Production Year: 1974 - Action/Adventure - Director: Michael Winner - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Bobby Roberts, Jack Wallace, Christopher Guest, Jeff Goldblum, Stephen Elliott, Stuart Margolin, Steven Keats, Hope Lange, William Redfield, Vincent Gardenia, Charles Bronson more
Charles Bronson stars in a genre-defining vigilante thriller that made him a household name. A fatal sexual assault on his wife and daughter leads mild-mannered architect Paul... more
This review already contains more than 120 words. As a Ciao member you could earn up to £5 with this review.
Death Wish DVD
In this explosive story of revenge and urban violence Charles Bronson plays Paul Kersey ... more
a bleeding-heart liberal who has a change of opinion after his wife and daughter are violently attacked by a gang of thugs in their apartment. His daughter is rap...
Production Year: 1974 - Action/Adventure - Director: H.B. Halicki - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:George Cole, James McIntyre, H.B. Halicki
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Jack Ging, Marla Heasley, Lance Legault, Melinda Culea, Mr T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict, George Peppard, Carl Franklin
DEATH WISH, CHARLES BRONSON, MICHAEL WINNER, 1974.
A review by donovan74 on Death Wish (DVD) September 5th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Unmemorable
Soundtrack
Good
Advantages:
CLASSIC 1970'S THRILLER .
Disadvantages:
VIOLENCE MAY OFFEND SOME .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I thought I'd be the first to review this classic vigilante film "Death Wish" starring Charles Bronson as I noticed it has not been reviewed on Ciao yet.
INTRO Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) is a successful architect who turns vigilante after his wife and daughter are ferociously attacked by a gang of violent thugs in their New York city apartment.
Set in the mean streets of New York city, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) plays a man completely overcome by the horrific assault on his family,with that his comfortable professional life comes to an abrupt end. When the police are slow to respond, Paul Kersey (Bronson) takes the law into his own hands and sets out seeking revenge by himself with a revolver, prowling for muggers on the crime ridden mean city streets at night. It's not long before he becomes a well known vigilante in the city by both the cheering residents and the sympathetic police who funny enough actually see the urban crime rate start to fall in the city.
MY VIEWS Being a fan of the late, great Charles Bronson I enjoyed "Death Wish" very much with it's exciting quick pace and engaging music by Herbie Hancock, builds the tempo for a great powerful 70's classic thriller. Charles Bronson, is extremely well cast in this film as he plays a gentle professional family man Paul Kersey who is driven to complete despair when his family is set opon by savage thugs. There are at times some very graphic and violent moments, but this being directed and co-produced by Michael Winner is to be expected. The atmosphere when Bronson is prowling on the streets, subways of New York stalking the thugs is both chilling and enthralling.
Death Wish was the film in my opinion that made Charles Bronson shine at his best and that would also spark off 4 "Death Wish" sequels 3 of which were directed by Michael Winner, but sadly none living up to the engrossing original. Also watch out for a young Jeff Goldblum (The Fly) on his debut playing one of the key violent thugs.DVD INFO Film : 93mins Widescreen : 1.78 Sound : Mono Subtitles : English, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish Rating : 18SUMMARY A violent but yet powerful film "Death Wish" is the best vigilante film ever made in my opinion. With the help of great directing from Michael Winner this film will captivate you for the full 93mins, as the good guy (Charles Bronson) seeks revenge on the city streets stalking the muggers and thugs. You'll find yourself cheering in a strange sort of way when he blasts the bad guys to kingdom come. Death Wish is NOT just another brainless shoot-em-up but a classy well made top notch thriller and the fact this film was made back in the 1970's is a plus, as it just gives it more style. I would thoroughly recommend this film although it will not be to everyone's taste it's still one not to be missed. 9/10
At the time I purchased my copy of "Death Wish" on DVD (last year) it was difficult to find, but managed to buy secondhand on Ebay for around £5. Also don't forget to look on Kelkoo to compare prices www.kelkoo.co.uk.
Advantages: rich in Irish folklore, great cast Disadvantages: only the R1 release has the original voices and soundtrack intact
...magic onscreen though lies with Jimmy O'Dea (King Brian). Oh, he makes for a wonderful little rogue and the interplay between himself and Albert Sharpe is truly magical. And speaking of magical..the special effects were so top of the line for 1959 that they stand up exceedingly well today, right up to the point that the techniques used inspired many of the effects seen in the recent Lord of the Rings films. Particular scenes to watch out for in this regard involve the banshee and the death coach (and if watching with children be warned, it's pretty scary).
I just wish I could heap as much praise on the DVD release. Both the region 1 and Region 2 DVD releases at first glance seem identical. That is, the prints were not returned to their original wide screen aspect ratio and have no extras or anything, just the movie. But I am going to tell...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: None this is a distatsteful film Disadvantages: Poorly directed and acted, extreme violence
...It is always interesting to read the film reviews in this excellent opinion service. You can often tell that the reviewer has not only enjoyed the film but that the viewing of the film has enhanced their lives, made them feel better (or worse) as a result of seeing the film. If you are what you eat then to extend that to you are what you consume then as a film viewer does your favourite film say something about you. Can a film also consciously or sub-consciously develop your views about subjects such as violence, justice, retribution and the rule of law.
If it does then what does DeathWish 2 say about a person who might profess to enjoy it.
I will not beat about the bush any longer. Not only do I not like DeathWish 2 but I also think it is a nasty little film made by a nasty little man. It is a film which demeans the viewer...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Superb Action, good drawings, good wins over evil. Disadvantages: Very lengthy, Slight lack of movement, boring interjections
...a bit static - that is there is little movement. This has always been an issue with Dragonball Z but to be honest, I am not too bothered by it - I can still really enjoy watching. Of course the actual fighting scenes see plenty of movement but the parts between can at times be a little more still.
FRIEZA SAGA: THE DVDs
You can purchase the DVDs on Amazon, ebay and other such sites. Sites such as play.com don't have them available. The DVDs contain between 3 and 4 episodes and are as follows:
DVD 1: FRIEZA - THE SUMMONING
These episodes see Krillin and Gohan summon the eternal dragon to make their wishes. After the dragon has granted wish 1 of 2, the balls are turned to stone with Guru's death and Vegeta is left annoyed at not being able to wish for immortality. But more pressing issues are at large...Frieza!
DVD 2: FRIEZA...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Charles Bronson stars in a genre-defining vigilante thriller that made him a household name. A fatal sexual assault on his wife and daughter leads mild-mannered architect Paul Kersey (Bronson) to rethink the justice system in his own terms when he discovers the police to be ineffectual, bureaucratic slackers. He then starts to single-handedly reduce New York's crime rate by murdering every thug, scumbag, and no goodnik he lays eyes on. The film, despite its use of graphic violence as entertainment, was hailed as a socially complex and engaging movie that shocked audiences across the country. Subsequently, Bronson filmed a long series of films as Kersey that were heavier on violence than substance. However, DEATH WISH is a classic American film whose themes and style have been imitated by filmmakers all over the world.
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since : 29/09/2006
Compare Death Wish (DVD) to other similar Action & Adventure
![Death Wish [DVD] [1974]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78475249.jpg)
![Death Wish 2 [DVD] [1981]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83390734.jpg)
10.10.2008
25.09.2001
