Rating: 
Summary: Dirty Harriet
Review: "Sudden Impact" is the fourth 'Dirty' Harry (Clint Eastwood) movie. In it Callahan is looking into the murders of men who seem to have nothing in common, except they were all shot in the genitals, which suggest a serial killer. And indeed he is right, all these men do have something in common. Years ago they all gang raped a young woman (Sandra Locke) and her sister; and now the young woman is getting revenge for her and her traumatized and invalid sister. After "The Enforcer" the standard of the series got back to where they should be; or at least they are not being treated indifferently. There are two sides of "Sudden Impact". One is in it's dark humor, like when Harry is alerted to a robbery because the waitress puts too much suger in his coffee (which is where Eastwood mutters the most famous catch phrase in film history, "Go ahead, make my day!"), or when he beats up some punks who were just released on a technicality. Then there is the sadistic violence that not only is the unbalenced Locke character capable of, but when the men she is targeting catches on they get pretty nasty too. Eastwood directed this enry himself. While it is good, he is a long way from being the accomplished director he is now. At this point in 1983 he was still learning the ropes, so while it is exciting, it isn't really as grand as "Mystic River" or "Unforgivin". In a way "Sudden Impact"'s schizophrenic split between satire and savageness is it's fault; you don't know if you should take it seriously or not. Eastwood is now a pro at playing 'Dirty' Harry, although he is less a man now and more of an icon. Locke dose ok, I guess; although she spit out some diolouge that was very clunky sometimes. And she didn't really sell me as a out of control psycho. Everyone else pretty much plays to type. Except Pat Hingle, I thought his character was sweet and sad, a rare thing in these movies.
Rating:
Summary: What penalty does a rapist deserve ?
Review: Actual rating : 3.5 stars .Background .
-------------- From the beginning of the Dirty Harry series it was clear that Harry Callahan is a different kind of a cop . He is known for his unorthodox methods in pursuing justice , and is the role model of a cop that is interested in making the villains pay by all means necessary . Naturally , these facts have made him notorious and a very controversial character in and out of the silver screen . Harry Callahan represents the dissatisfaction of the common people from the law enforcements' limitations . This figure became so popular from day one owning to its ability to do or express what the crowds would have wanted to do on their own but could not and should not do : Give all the bad guys exactly what they deserve , regardless of due process , lawful rights , the proof burden and the red tape . Eastwood as Harry has always managed to step between the lines and has been on the verge of really breaking the law many times mainly due to frequently dealing with criminals the law can't catch or touch . The harsh relation of Harry to legal responsibilities such as 'telling the rights' to the suspect or pronouncing 'drop your weapon!' before shooting the desperado embodies the bitterness of many from the legal restrictions and limitations mentioned above .
The plot .
--------- The movie starts with the usual Callahan stunts that come to remind the viewers who he is and what he stands for . Then the story develops into an investigation of a series of murders that Harry conducts pretty much on his own . Throughout the movie the resentment from his actions of every superior officer is emphasized to the absurd and the tendency of people to die around him is virtually comical . These recurring motives are the bases of the theatrical Harry series and are expected and even welcomed . ... Significance .
-------------- In a much stronger manner , at least in my money , compared to its predecessors , the movie takes matters I pointed out before further and regards even the suitability and rightness of legal punishment for rape : The writers of the script imply that no punishment but death is what rapists deserve . The strongest scene in the movie confronts one of the rapists with the victim that has come to get even . In a desperate attempt , while facing his doom , the rapist begs for his life and tries to convince the .../executioner that he does not deserve to die for his crime . Moreover , he says that he had been young , drunk and hadn't known what he was doing . At this point you stop to think real hard : What punishment does a crime like this call for ? To find out about the answer of the film you will have watch it . This issue was then , as it is today , of grave implications to our society . With constant rise in the rate of rape cases and in the brutality and viciousness in which they are executed , the thoughts about this subject seem to favor much more serious punishments as means of revenge and intimidation than the ones the legal system carries out . This question is extremely controversial and divisive as is the question of the death penalty . I don't know the answers myself . All I know is that to rape a woman is like to murder her soul - and that it is unforgiven . Final note .
----------- This is a violent and dark film with an extra value to it . The producers should be commended for being brave enough to deal with this extremely hard and conflict-ridden subject . You will have to see it for yourself realize what final conclusion and moral they suggest .
