Django 2 - Il grande ritorno

The original Django , the classic and violent Spaghetti Western had numerous imitations . The picture was no authorized to minor 18 years and prohibited in various countries for its violence, for example in England ; but in France , Germany was a real success and in Japan there is one ¨Fondazione Django¨ too . It was followed by this official sequel titled ¨Django strikes again (1987)¨ by Nello Rossati , alias Ted Archer , with Franco Nero who has abandoned his previous life of violence , though returns when his daughter is kidnapped . Django (Franco Nero) was a former gunfighter , a stranger without identity , at the beginning he lives a pacific existence , he forgot vengeance and subsequent deaths , in favor of a life as ascetic . Here Django has become a monk and left his avenger former ways . His daughter is abducted by a rogue Hungarian officer nicknamed 'El Diablo' Orlowsky (Christopher Connelly) who lives aboard a ship called ¨Mariposa Negra¨ or ¨Black butterfly¨ and using slave labor to work a silver mine . Django casts off his habit and digs up his machine gun . Later on , he is going to jungle wielding the machine gun behind him and driving a hearse . There he will take on brutal rivals , ¨El Diablo¨ and his ruthless army of French soldiers recruited by Emperor Maximilian . Django befriends a boy and helps him to avenge his father . Django seeks revenge and go after the dastardly nasties .

It's an exciting western with thrills , violence , high body count , breathtaking showdown between the starring and the enemies . The highlights of the film are the confrontation at the jungle full of mud and dirtiness , Django wielding a machine gun (though with anachronism because is a 'Maxim model' that was made in 1880 and isn't utilized the usual 'Gatlin') and he does a real rampage . Besides , the attack at fort where Django causes a cruel slaughter and of course , the final showdown . Django is named as homage to Django Reinhardt , the famous American musician who introduced his particular guitar , he had a crippled hand , viewers at the time would have been aware of this allusion . The film blends violence , blood , strong tortures , shootouts and it's fast moving . In the picture appears usual secondaries from Spaghetti , Giallo and other Italian sub-genres of the 60s and 70s such as William Berger , Roberto Posse , Rodrigo Obregón and the great Donald Pleasence . There are many technicians and assistants who had a wide career , as cameraman Sandro Mancori who makes a nice photography with barren outdoors , gorgeous landscapes under a glimmer sun , being shot in Colombia . Although , a perfect remastering is necessary , because of the copy of the picture is washed-out . Nello Rossati direction is passable , after that , he will make several films of all kind of genres , wartime : Tides of War , Action : Fuga Scabrosamente Pericolosa , Giallo : La Gatta in Calore , Softcore comedy : The sensuous nurse , La Nipote and Sci-fi : Top Line .

This cult movie ¨Django¨ was a considerable hit , the graphic violent content of the film led the film to be banned in several countries, and it was rejected by the UK until 1993 , it was not rated in the USA and spawned hundreds of unofficial sequels . Some were incorrectly titled Django , and were only titled so to cash in on the original . The film was so popular in Germany that almost every Franco Nero western there bears the Django name . Although there have been over 30 films containing the character since 1966, there has only been one "official" sequel, this 1987's Django Strikes Again, directed by Ted Archer and starring Nero . As well as numerous unofficial sequels , rip-offs, and copies, such as ¨Django the last killer(67)¨ by Giuseppe Vari with George Eastman ; Django dares Sartana¨ (69) by Pascuale Squitieri ; Django Il Bastardo¨ (1969) by Sergio Garrone with Anthony Steffen , ¨Django shoots first (1974)¨ by Alberto De Martino with Glen Saxon and Evelyn Stewart . And The film was Quentin Tarantino's inspiration behind his 2012 film "Django: Unchained¨. Original star Franco Nero is set to return to the role of Django almost 50 years after the character's first appearance in Sergio Corbucci 1966 Spaghetti Western and almost thirty years since his second appearance in 1987′s Django Strikes Again!m in a new movie is being directed by regular Tarantino collaborator Joe D'Augustine . American company called Point Blank has secured the rights to the character, and is aiming to set up a third Django film, to be called Django Lives .

