On S List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Sudden Impact (1983)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
5/04, 5/05, 10/07, 1/26
5/05:
Well, well, well...the vintage Dirty Harry is back.
After two somewhat lackluster sequels, Sudden Impact is a fantastic movie and has excellent writing
that's sprinkled with lots of dry humor. It has a legendary scene that ends with a top ten line of all time
as the camera zooms in on Clint Eastwood's face: "Go ahead...make my day."
When asked about the dog, Dirty Harry asked, "Why? Do you want him?"
"Listen, punk. To me, you're nothing but dogshit, you understand? A lot of things can happen to dogshit. It
can be scraped up with a shovel off the ground. It can dry up and blow away in the wind, or it can be stepped
on and squashed. So, take my advice: be careful where the dog shits you."
"Inspector, your methods are unconventional to say the least. Oh, you get results. But often, your successes
are more costly to this department in terms of expenses and physical destruction than most other men's failures."
All in all, Dirty Harry is the man.
10/07:
Dirty Harry is at it again in Sudden Impact.
Looking better, meaner, and tougher than before, Clint Eastwood never runs out of great lines. There are
plenty of dry humor throughout. In many ways, Dirty Harry can be considered as a hero. One, he cares about
the victims. Two, he's willing to risk his life to right the wrongs even if it involves unorthodox methods.
Three, he puts a lot of effort into his investigative skills to achieve results while keeping his theory in
check. Four, he gets results when nobody is able to do so. Five, he will go after anyone and shove it down
his throat.
Sondra Locke gives a decent performance, setting up the mood of the atmosphere. Paul Drake, a tanned Brando
look-alike, isn't a bad villain but can use more screen time as opposed to Audrie J. Neenan. Most importantly,
it's Clint Eastwood who steals the show by being how he was in the first film.
All in all, Sudden Impact is the second best movie of the
Dirty Harry franchise.
1/26:
Dirty Harry is back!
Forget the previous two lackluster sequels: Magnum Force and
The Enforcer. This is as good as it gets compared to the original and
is very neo-noir in nature with strong photography. There are many great lines, but one is so legendary
that it became a national catchphrase: "Go ahead...make my day."
All in all, Sudden Impact has the rare distinction of being the greatest fourth part in film history.