Rating:
Summary: Harry might Make Your Day in this one
Review: After a 7 year hiatus, Eastwood returned to take a fourth Dirty Harry film. Eastwood directed this Dirty Harry sequel and gave his long-time companion Sondra Locke an important role. There's two separate stories in this one that eventually come together for both Harry and the audience. The film is grittier, and move violent than The Enforcer and at times is dark enough that you almost forget this is action film sequel. It starts off as pretty formula stuff, but when one of the stories involves two young women being viciously gang-raped and an almost psychopathic woman vigilante on the loose--it's a little darker, more original and edgier than previous Harry films. Eastwood's a little older and there's a little less bounce in his line delivery so he seems more cynical than we have previously seen him. He's on the trail of some Mobsters who killed a prostitute and winds up in San Paulo, California (where most of the film takes place). When an important Mafia don dies while being interrogated by Harry (heart attack), well Harry's got a price on his head and lots of people gunning for him. The line Go Ahead and Make My Day became famous because of this film and our former President borrowed it from Harry not visa versa. Eastwood as a director brings a bit more style to the series than the previous two entries, but he can't hide the fact the film is a sequel and we know too early
what it going to happen. This is probably the best Harry sequel, and though it doesn't quite offer as much visceral fun as the other Harry's it's one to catch if you're an Eastwood/Harry fan. Look fast for Michael V. Gazzo and that's Camryn Manheim in that elevator with Eastwood.
DVD STUFF Nearly all of the films in the (newly released November 2001) Dirty Harry Collection of DVD's are presented in Anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen Sudden Impact is presented for the most part with vibrant colors and strong black levels, but there are some visible flaws. A few scenes seem a bit 'soft' and there's some visible print damage in a couple places. Over-all it looks very good. All of the Dirty Harry films have been given a complete audio over-haul and the engineers have done a superb job on all the films. The older films in particular have been improved a great deal with a very well done sound re-design. I suspect some re-recording of some foley type effects took place because some of the sound effects sound utterly free from distortion which you would expect to crop up in loud sound effects from 30 years ago. All of the films have a Dolby 5.1. track that has been masterfully presented. Dialogue is easy to hear, and the sound effects
And music effectively use the surround capabilities of all the speakers without over-doing it . Sudden Impact is a pretty bare bones DVD which has a couple of production notes, memorable lines, list of cast and main crew and the original theatrical trailer included on the DVD. No featurettes, no commentaries. Christopher Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Harry's worst adventure.
Review: After Harry lands on a mafia hit list he is sent to the small town of San Paulo (actually Santa Cruz, CA) to investigate the background of a murder victim. What Harry uncovers is a serial killer settling a score. Clint Eastwood doesn't like repeating himself, so it is no big surprise that the Dirty Harry movie he directed resembles the others in the series very little. It is largely set outside of San Francisco and his character has little to do with the actual plot for the first forty or so minutes. The action is nicely handled, but the story's pace is turgid - thanks in large part to Joseph Stinson's sloppy and underdeveloped screenplay. When Eastwood revealed that Sudden Impact was turned into a Dirty Harry movie late in the rewrite game, I was not surprised. The tape holding his character into the story in first few reels is quite evident. Harry fans will want to have this in their collection, but I just don't think it is as fun or exicting as the other movies in the long running series. Trivia - Bradford Dillman makes his second Dirty Harry appearance in Sudden Impact. This time out his character is named Captain Briggs, although he played Captain McKay in the 1976 entry The Enforcer. Briggs was actually the name of the vigilante team leader in the 1973 sequel Magnum Force. Whether this is a knowing wink to that thriller or just sloppy continuity, I am not sure. But I'm edging towards sloppy continuity myself.
Rating:
Summary: Harry's worst adventure.
Review: After Harry lands on a mafia hit list he is sent to the small town of San Paulo (actually Santa Cruz, CA) to investigate the background of a murder victim. What Harry uncovers is a serial killer settling a score. Clint Eastwood doesn't like repeating himself, so it is no big surprise that the Dirty Harry movie he directed resembles the others in the series very little. It is largely set outside of San Francisco and his character has little to do with the actual plot for the first forty or so minutes. The action is nicely handled, but the story's pace is turgid - thanks in large part to Joseph Stinson's sloppy and underdeveloped screenplay. When Eastwood revealed that Sudden Impact was turned into a Dirty Harry movie late in the rewrite game, I was not surprised. The tape holding his character into the story in first few reels is quite evident. Harry fans will want to have this in their collection, but I just don't think it is as fun or exicting as the other movies in the long running series. Trivia - Bradford Dillman makes his second Dirty Harry appearance in Sudden Impact. This time out his character is named Captain Briggs, although he played Captain McKay in the 1976 entry The Enforcer. Briggs was actually the name of the vigilante team leader in the 1973 sequel Magnum Force. Whether this is a knowing wink to that thriller or just sloppy continuity, I am not sure. But I'm edging towards sloppy continuity myself.
Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST DIRTY HARRY IN THE SERIES!
Review: After the disappointing Enforcer from 1977, Sudden Impact is without doubt the best episode in the five Dirty Harry films - excellent storyline, well played soundtrack, well-used locations and of course a strong cast. The climax of the film is truly well staged and blends the taut, seriousness of the film throughout. The story of a rape victim seeking revenge on those that carried out the attack certainly brings the best out of Sondra Locke. Once the film was released, Clint Eastwood was universally acclaimed for bringing such a delecate subject to the cinema. It was a gamble that had hansomely paid off. Clint himself is on top form and plays it vintage style, like the first Dirty Harry. The best line has to be the:- "Go Ahead - Make My Day". Harry's dog - Meathead brings some light moments to the script as does his scene with Bradford Dillman. Great support too from Eastwood film veteran - Pat Hingle. It is no suprise that Sudden Impact is to this date the highest grossing Dirty Harry episode.
