Rating: 
Summary: A real Winner
Review: Not sure where to begin with Death Wish 2. Significantly, it was directed by Michael Winner, who directed the first and would go on to direct the amazing third entry in this series about 'bleeding heart liberal' architect Paul Kersey and his vigilante side job. Paul Kersey now lives in sunny Los Angeles, which like New York is depicted as a pit of human filth and depravity. The incredible cynicism of the filmmakers begins right away as Kersey's housemaid and daughter--who, remember, was violently raped in the original--are brutaly raped, with the maid murdered. Then Kersey's daughter is taken away, raped again, and decides to jump out a window rather than endure the rest of the film. Kersey then puts down his slide ruler and blueprints and takes up his old hobby of blowing away criminal scum. The main difference between Part 2 and the original, besides an even deeper cynicism, a lower budget, and overall abysmal effort by all involved, is that Bronson actually hunts down the individuals responsible for these acts of malfeasance. His behavior now flat-out pathological, he rents a cheap office in a bad part of LA, using it as a home base for his vigilante operations. Donning ski cap and dark clothes and packing heat, he roams the streets of LA, looking for revenge. Even the tagline is noteworthy: Bronson's on the loose again! Seems to suggest that, in effect, it didn't matter who Bronson was playing, because 'he' was on the loose again! Overall, it's bad. Very, very bad. Part 3 is bad, but it has other things going for it, namely that it cannot be taken seriously for a moment and it knows it, the tongue so firmly in cheek that it becomes an incredible guilty pleasure and one of the best bad movies of the 80s, perhaps ever. But Part 2, for the most part, is an exploitation movie. The film looks cheap, grimy, and rushed. It can't even succeed as a bad movie, which is pretty depressing. It feels seedy, right down to the very grainy film stock and washed out look to the picture. And to top it off, Jimmy Page contributes one of the most appalling scores I've heard in a movie of any genre. Not even his score for Part 3 was this embarassing. And yes, it is THE Jimmy Page. As for Bronson, he's particularly wooden in this one. Which may be appropriate as at this point, Kersey is less than sane. But alas! The Death Wish flicks finally reappeared on DVD, right around the time of Bronson's death in 2003. Obviously recommended if you like, well, Death Wish movies, the DVDs are capable, if pretty bare bones. I would love to hear Michael Winner do a commentary track to discuss his state of mind when he directed this one.
Rating:
Summary: A real Winner
Review: Not sure where to begin with Death Wish 2. Significantly, it was directed by Michael Winner, who directed the first and would go on to direct the amazing third entry in this series about 'bleeding heart liberal' architect Paul Kersey and his vigilante side job. Paul Kersey now lives in sunny Los Angeles, which like New York is depicted as a pit of human filth and depravity. The incredible cynicism of the filmmakers begins right away as Kersey's housemaid and daughter--who, remember, was violently raped in the original--are brutaly raped, with the maid murdered. Then Kersey's daughter is taken away, raped again, and decides to jump out a window rather than endure the rest of the film. Kersey then puts down his slide ruler and blueprints and takes up his old hobby of blowing away criminal scum. The main difference between Part 2 and the original, besides an even deeper cynicism, a lower budget, and overall abysmal effort by all involved, is that Bronson actually hunts down the individuals responsible for these acts of malfeasance. His behavior now flat-out pathological, he rents a cheap office in a bad part of LA, using it as a home base for his vigilante operations. Donning ski cap and dark clothes and packing heat, he roams the streets of LA, looking for revenge. Even the tagline is noteworthy: Bronson's on the loose again! Seems to suggest that, in effect, it didn't matter who Bronson was playing, because 'he' was on the loose again! Overall, it's bad. Very, very bad. Part 3 is bad, but it has other things going for it, namely that it cannot be taken seriously for a moment and it knows it, the tongue so firmly in cheek that it becomes an incredible guilty pleasure and one of the best bad movies of the 80s, perhaps ever. But Part 2, for the most part, is an exploitation movie. The film looks cheap, grimy, and rushed. It can't even succeed as a bad movie, which is pretty depressing. It feels seedy, right down to the very grainy film stock and washed out look to the picture. And to top it off, Jimmy Page contributes one of the most appalling scores I've heard in a movie of any genre. Not even his score for Part 3 was this embarassing. And yes, it is THE Jimmy Page. As for Bronson, he's particularly wooden in this one. Which may be appropriate as at this point, Kersey is less than sane. But alas! The Death Wish flicks finally reappeared on DVD, right around the time of Bronson's death in 2003. Obviously recommended if you like, well, Death Wish movies, the DVDs are capable, if pretty bare bones. I would love to hear Michael Winner do a commentary track to discuss his state of mind when he directed this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Brutal reality
Review: Plot
This film is the second appearance of the character of Paul Kersey, the liberal architect who became a vigilante after his daughter was assaulted (with spray paint) and his wife was killed while trying to stop the assault perpetrators. Kerseys daughter is visiting her father but is still in the state in which she was left in the first film, only she seems to be happier. Kersey takes his daughter and his girlfriend to a fair, then goes to get ice cream. But it seems that he is the only man in the world who can get mugged during such an activity; a gang with a kingpin played by Lawrence Fishburn steals his wallet. He chases after them and stops, but this is definitely not the last he hears of them as they use his ID to find his home then rape his maid; then he returns with his daughter and they knock him out, kidnap his daughter and rape her. She dies by throwing herself out a window. And so the plot is set for Charles Bronson's character to avenge his daughter and reenter the vigilante lifestyle. Analysis
