Charles Bronson or Charles Dennis Buchinsky (1921-2003) was the most popular film actor in the world in the 1970's. He was already HUGE and
everyone loved him as he just dominated every scene by just standing there, by being in the film frame. He had an unique Presence for sure.
With "Death Wish" in 1974 he became even bigger if that could be possible. Everyone watched it all over the world and this film and the sequels
were probably the one's that he forever will be mostly known for. OK, for some his role as Harmonica in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in
the West" would be the most memorable one.

His most famous film, and perhaps infamous too. I remember watching it in the cinema, everyone saw it, and i think it was cut by the Swedish
film sensors. In Sweden the film was considered "fascistic" back then as criminals were seen as almost holy, poor victims of a bad upbringing.
But there were almost no crime in Sweden back then. Today, with crime exploding and with No Go zones in every major city, Charles Bronson
maybe even would be welcomed. I don't think there have ever been any Vigilante killings in Sweden ? Only the criminals have guns.

So, it was time for watching this film again some 45 years later (yeah, i'm an old dude i know, but you will be too) and 3 of the sequels.

Death Wish (1974) Direction and co-production: Michael Winner : Paul Kersey (Bronson) is a New York mild-mannered architect, a liberal and
a conchie, conscientious objector, during the Korean war. Three disgusting drooling mugger rapists (one of them being Jeff Goldblum in his
first role) follow his wife Joanna and daughter Carol from the supermarket, enters the apartment and rapes Carol and kills Joanna. Paul starts
walking the NY streets at night, and .... he kills muggers. That's it, and audiences all over the world just LOVED it.
He's our substitute, he's full of anger and through him we the audience canalize our anger. Our inner avenger or fascist bad guy ? I don't know.

After watching "Death Wish" with fresh eyes in January 2021 i thought it to be a well made Crime Drama with gloomy wintry NY images adding
to the atmosphere, and we get to see how Paul changes from feeling bad, throwing up, after killing his first robber to being hardened to stone.
The widescreen ratio is not stated on the sleeve, english DTS-HD MA mono audio with english subtitles, theatrical trailer as extra, Region ALL

US MGM 3 disc Blu-ray edition Region A

 

Death Wish 2 (1981) Direction: Michael Winner

Free to go after his Vigilante killings in NY, as the police bosses and politicians liked the way the crime rate went down after the
Paul Kersey night excursions, he has moved to Los Angeles and taken his traumatized daughter Carol with him. He has a girlfriend
in reporter Geri Nichols (Jill Ireland, Bronson's wife in real life) he's still an architect and everything looks fine.
Until a gang of street thugs B&E's into his house and, in a nasty scene, rapes his housemaid and his daughter, and Carol dies.
In the first film Jeff Goldblum debuted as a rapist and in thid film Lawrence Fishburne, jr. does the same as one of the thugs.

Paul goes underground in the bad parts of LA and starts hunting the perps. The LAPD asks NYPD for advice and NY police insp.
Ocho (Vincent Gardenia from the first film) sees the work of Paul Kersey and he's sent to LA to stop him. Anthony Franciosa, better
known as writer and psycho killer Peter Neal in Dario Argento's "Tenebre" plays the LA police chief.

If DW 1 was slightly serious and a crime-drama DW 2 abandons any such ambition and goes for more action. Yes, DW 2 is trashier
but still a very entertaining and snappy crime action.
The film is presented in widescreen 1.85:1 with english audio DTS-HD MA mono with english subtitles, only a trailer extra. Region A

Death Wish 3 (1985) Direction: Michael Winner

Ha, ha, ha, total mayhem in a Trash Action and maybe comedy that almost resembles a Troma picture, when Paul Kersey (Bronson)
is back in the worst parts of New York, the Belmont area plagued by a street gang induced crime spree.
Kersey is in NY to visit an old Korea war friend, Charley, and he finds him dead, killed by gang members. Will Paul cry and return to
LA or will he arm himself with a Wildey Magnum gun and a grenade launcher and try to take out hordes of gang criminals ?
Mayhem awaits the disbelieving viewer and police inspector Shriker (a great Ed Lauter) joins Paul into the war.

Total B movie trash but i loved it, Great Fun! Winner didn't want to repeat himself and strived for a new approach to the Vigilante saga.
Hey wait! Didn't Paul have a girlfriend this time? Yes, he had, public defender Ms. Davis played abominably bad by Deborah Raffin.
The Blu-ray presents the film in 1.85:1 widescreen, english audio DTS-HD MA 5.1 with english subtitles, trailer extra. Region A

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) Direction: J. Lee Thompson

Again, a trashy but very entertaining crime-action when Vigilante Paul Kersey (Bronson) is back in LA and working as the architect
he is, between killing criminals. He lives with his new girlfriend (Jill Ireland dumped him at the end of DW2) Karen Sheldon (Kay
Lenz) also a journalist and her teenage daughter Erica. The girl snorts some drug shit and dies and Paul kills the Pusher.
Then he's contacted by a mysterious millionaire tycoon Nathan White (the great John P. Ryan) who will give Paul all support he
needs to wipe out the drug organisation in Los Angeles. Architect vs. Drug Mafia can only end in a bloodbath. Great fun trash.

But, the question any male, who has seen Kay Lenz 1980's movies, asks is .... does she show off her glorious ..... No, she does not.
Film presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, english DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio with english subtitles, theatrical trailer extra. Region A