200 Items Or Less: Death Wish 3 (1985)

A few thoughts: After the well-rounded first entry and its slightly less restrained sequel, it only made sense for the third movie to take it a step further. Oh, sorry, did I say "a step" and not "50 miles"? This is where the series flies off the rails and then blows up the rails with a bazooka. Instead of avenging the rape and murder of a loved one, this one finds Paul Kersey falsely accused of the murder of an old friend, after which he becomes enlisted by a local policeman to help clean up the streets (particularly a specific apartment complex) as a vigilante. The ensuing plot is riddled with messy violence and a total glorification of bloodshed. It's glorious. Watching Bronson wander from place to place deliberately making himself look like a prime subject for mugging, only to whip out a massive handgun and blow people away is both hilarious and oh-so satisfying. The third act gunfight is among the most ridiculous and entertaining I've ever seen, as it escalates to insane levels and ends with some badass 'splosions. As insanely stupid as it is, I kinda love this movie.

Who would I recommend it to? Anyone who likes over the top '80s action, minus some of the cheesy one-liners - there are still some of those, just not an Arnold level.

My grade: B+