There are so many questions one has when watching Death Wish 3. The biggest one is how someone convinced Jimmy Page (yes, that Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin) to come back as the composer after the cinematic war crime that was Death Wish 2? Yes, let me repeat that… how did someone convince Jimmy Page (yes, that Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin) to come back as the composer after Death Wish 2? That isn’t to say Death Wish 3 and Death Wish 2 aren’t entertaining as hell pieces of nonsense, but both are cinematic flaming garbage, it must be stated, with so many unbelievable turns that it could have only been produced by the Cannon Film Group.
Death Wish 3 proves without a doubt that Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has nothing but bad luck. Reeling from the events of Death Wish 2 (and probably Death Wish as well), Kersey is now your average Vigilante going from town to town cleaning up the local “street trash” like some sort of psychotic Kane from Kung-Fu. Our “hero” heads back to NYC to see a friend, and (un)luck would have it that he runs in just as his friend has been murdered. Worse still is the fact that the cops ran in right at that moment as well and accused him of it. After being roughed up by fascist super cop played by character actor supreme Ed Lauter, he’s set free.
Kersey is set free, alright. Free to start a land war in New York City and eventually levels four city blocks as he murder death kills every gang member in sight. With names like The Giggler (because you know he giggles), these “gangstas” are straight out of Cannon’s other franchise Breakin’ (specifically Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo). Every person that isn’t named Bronson is merely cannon fodder for the eventual all-out war that Bronson lays down on the gang members.
Michael Winner is not a subtle filmmaker. His appetite for cruelty and sadism is a mile wide and has no depth. One just needs to watch Death Wish 2 and its multiple protracted sexual assault scenes to understand. Winner here is in comic book form, at least his version of a comic book (think Frank Miller). Death Wish 3, for all its violence, is an unserious cartoon with has an elderly couple laughing at the carnage outside their window (it’s gang members, so it’s okay). It’s all some sort of lunatic fever dream that one can laugh off because it’s so ridiculous, and if anyone actually thought it was truthful would need some serious help.
In the center of the chaos is the Robert DeNiro to Michael Winner’s Martin Scorsese … Charles Bronson. The stone face superstar is as you expect in this third outing… stone faced. Bronson, in his Cannon/Winner years, seems to be bored even with the action scenes here. As I had said in my Death Wish 4: The Crackdown review: “Bronson is Bronson here. Stoic or Stone-faced, depending on your love of one of the Chucks that made Cannon Films. Kersey here has gotten to the point where he’s Jason Vorhees for the 1980s action set. All they need to do is activate him to ensure a maximum amount of carnage. If Death Wish 3 is the Jason Takes Manhattan of the DW series, then The Crackdown is certainly Jason Goes to Hell. How does one critique the performance of Jason? You can’t, and so I won’t, other than to say Bronson knew exactly what he was doing and what his audience wanted. He delivered time and time again, no matter the shenanigans that Golan and Globus pulled.”
Though Death Wish 3 in Winner’s hands does make one feel like they’re watching some deranged proto-Terminator style film where Bronson has been sent back in time to kill these gang members, as eventually they will lead the resistance against the android overlord. In fact, that would be a greater storyline than Death Wish 3’s kill everyone real good plot. Though when taken on its own terms, it’s a hell of a ride… one that any fan of 1980s action films should take.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is an excellent upgrade to the picture. The film itself is not a visual stunner to begin with. That being said, the image is flawless without a single spec of dirt or scratch present throughout the run time. The Dolby Vision encoding gives all the blacks and contrast levels deeper details. Bravo to Kino Lorber for taken the time and care for another sold 4K UHD upgrade.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
Audio Commentary by Film Historian Paul Talbot, the Author of the Bronson’s Loose! Books
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
Audio Commentary by Film Historian Paul Talbot, the Author of the Bronson’s Loose! Books
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
Alternate Ending (Newly Restored in SDR) with Audio Commentary by Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
Interview with Actor Kirk Taylor
Theatrical Trailer
The first of two Audio Commentaries is an archival track by Film Historian Paul Talbot, the Author of the Bronson’s Loose! Books. Talbot opens with his credentials and where Bronson was in his career as he made Death Wish 3. Some of the other details include the original source material written by Brian Garfield; a brief production history of both the original and the Cannon-produced sequel; the building and construction of the New York City set that was erected in South London; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Ed Lauter, including his work with Bronson; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Gavan O’Herlihy; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Martin Balsam; a history of the Michael Winner and Charles Bronson collaboration; the production schedule of the film both in London and New York City; some of the violent crime figures in 1985 when the film was made; the post production process – including the fact that Winner edited the film himself and the editing pseudonym; a larger discussion of what was shot on location in New York and what was shot in London; a larger discussion of the various bits of violence that were cut to obtain an R-rating; the various scenes that were deleted (some included in the TV version) or not shot; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more.
