10 To Midnight (1983)

3 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: Back in town... with a vengeance!
Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
Written by: J. Lee Thompson, William Roberts
Actors include: Charles Bronson, Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Horror, Crime
Length: 101 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was cheese supreme, and although I thought the idea of combining a Charles Bronson flick with a serial killer concept was a good one. Everyone seems like they were phoning it in, even Bronson didn't seem like he could care less that he was in the movie. The serial killer at large is kind of amusing because he's a nudie, and watching him run around and kill people who are making out while naked is unusual. Bronson is the cop that is determined to catch the guy, even if it means toying with evidence that could get him deeper into trouble. It's just not exciting and although the killing part is okay the rest of the Police procedural stuff was pretty dull, and there wasn't enough violence to make this a good slasher either. The element of Bronson having a daughter was a bit interesting as of course the killer will want to target her etc. At least the last little bit is somewhat exciting but it definitely needed more punch.

Availability:  On DVD

Death Wish V: The Face Of Death aka Death Wish 5 (1994)

3.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: The vigilante is back...
Directed by: Alan A. Goldstein,
Written by: Michael Colleary, Brian Garfield
Actors include: Charles Bronson, Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Parks
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
So if you are looking for a comedy filled with ridiculously impossible stunts and unrealistic everything then you need to see this. I laughed until I just about cried, and I found this immensely entertaining...but to say it's a "good movie" is rather difficult. So this is the last in the Death Wish series which I generally love...at this point Charles Bronson is rather aged, and in love with a fashion designer person with a little girl. Little girl's Father happens to be some sort of mobster bad guy who's posse attacks Bronson's girlfriend. What choice does he have but to go all vigilante on their asses? This time he isn't always using guns and easy weapons like that...no he goes for poisons, wood chippers and saws and things...(which don't seem to really belong at a fashion design warehouse but what do I know?). It's got plenty of insane violence, enough to satisfy most anyone and plenty 'o Bronson, what more could you want?

Availability:  On DVD

Death Hunt (1981)

4.5 / 5
Tagline:  The Saga Of Two Rivals Who Clash As Enemies And Triumph As Heroes.
Directed by:  Peter R. Hunt
Written by:  Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Actors include:  Charles Bronson, Angie Dickinson, Lee Marvin
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Thriller
Length:  92 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
Charles Bronson is back, and this time he's a Canadian in the '30s! He plays a trapper who keeps to himself (in other words yes he's the exact same character as he is in Death Wish) that winds up in trouble with the law. He sees a dogfight going on, and decides to save one of the dogs but he doesn't pay the trapper the amount he feels the nearly dead dog is worth. Bronson brings it back to health and then continues on, but he won't have piece for long as a gang of the dog owners friends attack him. Of course he goes to defend himself, and gets blamed and from there it's one big chase through the cold Canadian climate over mountains and hills. It's rather thrilling, and the scenery is beautiful too. It's sort of like a western in many ways, though an action film it definitely qualifies as also. I think fans of Bronson films should definitely eat this right up, it's quite an exciting treat that is straightforward and very easy to enjoy.


Availability:  On DVD

Mr. Majestyk (1974)

3.5 / 5
Tagline:  Why are they saying it's the one movie you should see this year? Ask anyone who's seen it. Anyone.
Directed by:  Richard Fleischer
Written by:  Elmore Leonard
Actors include:  Charles Bronson, Linda Cristal, Al Lettieri
Genre:  Action, Crime, Drama
Length:  103 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
Just when I thought I had seen everything, this Melon-choly tale about a woeful Melon farmer who has to take revenge. Who else would you cast in an epic like this other than Charles Bronson, from defending the streets to defending the melon patch! I'll bet you are wondering why I keep saying melon...well that's nothing in comparison to the amount of times you are about to hear it if you watch this film. Hilariously enough this is treated like a serious action film, even with this silly topic and I think that's the main reason to watch it. That and if you've ever wanted to see a melon massacre, you are guaranteed one! It's beyond stupid and the actress who plays the love interest is rather irritatingly bad in the acting department but luckily she's not in this a ton. The story also loses focus towards the end where it just turns into good guy vs. bad guys but it used to be all about the melons! It was something to see, but I think I would chose Death Wish 3 again before this one, it's better than Death Wish 4: The Crackdown though!


Availability:  On DVD

The Mechanic (1972)

4.5 / 5 Feb '11
Tagline: He fixes people so they never work again.
Directed by: Michael Winner
Written by: Lewis John Carlino
Actors include: Charles Bronson, Jan Michael-Vincent, Keenan Wynn
Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Charles Bronson plays a Mechanic (erm hitman) named Arthur who is very into his job, he's tough as nails and very private. Life is going relatively well until he kills a Man who just happens to have an annoying son Steve (Jan-Michael Vincent). For some unknown reason Arthur takes Steve on as a trainee teaching him just about everything he knows. The problem being that Arthur's "crew" aren't very happy about this new inclusion as he didn't really get permission first. The story has loads of violence, explosives, chases and excitement around every corner. It's a very satisfying little film that I hadn't heard very much about until the remake came out. It really is a good film and heck I may even try the remake after this. If you are looking for a well made hitman flick, this is one of the most fun examples I've found.

Availability:  On DVD