The only official (but certainly not the best) and up to now the latest sequel to Sergio Corbucci's 1966 masterpiece Django, "Django 2: Il Grande Ritorno" aka. Django Strikes Again, is definitely not worthy of the original, but it is still an entertaining Action/Spaghetti Western genre mix.

Django, who calls himself "Brother Ignatius" now, has turned his back to violence and become a monk, living in a Mexican monastery, when a fatally ill former mistress tells him that he has a daughter and asks him to take care of the child after she's gone. The lady dies a short time later, and the daughter, along with other villagers, has been kidnapped by a ruthless gang of former Hungarian soldiers under the leadership of villainous Orlowski, a man who brutally enslaves Mexican civilians to drudge in a silver mine and forces women and little girls into prostitution, and is therefore referred to as "El Diablo" by the poor population. In order to rescue his daughter, "Brother Ignatius" has to return to his violent former ways and become "Django" again.

The story is not very imaginative, and the locations are a little bit too tropical for a Western, even though the movie is set entirely in Mexico, but Franco Nero's performance makes up for the movie's weaknesses. Made in 1987, 21 years after the original, "Django Strikes Again" is a mixture of a Spaghetti Western and a typical eighties action movie. It is certainly fun to watch, but it's certainly not a masterpiece like the original. Django Strikes Again may be the only official sequel, but it's certainly not the best. I've seen "Django" sequels much better than this, but I've also seen much worse. 6 out of 10 stars because of Franco Nero, the one and only original Django, who saves the movie.

At last an official sequel to Sergio Corbucci's classic DJANGO and what a return! Franco Nero reprises the role that made him famous, and it fits him like an old glove. Nello Rossati directs the film with some flair, improving on his previous film with Nero the wacky TOP LINE. The late Christopher Connelly turns in another great performance, and Donald Pleasence is a treat in his amusing role as Ben Gunn. Lots of action and plenty of style make for an enjoyable film and this is certainly that...see it!

N.B. Try to get hold of the Anchor Bay double DVD set, it includes the missing prologue featuring spaghetti western favourite William Berger.

Recent years have seen many iconic actors return to iconic roles; Bruce Willis returned as John McClane, Harrison Ford returned as Indiana Jones and Sylvester Stallone returned as Rambo - but before all of them, Franco Nero returned to his most iconic role for Django Strikes Again - the only official sequel to Sergio Corbucci's 1966 classic Django. First of all, it has to be said that this sequel is not as great as the original; but it certainly is a very entertaining film and better than many of the rip offs. Franco Nero slips back into his old role superbly and director Nello Rossati provides enough violence and other distractions to keep things flowing nicely. The film of course focuses on Django, now a monk; having given up his murderous ways. That is, until his daughter is kidnapped by soldiers that use slaves to man a silver mine. Django of course goes after his daughter; but is captured and thrown in the mine. Not for long, however, as once Django makes his escape - a bloody rampage ensues.

One criticism I have of this film is the fact that it's not really a Western at all. Aside from the opening sequence, there's nothing to suggest that the film is set in the Wild West and I'd consider it more of a war set revenge thriller. That's not too important, however; the main thing is seeing Django tearing through his enemies with his trusty machine gun, and the film certainly does not disappoint in terms of the body count - which, of course, is massive. Unfortunately he doesn't drag a coffin around like he did in the original; although caskets are featured in a couple of scenes and Django does take to riding a funeral carriage! The lead villain is a general played by Christopher Connelly and gives the film a good antagonistic presence - some of his scenes being more interesting than the ones featuring Django! We also have a small role for the great Donald Pleasance. There's a few good scenes too; nothing as iconic as in the original, but overall this film flows well and I loved it for it's entertainment value. Django Strikes Again is recommended to Django fans.

It strange that they make a offical sequel 15+ years later, but this time Franco Nero teams up with TOP LINE director Ted Archer in a so-so sequel. Intresting supporting cast like the late Christopher Connelly, Donald Plesance, and Andy Sidaris regular Obreigon. It's worth a look, and I noticed the film finally came out on video after 12 years. I had to get a copy from Japanese video just to see it. Recommended to Nero fans.