MovieChat Forums > Messenger of Death (1988) Discussion > Duff for a Bronson Movie

Duff for a Bronson Movie

posted 16 years ago by CalDexter
8 replies | jump to latest

Ive recently been buying Charles Bronson movies on DVD off of Ebay, I have all four Death wish movies, The Mechanic, Chatos land, Mr Majestyk, Rider On The Rain (terrible copy) Murphys law, 10 to Midnight, Cold Sweat and Violent City. I already had on DVD Once Upon A Time In The West and a rare classic called Red Sun...however i remember Messenger Of Death when i first saw it on VHS video about twenty years ago and apart from a violent opening, this was such a boring boring bad film. I remember Bronson's character sitting at a dinner party talking away as the camera pans round the people listening to him and i couldnt wait for it to end. Bad film, and the other one called Assassination with Jill Ireland was pretty bad too. So i think i'll forget those two!

[–] mazaldivar 15 years ago

There are five DEATH WISH movies and RED SUN is neither "rare" nor a "classic".

[–] MrSirreal 13 years ago

I found this movie to be engaging until the end. I just didn't find it at all credible that Bronson's character would get the best of the professional assassin, beat him up, and then force him to tell who paid him in front of the others at the party.

If Bronson's character was supposed to have had a background that would make him capable of doing that, the movie failed to explain it to us.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ringfire211 13 years ago

Yeah I cracked up when Bronson (a newspaper reporter mind you!!) started beating the crap out of the stone-cold professional hitman. Bronson basically kicked the dude all over Luckinbill's house - in the private room, then along the hallway, then down the stairs. The poor guy looked like he was ready to pee his pants. And all this time I'm thinking... WHHHAAAAT? Is there something this movie failed to tell me about Bronson's character? Was he a Navy SEAL before becoming a reporter?

I understand that we expect Bronson to crack a few heads but if that's the case then why not make him a cop? Or a PI? Or some other tough guy. If you're gonna make him a reporter or a dentist or a teacher or whatever and still expect us to buy him as a tough guy then give him some military background or something.

I just don't buy a newspaper man who attends high society social functions with his model wife as a dude who can beat the crap out of a skilled assassin.

Connery, Moore, and Brosnan! Accept NO substitutes!

[–] bronzescag 10 years ago

The professional killer was a big man with a shotgun or a rifle - but not much when it came to hand to hand combat. What I want to know is, why did Bronson never use his gun. The film makes the point of showing it and mentioning that he had a license for it, but Bronson puts himself into some tight situations without ever packing it.

[–] drdmichel 8 years ago

I thought the film was okay. I think most people that didn't like the film were going in expecting an action film. I went into the film expecting a mystery thriller. Overall, I think it's a decent film. I think the reason why I was not bored was because I like Charles Bronson and he was enough to keep me interested. Now granted, Messenger of Death is not one of his best films, but I thought it was much better than films like Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects and The Mechanic (I'm sorry, I don't like that film).

[–] PeterBlues 8 years ago

nooooo... you just dissed a movie i recently got and haven't seen yet... well atleast now i've got low expectations of it so i might get surprised. it didn't suit bronson playing a reporter, and had he had some earlier profession where he had learned moves like that? this really lacked action for a cannon produced bronson flick, some of it reminded of "bad day at black rock" like the small town, train, the unfriendly welcome, it looked so promising at first and i thought it could be a real interesting movie, and when the end credits came i almost expected something like "just kidding, this isn't the end".

grey and still,
where past tease future dont greet,
i was out cold in the evening shadows,
as i heard your call,
there arrived colour and thrill,
as you came to greet,
your walk and moves,
my chin dropping to your shoes,
saved from sinkin down,
unexpected you arrived and turned it around,
the kind of power you got over my soul,
i try to look for it at others while youre gone,
then you walk in putting me in spell proving its you im totally hooked on.

[–] Jones70 (6195) 3 years ago

I thought this one was just descent.