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Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Clint Eastwood at his best
Review: This was truly Clint Eastwood's finest moments. Dirty Harry is a cop who will do anything to stop the killer he's after. He doesn't really belive that personal possesions are more important than stopping a criminal. Another thing that makes him different is his 42 Smith and Wesson revolver. Most cops don't use that type of gun. His personality in this one is unique from all other LA cop movies. Lines like "do you feel lucky punk"? really scare the guy into not taking a shotgun when Dirty Harry has an empty revolver. In the future I always counted the number of shots he took although the only time it matter was in the Dead Pool when the guy was threatening him and he said "Your out of bullets". Also all of Dirty Harry's less enthusisastic partners who usually die bring more humor to the movie. These movies are ones you'll want to watch again and again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: dirty harry... 'nuff said.
Review: as a guy movie, this is SOLID. harry is a mean guy who doesnt take sh*t from anyone, and isnt afraid to break some of the rules. dirty harry is one of my favority movie characters, right up there with don vito from the godfather II. my only real cpmplaint is the directing. the camera is often shaky, and the lighting plain sucks in some of the scenes. but that couldnt really take away from the laugh out lid funy moment, and the "oh snap!!" action sequences. i recomend it if you arent a bleeding heart activist, as there is a little bit of racist terms thrown around. nothing TOO offensive though.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I always thought that Harry Callahan...
Review: ... was only 'Dirty' for lawyers and people in (so-called) Justice Administration/business who would be the only loosers if they were some like him, using a new Miranda verse: You don't respect anybody rights, so you don't have any other right than to be put away now. Instead, you get law-enforcement busy with getting more money from the tax-payers (with fines for jay-walking or not using your safety-belt in your car), so they can afford the cost of useless trials, followed by expensive welfare for the custody of those who spend their lives taking lifes and/or property from the same tax-payers. Just compare the cost of one bullet versus the cost of gas/electricity chambers (yet, executions are much cheaper than 20 years in jail).

Maybe more people should remember that the Polikally-Korrekt generating crap like Miranda's is the same PK presiding the McCarthy's courts, the Hays' code for movies, or, a bit more remote in History: the 'saint' Inquisition; but, at least, the Inquisition was not as perverted as the P.K., since they didn't require cops risking to be killed while enforcing the rights of the perpetrators.

Long life to Harry Callahan (Cleaners should not be called 'Dirty'). The whole serie (5 movies including this one) is only showing an honest cop doing his best to do his job in the most efficient way, since he even rids community from the risk of recidivism.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Urban Cleanser
Review: This is the first of five "Dirty Harry" films in which Eastwood stars as a San Francisco police detective. By the time the last appeared (The Dead Pool, in 1988), Eastwood had aged and times had changed but Callahan's values and methods remained essentially the same. When initially released, Dirty Harry was immediately controversial as was Death Wish (1974). Audiences tended to be divided between those who were offended by what they considered to be excessive violence and those who (like Harry Callahan and Paul Kersey) had lost confidence in society's willingness and/or ability to respond effectively to violent crime. After seeing each of the two films for the first time, I vividly recall joining those around me in the theatre as they rose and cheered...and continue to applaud for several minutes. I asked myself, "What's going on here? What's this all about?"

At least in the larger U.S. cities 30 years ago, residents had become totally fed up with traditional law enforcement initiatives. It was no longer safe to walk the streets at night. Even more dangerous to do so in public parks. Homes were robbed while people worked during the day. Many of the same homes were robbed again later after insurance coverage replaced the articles previously stolen. Racial animosities, drug abuse, and a widespread contempt for institutional authority all contributed to such problems.

Under Don Siegel's crisp direction, Eastwood and his associates in the cast bring R.M. Fink's screenplay to life (and yes, to death) as they focus on what is obviously an irreconcilable conflict between Callahan and his superiors who include the mayor of San Francisco. Callahan's motto seems to be "Whatever it takes." In some situations, it may take his 44 Magnum, "the most powerful handgun in the world." Callahan has not totally lost faith in his society nor in the importance of the legal system. However, he does feel betrayed. The mayor and even Lieutenant Bressler (Harry Guardino) just don't "get it." This is precisely the same point Jim Malone (Sean Connery) makes to Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) in The Untouchables 26 years later: When orthodox ("by the book") crime-fighting strategies and tactics don't succeed, use others even if they are not (at least technically) legal. Countless other films (such as Magnum Force, The French Connection, and L.A. Confidential) also make the same point.

It is important to remember when seeing this film again, as I did recently, that it portrays elements of an urban society few of us ever experience. Also, that it is a drama, not a documentary. Its primary purpose is to tell a story. The plot focuses on a serial killer named "Scorpio" (Andy Robinson) whom Callahan is determined to eliminate. Even when he eventually does so, questions remain. Don't criminals also have rights? What would happen if all or most other detectives followed Callahan's example? To what extent (if any) should private citizens also be actively involved in law enforcement? I agree with several critics who claim that, with Dirty Harry, Siegel and Eastwood created a new film genre. Its influence proved to be substantial. Each viewer must decide for herself or himself how much social relevance it has retained after 32 years but almost everyone would agree that it has lost little of its entertainment value.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ya gotta love it
Review: Okay, so ol' Clint takes the law into his own hands, vigilante-style. It's not good for politics if things like this go on in real life, but it sure makes a great movie. With beautiful and picturesque San Francisco as a background, the movie focuses on the tracking of a psychopath, the Scorpio killer who has everyone in the city suspecting their grocer, the taxi driver, and the washing machine repair man.
And Clint Eastwood was made for this part - or perhaps the part was made for Eastwood. He's so god at portraying a character to whom the end justifies the means - any means at all. If you haven't already seen it, rent it now. If you've already seen it, see it again. It's just as good second - or third - time around.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It'll blow you away
Review: "Dirty Harry" made Clint Eastwood a star. Yes, there was the Italian westerns that made him famous, but this is the one that made him an American icon. Harry Callahan is the man every man wants to be.
The story is that a roof top sniper is killing the citizens of San Francisco. He is a cold, vicious murderer who wants a huge ransom to stop. Harry Callahan is the cop assigned to the case. Harry is a loner, he's the type to shoot first (with his massive, now infamous, Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum) and ask questions later. At first he goes along with police procedure, until the killer starts a new MO. When Harry tries to arrest him, he violate some of the killer's civil rights, and then is released. Harry begins stalking him as the killer is now trolling for new victoms.
This movie is not a mystery, it is more about social issues. Some people say the movie is dated. Maybe, maybe not. I think that rights of the accused are still highly sensitive issue today. Dirty Harry just did what any one of us in those extraordinary circumstances would have done.
On top everything it is an excellent action thriller. The pace is tight and it is just great to see someone just doing what's right, not nessesarily what's leagle.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It¿s the law. Then the law¿s crazy!
Review: The first of five Dirty Harry movies was definitely the best in the series. By the 1970's, there was a growing frustration on how light criminals were getting punished. True, the police were doing their jobs, but certain judges were doling out lenient sentences.