The second of the Audio Commentaries is an all-new track by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. The duo opens their track with their credentials before a discussion of the iconic 59th Street Bridge, which shots of opens the film, before discussing how the film was filmed in both New York and London. Some of the other details include how their first viewings as New Yorkers, they could tell that the film was not filmed entirely in New York; a discussion of the reasons why Michael Winner returned to the series, and the reasons why it was made as an action film rather than a grim revenge thriller; a discussion of the series up until this point; a discussion of the career of director Michael Winner both pre and post-Death Wish 3; a discussion of the history of the Cannon Film Group which produced the Death Wish series (2 – 4 at least) and many of the conversative action films of the 1980s that rose to popularity; the cartoonish nature of the entire film and catering to the specific audience they made the film for; a larger discussion of the history of Bronson’s collaboration with Winner – a detailed discussion of a lot of their films together; a larger discussion of the style of director Michael Winner; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various New York City locations they use and their historical and social relevance; and much more. The track is another winner by the duo, with plenty of quotes by Bronson and company from the time.
Alternate Ending (Newly Restored in HDR and SDR) with Audio Commentary by Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson (11:04) – the alternate ending itself is included on the Blu-ray version but not the 4K UHD disc. The alternate ending is a tag / post-credit sequence about the fate of Paul Kersey, which did not appear in the original version. The commentary by Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson discusses the ending tag and some additional production details they did not get into their commentary proper of the finale.
Interview with Actor Kirk Taylor (8:26) – in this all-new interview with Taylor opens with being cast by director Michael Winner. The actor goes on to discuss his relationship with Winner; how the director helped him get an audition for Full Metal Jacket; working with Bronson – including a few anecdotes; working on London, and their recreation of New York; shooting his death scene; working with Alex Winter and Gavan O’Herlihy; and much more.
Third time’s the charm for Charles Bronson who goes sorched earth in Death Wish 3. New to 4K UHD from Kino Lorber.
The Film
There are so many questions one has when watching Death Wish 3. The biggest one is how someone convinced Jimmy Page (yes, that Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin) to come back as the composer after the cinematic war crime that was Death Wish 2? Yes, let me repeat that… how did someone convince Jimmy Page (yes, that Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin) to come back as the composer after Death Wish 2? That isn’t to say Death Wish 3 and Death Wish 2 aren’t entertaining as hell pieces of nonsense, but both are cinematic flaming garbage, it must be stated, with so many unbelievable turns that it could have only been produced by the Cannon Film Group.
Death Wish 3 proves without a doubt that Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has nothing but bad luck. Reeling from the events of Death Wish 2 (and probably Death Wish as well), Kersey is now your average Vigilante going from town to town cleaning up the local “street trash” like some sort of psychotic Kane from Kung-Fu. Our “hero” heads back to NYC to see a friend, and (un)luck would have it that he runs in just as his friend has been murdered. Worse still is the fact that the cops ran in right at that moment as well and accused him of it. After being roughed up by fascist super cop played by character actor supreme Ed Lauter, he’s set free.
Kersey is set free, alright. Free to start a land war in New York City and eventually levels four city blocks as he murder death kills every gang member in sight. With names like The Giggler (because you know he giggles), these “gangstas” are straight out of Cannon’s other franchise Breakin’ (specifically Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo). Every person that isn’t named Bronson is merely cannon fodder for the eventual all-out war that Bronson lays down on the gang members.
Michael Winner is not a subtle filmmaker. His appetite for cruelty and sadism is a mile wide and has no depth. One just needs to watch Death Wish 2 and its multiple protracted sexual assault scenes to understand. Winner here is in comic book form, at least his version of a comic book (think Frank Miller). Death Wish 3, for all its violence, is an unserious cartoon with has an elderly couple laughing at the carnage outside their window (it’s gang members, so it’s okay). It’s all some sort of lunatic fever dream that one can laugh off because it’s so ridiculous, and if anyone actually thought it was truthful would need some serious help.
