from the region 2. So lets do pros- and cons. First. we do the mgm. Mgm is in full frame but the transfer looks pretty damn clean and good for a non widescreen. Looks like MGM cleaned it up a bit.. Also we get a trailer, (pretty grainy) and on this MGM version is the edited cut version where most of the graphic rapes scenes are cut. And belive me, they are cut down pretty good. Now the region 2 version from overseas is the full uncut Widescreen version of the film with no extras . The transfer too looks pretty damn good. Its werid they couldnt have at least given us a widescreen of the film. oh well. if your a fan of the film and have a region free dvd player, the uncut is the way to go. at least its 16x9..

I have to agree with the highlighted review above. This film is very disturbingly graphic in the depiction of the group rape scene. I do have to doubt the validity of that whole scene being there in the first place. It is definitely not for under 18 viewers, and in some cases, not for those weak at heart/ emotions.

That being said, overall , it follows as a decent sequel to Death Wish 1. Not a buy, but you can rent it out on a Saturday night when your bored and definitely *NOT* with your loved one or family..

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!

At some point in this flick, Charles Bronson confronts the sharp-nosed blond punk who raped and murdered his daughter. Bronson has a .45 automatic; the punk has a crucifix. The following is a record of their conversation:

BRONSON: Do you believe in Jesus?
PUNK: (terrified, holding up cross as protection) Yes I do.
BRONSON: Good. You're about to meet him.
BLAM. BLAM.

With such strring exchanges of theologically-based dialogue, "Death Wish II" was unleashed on American audiences. It was met with a certain amount of horror from critics and a certain amount of delight from audiences, and after 20-odd years that mixture is still valid. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have made so many sequels.

I don't know why so many years stood between the first "Death Wish" and the second, only that during the interregnum, director Michael Winner apparently decided that all the serious moral issues of vigilantism had been tackled in the first movie and all the audience really wanted to see from this point forward was Bronson exploding the brains of stupid, loathsome, and badly-dressed criminals. Oh, how right he was.

I remember the original "Death Wish." It was an almost unbelievably brutal film, in which a mild-mannered architecht abandons his pacifist convictions and goes on a violent rampage after his wife is murdered and his daughter raped by evil thugs. As a kid, I was shocked by the brutal way Bronson finished off one crook he had already shot in the guts -- firing a coup de grace into his spine while casually stepping over his crawling body. The most haunting feature of the movie is the futility of Bronson's quest -- he never catches the men who violated his family. Perhaps to redress this balance, we got "DW 2."

In this flick, Paul Kersey (Bronson) has moved to L.A. and is dating a lovely radio personality who has no clue about his past. His daughter is still semi-comatose after her rape, but her condition is improving. Everything is going well for Chuckie B., and of course, you know that ain't gonna last long.

A gang of mixed-race thugs in ridiculous 80s-era villain costumes (80s movie producers had no idea what gangs were actually dressing like in their own time period, so they combined 50s-era leather biker hats with 60s-era army clothes and threw in some punk and hippie fashions as well....see "Death Wish 3") does very bad things to Bronson's daughter and maid. Immediately, he seeks payback while trying to hide the fact from his honey. Wackiness ensues, including one of the greatest cinematic deaths in history which I must now describe:

Black thug, fleeing from Bronson, attempts to use his big-ass boom-box as a shield for his face. Guess what?? Radios do NOT deflect large-caliber bullets. Spectacular scene of radio bursting apart amidst shower of sparks, bullet going into thug's mouth, thug's head bursting in disgusting glut of blood....and me laughing hysterically as thug falls into lamp-post with stupid, shocked look on face. Word to the wise, chump: before you mess w/Chuckie B., invest in some body armor or a large helmet.

The acting in this film is almost horrendously awful, but the writing is worse, with the exception of one great sarcastic line about the police commissioner's wife taking self-defense classes because the crime rate is so bad. The scenes with the cops and DA are so badly acted and shot they look like out-takes or rehearsals somebody taped by accident, and even the camera seems to have been placed at random by some bored grip or assistant DP who had his mind on whatever was in the catering truck. Nor does the plot make any sense. My favorite moment is when the punks go to a major arms deal by city bus. Dude, you can afford $33,000 in exotic weaponry but you can't afford a car? A close second is when the gun dealer's big-ass caddy finds its way over a cliff (found everywhere in downtown LA) and explodes before it hits the ground. Villians really should stop soaking their cars in gasoline before they go to shoot-outs. Third is the scene where Bronson watches the villains bust out horrible dance moves on what appears to be a broken-down carousel in the middle of a park. Couldn't he have found it in his heart to kill them then, before I witnessed the big white oaf do what appears to be a slow motion version of the robot dance?

The most notable feature of "DW 2" in relation to the rest of the series is that this may be the only entry where Kersey's girlfriend gets away scot-free. She should consider herself lucky, because most of them get set on fire or dissolved in acid. It's really an unhealthy gig.

Such is "DW 2," a film that never fails to satisfy, if the sight of evil bastards getting shot to bloody goo satisfies you. On a side-note, the blond punk whose real name I can't remember has the distinction of having been immolated by Clint Eastwood in "Sudden Impact" and beaten to a pulp and thrown off a roof by Frank Sinatra in an episode of "Magnum, P.I." This man might want to engage in some vigilantism himself -- against his agent!

really this is just an action movie that was made to cash in on the 80's action craze. this has very little to do with the 1974 origanal, which was a serious study of crime and the vigilante mind set! this is just an action movie and while the cast looks like they are sleepwalking through the movie it is fun in the action movie mode(if it is very excessive this time it's because it is just following the trend by this time)!
not a great one but it still is better than the last two in the series!