Another poor transfer to video unfortunately. It looked as though there was either a green or blue haze throughout the film suggesting that colour filters were used on faded stock. When watching the gratiutous nude scenes (as in the first) one could be forgiven for thinking one was on Viagra.
Although not as good a film as the original, this sequel is interesting because it turns the vigilante cop premise of the original on its head by pitting Harry against a group of young vigilante cops. The dialogue is notable becuase it educates the audience as to why Harry doesn't support the vigilante cops - yes he hates the system, but its the best thing we have got and the alternative is unfettered murder.
In a way this film is an antidote to the many of the concerns raised about vigilantism in the first film. Harry is still the hero but he is not against the system per se.
One thing in this film intrugues me a bit. If you look carefully at the pool shooting scene just after the shots have been fired you will see a distant shot of the pool and what appears to be somebody standing and doing some kind of directing to the left of camera (ie to the left of the pool). Quite curious.
The film also has the classic line ' A man's gotta know his limitations' which, as usual, is delivered cooly by Eastwood. In a time of gung ho politics and talk or war, maybe this film is the perfect antidote to the unfettered use of force.
A film that is well worth seeing immediately after the first one in order to give some better perspective to the first film.
Unfortunately while Eastwood was able to succesfully terminate David Soul's vigilantism in this film, nothing was able to save the public from David Soul's later singing career.
Verdict - 80%.
cheers Peter
Only hope Warner will give "Where Eagles Dare" the same treatment
some day.
Tonight is "The Enforcer"
There is one downside to natural color however. It really shows just how bad fashion was in the 1970s. The black killer in the pink/red car with fluffy seats deserved to be killed for making a fashion statement like that!
L'homme sage est celui qui connaît ses limites.
Inspecteur Harry, Magnum Force
cheers Peter
quote:
The black killer in the pink/red car with fluffy seats deserved to be killed for making a fashion statement like that!
I watched this movie back in the early 70's when it was released and I thought the pimps taste in cars and clothing was pretty bad at that time.
Albert Popwell was the Pimp with the penchant for misusing Drain Cleaner.
Apparently he has appeared in 4 of the Dirty Harry films including the original when Harry points a gun at him and says "Do you feel lucky Punk?".
Don't be surprised if he turns up in Dirty Harry 6.
cheers Peter