In the center of the chaos is the Robert DeNiro to Michael Winner’s Martin Scorsese … Charles Bronson. The stone face superstar is as you expect in this third outing… stone faced. Bronson, in his Cannon/Winner years, seems to be bored even with the action scenes here. As I had said in my Death Wish 4: The Crackdown review: “Bronson is Bronson here. Stoic or Stone-faced, depending on your love of one of the Chucks that made Cannon Films. Kersey here has gotten to the point where he’s Jason Vorhees for the 1980s action set. All they need to do is activate him to ensure a maximum amount of carnage. If Death Wish 3 is the Jason Takes Manhattan of the DW series, then The Crackdown is certainly Jason Goes to Hell. How does one critique the performance of Jason? You can’t, and so I won’t, other than to say Bronson knew exactly what he was doing and what his audience wanted. He delivered time and time again, no matter the shenanigans that Golan and Globus pulled.”
Though Death Wish 3 in Winner’s hands does make one feel like they’re watching some deranged proto-Terminator style film where Bronson has been sent back in time to kill these gang members, as eventually they will lead the resistance against the android overlord. In fact, that would be a greater storyline than Death Wish 3’s kill everyone real good plot. Though when taken on its own terms, it’s a hell of a ride… one that any fan of 1980s action films should take.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is an excellent upgrade to the picture. The film itself is not a visual stunner to begin with. That being said, the image is flawless without a single spec of dirt or scratch present throughout the run time. The Dolby Vision encoding gives all the blacks and contrast levels deeper details. Bravo to Kino Lorber for taken the time and care for another sold 4K UHD upgrade.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
The first of two Audio Commentaries is an archival track by Film Historian Paul Talbot, the Author of the Bronson’s Loose! Books. Talbot opens with his credentials and where Bronson was in his career as he made Death Wish 3. Some of the other details include the original source material written by Brian Garfield; a brief production history of both the original and the Cannon-produced sequel; the building and construction of the New York City set that was erected in South London; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Ed Lauter, including his work with Bronson; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Gavan O’Herlihy; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Martin Balsam; a history of the Michael Winner and Charles Bronson collaboration; the production schedule of the film both in London and New York City; some of the violent crime figures in 1985 when the film was made; the post production process – including the fact that Winner edited the film himself and the editing pseudonym; a larger discussion of what was shot on location in New York and what was shot in London; a larger discussion of the various bits of violence that were cut to obtain an R-rating; the various scenes that were deleted (some included in the TV version) or not shot; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more.
The second of the Audio Commentaries is an all-new track by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. The duo opens their track with their credentials before a discussion of the iconic 59th Street Bridge, which shots of opens the film, before discussing how the film was filmed in both New York and London. Some of the other details include how their first viewings as New Yorkers, they could tell that the film was not filmed entirely in New York; a discussion of the reasons why Michael Winner returned to the series, and the reasons why it was made as an action film rather than a grim revenge thriller; a discussion of the series up until this point; a discussion of the career of director Michael Winner both pre and post-Death Wish 3; a discussion of the history of the Cannon Film Group which produced the Death Wish series (2 – 4 at least) and many of the conversative action films of the 1980s that rose to popularity; the cartoonish nature of the entire film and catering to the specific audience they made the film for; a larger discussion of the history of Bronson’s collaboration with Winner – a detailed discussion of a lot of their films together; a larger discussion of the style of director Michael Winner; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various New York City locations they use and their historical and social relevance; and much more. The track is another winner by the duo, with plenty of quotes by Bronson and company from the time.
Alternate Ending (Newly Restored in HDR and SDR) with Audio Commentary by Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson (11:04) – the alternate ending itself is included on the Blu-ray version but not the 4K UHD disc. The alternate ending is a tag / post-credit sequence about the fate of Paul Kersey, which did not appear in the original version. The commentary by Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson discusses the ending tag and some additional production details they did not get into their commentary proper of the finale.
Interview with Actor Kirk Taylor (8:26) – in this all-new interview with Taylor opens with being cast by director Michael Winner. The actor goes on to discuss his relationship with Winner; how the director helped him get an audition for Full Metal Jacket; working with Bronson – including a few anecdotes; working on London, and their recreation of New York; shooting his death scene; working with Alex Winter and Gavan O’Herlihy; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Death Wish (2:20); Death Wish II (1:55); Death Wish 3 (1:40); Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1:34); Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1:00);
The Final Thought
Kino has given Death Wish 3 a shiny new 4K UHD transfer that fans of the film are going to love.
Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of Death Wish 3 is out now.
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