Django 2 - Il grande ritorno

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.

This film is very interesting. Many people will scoff at it's production values, but when you consider it's era, it's really not that far off from its contemporaries. Many people make the mistake of comparing this movie to the Rambo franchise.

I suppose this is based on the way the Italians chose to market the film (with Nero with a headband and giant veiny muscles). But the more appropriate comparison should be with Arnold Schwartzenegger's "Commando".

In both films, a burly guy trying to forget his violent past has his daughter kidnapped and is forced to kill hundreds of ethnic stereotyped Hispanic folks to get her back. It's even got exploding guard towers and guys getting stabbed in Arnie "stick around!" style!!!

I really was happy to see Franco Nero reprise his role as Django 20 years after the original. The opening scene is fantastic.. But then it also kind of hypes you up to the dark carnage of the original.. Not so.. Django is a monk now.. Trying to avoid his murderous ways of the passed. Can he do it? I liked this movie. I didn't expect or want a rehashed Django.. They did seem to avoid that and it made for a good story. The famous machine gun makes a comeback as well, of course. The 1st movie was so dark.. This one isn't really but it does carry some from the original. I still can't believe he had any hands left after the beating he got in the 1st Django.. If you are a Django fan you should check this out for sure. Right now there is a double dvd with both the original & Django Strikes Again housed in one case and it usually runs around $11-12 which is a great deal. Worth watching! A good continuation of one of the great western characters.

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.