Desejo de Matar V

Whatever you do, don't shack up with Paul Kersey, or you'll regret it - The fifth outing for Bronson in his famous vigilante series. Even in his 70's gunning down scum is never on the bottom of his priorities list. Now any movie ending with a Roman numeral may put off some people, but this movie is totally enjoyable and you'll cheer Charles everytime he guns down members of the mob headed by a very nasty mob boss. The Death Wish quintology ranks right up there with the Godfather and Star Wars Trilogy.

Gangsters have bullied and murdered a woman. Now they had better watch out, because her fiancée is none other than Paul Kersey – and it's time for Mr. Bronson to dispense some more swift justice!

While this entry in the Death Wish series doesn't have the highest body count (see part 3 for that) and isn't the most grim and gritty (see part 2), it is the most sadistic. You see, in previous films Bronson got his wrathful business done with his trusty sidearm – but we get some variation in this one. Here he breaks out a marvelous assortment of deadly amusements such as the exploding soccer ball and poisoned pasta mentioned in other reviews – all seen in graphic detail as they work their murderous magic. Add to that the stress on facial disfigurement and scenes involving torture by steam press, plastic wrapping machine, and radial saw – and you have a new and wonderfully vicious formula for more Death Wish mayhem.

This is not the best in the series, but Bronson's presence alone gives it distinction, and it manages to make the most of the obviously very limited budget. If you're a fan of the series like me, you'll enjoy it in all its unpleasant, uncompromising glory.

Charles Bronsan is back for the last time playing Paul Kersey. This outing he's fighting the Mafiso backed Unions after his fiancé gets disfigured and later killed. He also must save his fiancé's daughter who is also the daughter of the head Union boss. Contary to public perception, this isn't the worst of the series (that dubious honor would go to part 4). No this film is a step up from the previous one, and while it's not as great as part 3 was, it's still a pretty good watch. This was also Bronson's last theatrical film and I shed a tear when I heard of the great actors passing. He will be missed.

My Grade: B-

Eye Candy: Sharolyn Sparrow gets topless, as do some extras.

I am a great fan of the Death Wish films as I love to watch Bronson knocking off one by one the scum of society. My favourite is the number III by a long chalk but this one isn't bad either. This one also has some very comical moments notably when Chickie dies when eating a cyanide flavoured "canoli" (whatever that may be !!). Also, what is interesting here is when Bronson gets rid of the scum using different methods than just the usual old "gun". In this vein, I liked most the radio-controlled football which blew apart Flakes' face, and the death of the villain at the end in the acid bath when we see his flesh melting away off the face in the acid.

The only reproach I would make to the film are its picture and sound quality ( on the dvd at least ). These are really not up to scratch for a film made in the 1990's.

I eagerly await the day when Death Wish 3 and Death Wish 4 will be available on dvd. Bronson is truly a great actor, whatever the role he plays, but he is especially effective in the part of a vigilante.

With his cousin and long-time partner Yoram Globus gone after the private feud that errupted when Cannon Films went bankrupt, Menahem Golan turned to schlock producers Ami Artzi and Damian Lee to produce the fifth entry of the series. Surprisingly, especially considering the general quality of their output, they manage to improve on the poor quality of DEATH WISH 4. The production values (as low budget as they may be) aren't as cheap as they were before, Bronson is a bit more lively in his performance, and the screenplay tries more for a story of substance. What really makes the movie fun at times is its twisted sense of humor. There's some nice black comic-moments, such as with one particular mobster's funeral scene, or the later plastic wrap sequence. Even better is Michael Parks' performance as the chief bad guy. His various comments (improvised?) about anything are hilarious, and he lays on the ham very thickly to be a lot of fun to watch.

It still could have been better. One of the two big problems with the movie is that it takes about half of the movie for Bronson to start his rampage of vengeance. Even with Parks' entertaining performance, you'll likely be squirming in your seat with impatience for Bronson to get it on. And when he *does* get it on, it's kind of underwhelming - there's not much of a body count, and the length of time between kills is relentlessly padded. At least the end results are not the worst way the series could have ended. (By the way, Golan actually announced "Death Wish 6: The New Vigilante" in the trade papers not long after this one was released, though his company going bankrupt put an end to that plan.)