Death Wish 4K Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- Death Wish is one of Charles Bronson's most iconic movies and now it comes to 4K thanks to Kino Lorber! In this 4K Movie Review, we discuss why the movie is more relevant than ever and how it looks on the UHD format.
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Funny enough, the original author of the Death Wish novel, Brian Garfield, actually didn't like the adaptation because he felt that it missed the point of the novel. In the novel, Paul Benjamin (the protagonist) was a man who fell furtrher and further into desiring more violence to the point where he starts to stop seeing people as humans. In one of the more jarring sections of the book, Paul is staring at passengers in a subway train and thinking how he would have made a good "train conductor to Auschwitz." Garfield's ultimate statement was a denouncement of vigilantism and the whole "eye-for-an-eye" aspect to killing.
Whereas in the movie, Paul "Kersey" is never not portrayed as correct in his fascistic worldview. Garfield saw the movie as almost a worship of the vigilante and felt that the movie "let Paul off the hook too easily."
Fun fact in the third film the hand cannon he brought on was not a prop it was Charles Bronson’s personal carry piece!
Now we just need the other Death Wish films to get 4K's but also love watching the Death Wish because also this was Jeff Goodblum first major role on film
I' m really mad that Goldblum and his gang were left untouched in this.
Death Wish 3 has Bronson seemingly doing battle with the guys from Breakin' 2.
hhahahah what a great description. yes watching these movies now ( I saw them as a young teen in the mid 80s) its just comedic how laughable silly the "gangs" get each iteration. If you want to see this trope pushed to its most ridiculous i HIGHLY recommend "New York Ninja" that VS recently put out. The "gangs" in it are beyound silly. Crew socks and electrical tape wrapped around their heads (to disguise the fact that its the same 5 dudes each incident acting as differnt gangs)
First Blood, Dirty harry 1 and 2 and Death wish were my favorite classic action films with surprising amount of depth.
Thanks for the review. I'd love to see this movie. To me, a good 4K looks more correct color wise and looks more like a film print. Those are the 4Ks I'm the most excited for.
Thanks for the review Heath. Really looking forward to picking this up. Glad to hear that Paramount did good this time. I think it will be a great companion to Vinegar Syndrome’s Death Wish II 4K.
Thanks for reviewing this release, Heath. I saw this film for the first time on HBO back in 1980 or so when I was a young teen, along with Death Wish II and Death Wish III soon after it’s theatrical release. All 3 are great films. I’m glad to hear your review as this being a decent release. I have mine on preorder and can’t wait to add it to my Vinegar Syndrome Part II 4k and Scorpion Part 3 Blu-ray. Hopefully Part III will be the next in line for a 4K treatment and preferably released by Vinegar Syndrome lol Their packaging and 4k transfers have been outstanding!
Really wish this came with a digital version. Love my physical media, but digital versions are always a nice value add.
Got this one on pre order...some reviewers say the film is cheesy ..but I absolutely disagree the movie is so powerful with a great soundtrack by Herbie Hancock ..the film is very realistic and Bronson is not playing a hero he is a flawed character frustrated with the police and their lack of progress...it's not a feel good movie ...and as for the sequels well errr.
It was pretty interesting seeing a teenage Jeff Goldblum as one of the villains. I always thought it was kind of odd that they never had Kersey track down and confront his daughter's original assailants though.
That’s what I liked about the film. He took his revenge on any/all criminals.
A young Denzel Washington is also in the film playing a young hood attempting to rob Charles Bronson in an alley. He's wearing a black jacket with a hat in the scene.
He did that in the second film when his family was attacked again.
Death Wish may be a Paramount picture, but luckily they weren’t behind the restoration. It’s a Kino Lorber release, so the scans should hopefully not have any DNR applied to them. And seeing as it’s from 1974 (the same year as another gritty NY-shot film/recent and excellent KL remaster on 4K: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three), I expect to see just as favorable an outcome on this disc. Can’t wait!
All 4Ks are DNR'd to a degree, lest the film grain get too ridiculous.
