BA_Harrison Crime in New York is rampant, the city teeming with switchblade-wielding, gun-toting thugs. Innocent people aren't even safe in their homes. After his wife is fatally beaten and daughter sexually assaulted in his apartment, architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) packs his .32 and goes looking for trouble, determined to wipe the scum off the streets.Michael Winner's cathartic revenge drama delivers vicarious thrills for anyone who has ever felt outraged yet helpless about crime and disorder. In reality, vigilantism is, of course, a bad idea (as is the right to bear arms, in my opinion), but when Paul Kersey decides to fight back against the rising tide of crime, one can't help but feel a sense of empowerment, making the film a whole lot of fun for armchair avengers such as myself.Winner handles the action matter of factly, with little sense of style, but Bronson's powerful performance ensures that the film is thoroughly engrossing throughout. So successful was the film at resonating with its audience that it spawned four sequels and, just recently, was remade by Eli Roth with Bruce Willis taking on the Bronson role.8.5 out of 10, rounded up to 9 for an early appearance from Jeff Goldblum as one of the loathsome hoodlums who attack Kersey's family.

Jithin K Mohan Disgusting piece of right wing anti hippy pro-gun propaganda that is also showing its age even though not badly made for its time. I can totally see why the remake is getting bad reviews. This kind of subject treatment and the public response to it shows why many Americans look screwed up from an outside POV.

rds4200 To think that Ama$on is still charging $2.99 to view this mess is a laugh riot. One of the most cornball movies you will ever have the misfortune to see. Two of the three writers didn't even want their names displayed, and one was the director. Too much. And the music was by Herbie Hancock - are you kidding me? This is truly bad "jazz" as well as a truly bad soundtrack. But hey, it's your time and hopefully not your money, so, be my guest.

rodrig58 A perfect role for Charles Bronson. And an excellent Vincent Gardenia, in the role of Frank Ochoa, who made me think of Inspector Javert of the "Les Miserables". A very young and persuasive Jeff Goldblum in a role of rapist, one of the three at the beginning of the film. All the other actors-robbers are convincing. I've seen the movie several times at long intervals. Every time I liked it. Because it is well done and resists the proof of time. The scene of the cemetery in the wintertime reminded me of the time when I visited the tomb of the director, Michael Winner, in London. Herbie Hancock signs good music, close to the Lalo Schifrin style. Hope Lange, in the small role of the wife, was very good.