Rating: 
Summary: Go Ahead. Make Your Day!
Review: After the disappointment of The Enforcer (1976), it appeared as if the DIRTY HARRY films would remain a trilogy...until at long last came Sudden Impact (1983) in full force. After seven years, Eastwood was willing to give the series another shot. This time he insured that the film would not be a miss-fire by producing and directing the film himself. Sudden Impact does not let down and is the best of the DIRTY HARRY sequels, partly due to its similarities to the first film. After an absense in The Enforcer, Lalo Schriffin returned to compose the memorable music and Bruce Surtees came back to do the amazing cinemaphotography. Then theres Eastwood as producer, director, and star. In Sudden Impact, he does his best portrayal as Inspector Harry Callahan, chewing up every scene he is in. This is the funniest and the most entertaining "Dirty" Harry of them all. The Callahan of the first film is a choir boy compared to this one. He's definitely not at all mellow and calm like he was in Magnum Force (1973). The script of The Enforcer began a trend in Eastwood's dialogue that was more grim-jawed than usual. In Sudden Impact, Eastwood's put-downs are hilarious. As for the rest of the cast, Bradford Dillman returns as Captain Briggs (didn't he die in that car explosion in Magnum Force?) and Sondra Locke is the main antagonist, whom nearly half the film centers on. If the film has a flaw, it was that. However, Locke does not steal the film and sink it. Instead, the film is all Eastwood in some of his best scenes. Some of the most memorable moments of the DIRTY HARRY series are packed into this one film. The plot concerns a rape victim (Locke) who seeks revenge against her attackers. Callahan follows the body count to a small urban town where most of the rapists reside. Once he gets there, its a no-holds-barred adventure/comedy/drama with Callahan battling what seems like the whole town, a town that could be seen as an old western town in any of Eastwood's westerns (Callahan is totally out of place and is not welcome by the local sheriff). Sudden Impact should be seen by anyone who believes that sequels are inferior and pointless.
Rating:
Summary: The jamf is back!
Review: Clint grabs the producer's & director's chair for this particular adventure! And he's throwin' then-girlfriend Sondra Locke into the mix as well! Hey, if you've got the perks, you might as well take full advantage, right? Anyhoo, I thought 'Sudden Impact' was a pretty good turnaround from the previous DH outing, 'The Enforcer'. The main bad guy was actually scary this time 'round! And Harry finally gets some new surroundings in which to wreak havoc! There's Harry's new 'old standby', the .44 Automag! It sure makes for an impressive addition to his silhouette during the climactic final fight scene, don't it? Oh yeah, let's not forget our anti-hero's uttering of one of cinema's most memorable- and woefully overused- lines! In fact, it's SO very overused, I'm not gonna even include them in my review, 'cause y'all know it by heart anyway! Yep, the fun & hijinks rarely let up in this darkest of the DH sequels! Like the previous DH flicks, this one does include the appearance of a future TV/film star. Look for 'The Practice' show co-star Camryn Manheim standing behind Harry in the elevator following the acquittal of a few punks he'd arrested. And Albert Popwell makes his final appearance in the world of Unclean Harold, this time as Harry's latest ill-fated partner Horace. Be on the lookout for him in the previous three movies- he plays a different character in each one! Oh yeah, there's also the big blooper. Take a look at the reflection in the driver-side door window of Horace's car during the forest firing range scene, and you'll see what I mean! As for features, the 'Sudden Impact' DVD hasn't got much- just a trailer, and some brief text regarding the making of the mo-pic. Guess you'll just have to make do with watching the movie... 'Late!
Rating:
Summary: "Why don't you guys go suck some fish heads"?
Review: Dirty Harry is back, and with some of the best quoteable quotes in the series. However, this third sequel is overlong, sometimes unpleasant, and doesn't have that Dirty Harry "feel" to it. Harry is tracking a female serial killer (Sondra Locke) who's knocking off all those who participated in the gang rape of her and her sister years before. Some of the thugs are genuinely despicable and Eastwood is very watchable here. But it's basically a vehicle for Locke, his then girlfriend. Dirty Harry returned to form in 1988's "The Dead Pool."
Rating:
Summary: Dirty Harry at his Dirtiest, Meanest, and most violent.
Review: Easily the most violent of the five films, Sudden Impact is alot like (my favourite) Magnum Force in that Harry kind of Agrees with the Killer, who is taking out the scum of San Francisco. This film introduces the line "Go ahead.. Make my day." and also introduces Harrys Automatic Magnum. All in all it isn't as good as the original or Magnum Force, but is is better than The Dead pool and The Enforcer.
| 