Dirty Harry is an angry response to the increasing crime rate exacerbated by judicial incompetence, and that was something expanded in the second movie, Magnum Force. The sobering opening scene has the camera panning down the lengthy plaque listing members of the SFPD killed on duty.

Harry Callahan's first onscreen case involves tracking down a demented serial killer named Scorpio, who during the opening credits, aims a high-powered rifle from a rooftop and kills a girl in a swimming pool. A note demands the City of San Francisco to pay him $100,000 or else he will kill either a Catholic priest or a black, and he uses the six letter N-word too. Harry is assigned Gonzalez, a young Latino who Harry is initially indifferent to due to his previous partners ending up in the hospital or worse.

One noteworthy sequence involves Harry introducing crooks to his weapon of choice. He gives them this memorable spiel: "I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?E You tell'em, Harry! Another bit of memorable dialogue involves Harry explaining to the mayor why he thought a man intended to assault a female: "When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher's knife and a h*****n, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross!E

One goof is the route a bus takes on the Golden Gate Bridge. Presumably, the intended destination is Santa Rosa, where there's an airport, but why take the turnoff at San Quentin and Sir Francis Drake Blvd., in the opposite direction, where there's no airport? I say this because I used to live in the area.

The movie also forces an examination of the Miranda Rights and other legal empowerment afforded to the ordinary citizen. The concept of evidence being inadmissible because of bureaucratic slip-ups may have been used to enforce the Fourth Amendment and to prevent law enforcement officials from abusing their office or persecuting individuals. However, when there's a clear case of a criminal being guilty before arrest and law enforcement jumps the gun on the paperwork, does that justify the wheels of the law juddering to a halt, the results of which any evidence gathered prior to a warrant is discounted?

Dirty Harry has several things going for it. One is Clint Eastwood's laconic look, that trademark narrowed squint, and the title character's general disdain for bureaucrats as well as being a crack shot and being intelligent. Another is Lalo Schifrin's music, which captures the mood of the lively action scenes down to the sobering notes at the film's denouement. And Andrew Robinson as Scorpio is pretty chilling in a mixture of cleverness and downright insanity.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome
Review: This was a great film all-around. Filled with suspense, action and mystery. Clint Eastwood is amazing in his "tough cop" role. No one does it like Clint. From start to finish, this was one of the darkest crime films ever.

It's just a simple story - Cop tries to hunt down serial killer, and that's it. But... This has to be Clint Eastwood's second best movie. The plot flows perfectly with the story. If you like cop movies with an interesting plot, this is the one for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "Now you gotta ask yourself one question - do I feel lucky?"
Review: "Well, do ya, punk?"
If you recently watched this film, I'm sure you do. "Dirty Harry" is a legendary action film and a classic Eastwood flick, definitely among his greatest. Eastwood is "Dirty" Harry Callahan, a cop who always gets the job done - anyway it takes. Well-directed with a dynamite script and a funky score; definitely not something you should miss. Now what else was I gonna say...
"Well to tell you the truth I've forgot myself in all this excitement."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Do you feel lucky?
Review: This is the original of all the five movies they made about crime and the Inspector Harry Callahan.
A rooftop serial sniper is terrorizing San Francisco and sends a letter to the mayor, threatening to kill homosexuals or negroes if his demands aren't met.He kidnaps a young girl and unfortunately she dies. He sends her teeth through the mail to verify that he has her.
This movie was inspired by the zodiac killings of the sixties and if you read the book Zodiac it verifies that. I had figured that out before I read the book.Another connection is that Scorpio, the serial killer in Dirty Harry, played by Andrew Robinson,is a sign of the Zodiac which is another indication that Dirty Harry was inspired by these killings.
Also when you watch this movie you can see what inspired Shane Black, writer of Lethal Weapon to write the scene where the lead characters tries to talk a man out of committing suicide on top of a roof. The same thing happens in Dirty Harry.
This movie was written with Frank Sinatra as Dirty Harry but I can't imagine that Sinatra would have played him as Eastwood did. Eastwood was good in playing Harry tough. Can I imagine Sinatra playing Dirty Harry? Maybe. But he certainly wouldn't have been as good. The part wouldn't have suited him as much as Eastwood because I believe that Eastwood can play tough better.
When Harry meets the killer at the end after jumping off a bridge onto a school bus full of kidnapped children (another scene inspired by the ravings of the Zodiac killer)he asks him,"Do you feel lucky?" He must have. He went for his gun but he run out of luck.


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