I very much enjoyed this movie, from seeing a movie shows reality in a form that's so blunt it offends many people, to the delivery of such lines as "Do you believe in Jesus...well now your going to meet him." In this movie, unlike its predecessor, Kersey actually knows who he is hunting, and he does not to bother those who he did not see in the apartment, while in the first movie he simply capped those who tried to mug him, or in one case a gang who was harassing a middle aged man. Rather than simply being a vigilante, Bronson is now also playing an avenger. There is another change in Kersey in this movie; he no longer is reluctant to kill. Granted that went away in the second half of the first movie but in the sequel that reluctance is even less. Kersey now delivers lines to his enemies before doing away with them, and does it as though it's the most natural thing in the world. Having Bronson play the protagonist really aids this effect; with is calm voice he can make statements in a straightforward and threatening manner but at the same time not show any signs that he has lost his cool. As though dispatching criminals and antagonizing them were just a normal part of life for him, oh wait, it is lol. Notes
The film that was actually released in theatres is different from the original version in terms of graphic rape scenes. The MPAA was going to give it an X rating but gave it an R after the movie was toned down. See Lawrence Fishburn playing a rapist known as Cutter; he doesn't have quite the same effect as the paint fetish guys from DW but he's still pretty sadistic.
Rating: 
Summary: Character Development
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: nice sequel
Review: The charme of a sequel is that they are a look a like of the first movie, but always a little rougher or cheaper
I really like this movie. Paul Kersey is getting even more [ticked] than before, and gets rid of the scum that killed his daughter.
Why isn't this movie brought out on DVD ? And also part 3
Part 5 is on DVD but, part 4 and 5 haven't got the charme of the real death wish idea.
Rating:
Summary: MORE OF A PARODY OF DEATH WISH 1
Review: The first Death Wish was a strong social commentary on violence in society and the helplessness that people often feel. Charles Bronson plays paul Kersey whose wife and daughter are brutally raped. Bronson takes matters into his own hands when the police do nothing and begins a killing spree, hunting down criminals. In Death Wish 2, Kersey, who has moved to Los Angeles in hopes that the crime rate will be lower there. However, he gets mugged while at a fair and the thugs learn his address from his wallet. They go to his house and rape and murder his housekeeper. They wait for him to arrive home so they can beat him up. They kidnap his daughter and rape her and she accidentally kills herself while trying to get away from them. Familiar with the inefficiency of the "system", he decides to exact revenge himself. He goes to a seedy part of town and rents a cheap room where he can hide his gun and change into clothes that will make him look less conspicuous in that area. Every night you see him walking the streets, searching for her killers. One night, he hears a scream, and runs to help. A man is being held back while a group of thugs try and gang rape the woman he is with. Kersey shoots them all and gets away. The police arrive and want to know the description of the man who shot them but the victims decline. The police suspect a vigilante and become insistent that the couple give them a description. The couple, being grateful for Kersey's help, give outlandish and inaccurate descriptions in order to protect Kersey's identity. The LA police department contacts the New York police department because they remember they had a vigilante problem 2 years before and want to know how they handled it. When the NYPD big wigs get wind of this, they immediately suspect Kersey and they fear for their jobs (since they never charged Kersey). They're afraid Kersey will get caught and the press will reveal the connection so they send an officer (Ochoa played by Vincent Gardenia) to LA to kill Kersey so none of his previous vigilante history will leak to the press. Death Wish 2 is NOT a horrible movie. It certainly lacked the powerful commentary of the first movie, preferring to go for pure machismo as Bronson blows away one thug after another. It really becomes a bit of a cartoon with the excessive violence. Still, Bronson was still in decent form at this point and the successive Death Wish movies would be horrible. Stop at #2.
Rating:
Summary: DEATH WISH REVISITED
Review: This "sequel" is a disgusting, low budget reworking of the original. After his housekeeper & daughter are raped & murdered Bronson goes on another rampage. Bronson & Winner must have really needed the work. Not much to recommend it, not even Jimmy Page's score but if it's mindless violence you're after, this is a good bet.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic!
Review: This film is arguably the most revolting ever made in cinematic history. It's cheap, amateurish, reactionary, depraved, excessively violent with no acting and the mere remnants of a script. The product of a sick, warped, and twisted mind. In short, unmissable entertainment!
Rating:
Summary: ARE YOU KIDDING ME??THIS IS A GREAT FLICK
Review: This is just as good as the first,watch charles bronson blast away scumbag parasites,if everyone had the attitude of kersey,we'ed have safer streets today.
Rating:
Summary: the DVD is a cut version
Review: 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!
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