Death Wish V - The Face of Death

Amazon.com

Drifting as far from Michael Winner's original and interesting 1974 Death Wish as possible, this belated sequel in an often ugly series is nevertheless a harmless, fairly conventional thriller featuring a watchable cast. After his life of loss and misery at the hands of criminals, vigilante Paul Kersey is ready to settle down in romantic bliss with a fashion designer named Olivia (Lesley-Anne Down). Unfortunately, the lady happens to be the target of her mobster ex-husband (Michael Parks), who has a tight grip on New York's garment district. Disfigured and finally murdered by her former spouse, Olivia is avenged in very creative ways by Paul, who resorts to such esoterica as using a remote-controlled soccer ball to deliver an explosive punishment. Bronson largely phones it in for this potboiler, though even in the winter of his life he can look quite compelling in his stoic way. Helping to keep things interesting is Parks's kinky cruelty and Saul Rubinek's vaguely bemused performance as a well-meaning prosecutor. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

DEATH WISH V.......2007-08-28

ONCE AGAIN CHARLIE DELIVERS THE GOODS ACTORS LIKE HIM AND THE MOVIES HE STARRED IN ARE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN THIS MODERN ERA A GREAT MOVIE

Death Wish 5 is so horrid, it makes Death Wish 4 look like the original Death Wish.......2007-08-23

Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994.)

INTRODUCTION:
Following the release of Death Wish 4: The Crackdown, Charles Bronson stated that he was done with the Death Wish series for good. However, to everyone's surprise, he came out of retirement to create one last entry in the widely beloved yet controversial series that had become such a staple of his career.

OVERVIEW (INFO):
Death Wish V was released in 14 January 1994. The film stars Charles Bronson and co-stars Lesley Anne-Down and Michael Parks. It was written and directed by Allan A. Goldstein and produced by Damian Lee, Helder Goncalves, and Ami Artzi. Terry Plumeri provided the musical score.

OVERVIEW (MOVIE):
Paul Kersey (Bronson) has had himself placed in a witness relocation program following the mess of events of the previous film. He has now fallen in love with Olivia Regent (Anne-Down), one of the city's top fashion models. Unfortunately, Regent's ex-husband (Parks) is a mobster and has ties to every aspect of Regent's life. With this new threat, Kersey decides it's time to be up to his old tricks again.

REVIEW (MOVIE):
This is the only instance in which I can honestly say I DON'T like a Death Wish movie. There's not one thing this movie does right. During tragedies Kersey suffers throughout the movie, you can't feel sorry for the people who suffer because the movie never gives us a chance to bond with them, or give us any development. The "double agent" thing was done in the last film, there was no need to do that again. Another major issue is that the film seems to be more from the point of view of the mobsters than Kersey. This was an issue of the previous film as well, but this one is even worse. Honestly, it doesn't even seem like Bronson himself does a whole lot in this film! The film takes EXTREMELY long to get started and for anything interesting to happen, and the kills in this movie seem more like jokes than anything else. Kersey only actually pulls a gun TWO TIMES in the movie. All of this is made worse by the fact that the film's low-budget nature shows through and through. Charles Bronson should have stuck by his word and retired from this series after the fourth installment. This film is so horrid, it makes Death Wish 4 look like the original Death Wish.

REVIEW (DVD):
There are two Region 1 releases of the film available in America, and they both suck. Both are full screen and have no bonus material. There is absolutely nothing special about the so-called Special Edition version, and the more readily-available version is the typical crap presentation you've come to expect from the other movies in the series. Honestly, I don't even know this movie is available in widescreen outside of the foreign region Vigilante Collection (which is what I recommend hunting down provided you have a multi-region player.)

OVERALL:
Not worth your time.

EDITION NOTES:
There are only those two crappy DVD versions available in America. It's out of print, but hunting down the import Vigilante Collection is the best way to go. Just be sure you have a player that can handle it.

ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE ACTORS.......2007-06-08

FOR SOMEONE THAT LIKES MOVIES CHARLES BRONSON IS A GREAT ACTOR YOU CAN'T GO WRONG ON ANY OF HAS MOVIES.

Reuss in Loomis.......2007-02-18

I like Charles Bronson. Amazon.com has all his movies and they ship my orders fast and efficient! Thanks, Reuss.......

Vengance is Mine..........2007-01-18

If you like revenge, you'll love this. Ive always loved the "Good" guys go after the bad ones. That'll teach them to fool around with others. I rate this and all like this fantastic. It kind of removes my frustration, especially when I think of all the bad people living on this earth. 'Do Unto Others" My Adopted Motto!

DVD:

DVD

DVD