1. Death Wish 3 (1985)
Michael Winners 1974 thriller Death Wish cast Charles Bronson as an architect and family man whose life is shattered when his wife and daughter are attacked by a gang. His wife is killed and his daughter is left in a coma. In his grief he becomes a vigilante, gunning down any thief or mugger who crosses his path. The film was controversial upon its release, tackling a challenging issue head on and turning Charles Bronson into a bona fide film icon. Winners Death Wish 3 on the other hand is a moronic, shoddily made action movie that turns Bronsons character into an urban Rambo, complete with a large machine gun, booby traps and bazooka. Its filled with cartoonish stereotypes, sloppy editing, bizarre plotting and an inconsistent tone. And you know what? Its gloriously fun and entertaining as a result. Bronson is at his craggy faced toughest here as his character returns to New York to visit an old friend, only to find him murdered by a street gang. The whole neighbourhood lives in fear of this group and the film exists in a hellish version of New York where it seems you cant walk 10 paces outside the front door without being mugged, beaten or raped. With some help from his disturbingly compliant neighbours Bronson sets out to take the gang down, one bullet at a time. In the finale a riot suddenly erupts and Bronson grabs his machine gun and wipes them out wholesale. Spurred on by this example his neighbours soon get in on the action. Ludicrous? Yes. Entertaining? Absolutely. It maybe trashy as hell, but youll have a big smile on your face the entire time as this pulpy comicbook of a movie unfolds. And Charles Bronson, with his squinty eyes, coiled muscles and infinite ammo cheat, is THE definitive Geriaction star.