Some 4k releases the grain is too much
Death Wish 2 is out in 4K now too!
Great review--I will check this out on your recommendation.
At the time of its release in 1974, the great film critic Dave Kehr opined that the film would have been much more powerful without already established tough persona Bronson in the part. He asked what would the picture have been like and how would it have effectively reflected the subject matter with a more “everyday” type guy like Martin Balsam or Arthur Kennedy playing Paul Kersey? I found the idea fascinating and still do. What do you think, Heath?
It's an interesting thought experiment. I suspect if Death Wish had starred Martin Balsam or Arthur Kennedy we likely wouldn't be talking about it today and it would be another solid studio picture from 50 years ago that is worth watching but made no lasting impact.
I think Bronson does really well with what he's given--much more so than the relative cartoon caricature that was to follow in the sequels. But hey, I'm also a fan of his "regular man pushed too far" persona and it's one of the reasons Death Wish works for me. I think Bronson excelled at those roles. Without him, does the audience show up? I'm not sure they do.
@@CerealAtMidnight I agree completely. As much as I would like to see that movie Kehr proposed, I find no fault with Bronson’s portrayal. He may have been inherently limited as an actor or underrated or both at certain times, but he is excellent in the first DW and the film works great because of him, not in spite of him. Plus as you say the legacy of the picture would not be what is without him. I really enjoyed your review and this is definitely a must buy 4K. Thanks.
Been waiting for your review of this one. Thanks, Heath!! Going to pick it up with The Italian Job. Curious if you picked up Death Wish 2 from Vinegar Syndrome?
I didn’t, no.
Also Denzel Washington 's first role as well.
It’s been confirmed that in the alley that’s not actually him, although it looks a hell of a lot like him
It isn't Denzel
Isn't it too dark. I like the BR better (few years old). Compare the "Death Wish" credit during the opening. Very different and darker on 4K.
Your thoughts Heath, as usual, are different and more interesting than most. The movie, as you noted, is really about what happens when violence becomes personal to you, your family and what it does to your makeup and how it changes you in a forever way that not many other things do. Death Wish dealt with that straight on. Thanks again, Joe.
Excellent synopsis - well done :-)
Hey Paramount PLEASE....LEAVE the Grain In on your 4K Ultra HD In the FUTURE...THANK YOU
STONE COLD CLASSIC. that is all :)
Excellent analysis, and love the hand slap for Paramount, lol.
Can't wait to get my hands on this disc. Question: when someone is attacked with a knife or bat, why isn't it referred to as "knife violence" or "bat violence"?
Bat violence is when Batman beats thugs to a pulp.
We hear a lot about knife violence in the UK.
It's on order. Love these old "classics"
At the end of the video you showed the cover of the slim case. It´s different. Hopefully there´s the other motive of the original one sheet as well.
My copy has not shipped yet,how did you get your's so early?
Because I’m a reviewer.
Hi Heath love you reviews I would like to know maybe through your contacts in the industry will they ever do great movies in 4k like BEN HUR 1958 ,ROB ROY 1995, TROY 2004, OPEN RANGE 2003, SILVERADO 1985 , MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY 1962 , BULLITT 1968 , THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 1960, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS 1963 , THE KING AMD I 1956, CLEOPATRA 1963 , DANCES WITH WOLVES 1990 , SOUND OF MUSIC 1965 , THE LAST EMPEROR 1987 . MASTER AND COMMANDER. 2003 . These are just a few that a well worthy of getting the 4k remastering
As studios seem to do a lot of other way less quality movies than the ones I have put down so you would never purchase in a million years
I am sure I am speaking for all of us physical media collectors please let me know if any are in the pipeline that would be great I look forward to you reply Paul G
The Magnificent Seven comes out on 4K in February. Some of these seem likely, some less so. Things that are now under Disney's purview seem more unlikely.
The Last Emperor is getting a 4K release from Arrow 2/13/23.
Death 2 and 3 are my favorite.
I'll give it a whirl