Leofwine_draca Judging by all the negative reviews floating around the internet concerning this movie, it seems that it is almost universally despised by genre fans and movie fans in general. I beg to differ. While it doesn't have the same originality or edgy suspense as the first in the series, EXTERMINATOR 2 is very similar to other early '80s vigilante cinema, take DEATH WISH II for example. I would even go so far as to say that this is the better film, and at least it's not so unpleasant. EXTERMINATOR 2 is an action-fuelled follow-up to the infamous cult classic that finds our hero Robert Ginty arming himself with a welding mask and a flamethrower to continue his campaign of justice on the streets at night. Except this time he's up against one gang only (but it's a big gang), a gang who end up murdering two of the people he is closest to.Once again this is a very nihilistic film, indeed at the end, it turns out that of the entire cast (that's every character to appear in a speaking part) only Ginty is alive! The formula is very predictable, with an act of violence being carried out on one of Ginty's friends or family and Ginty following it up with an act of violence on the bad guys, and so on with things culminating into a huge (and impressively staged) battle in a warehouse where all of the bad guy gang end up getting deep fried! The acting isn't brilliant but it'll pass, with Ginty actually getting a chance to smile occasionally unlike in the original movie. Actually, Ginty makes a good focus point for the movie, a likable and charismatic hero, not to mention a believable one (at least to me). There's strong support from Frankie Faison playing a garbage collector who becomes an ally. Jennifer Brandon has a worthless role as the girlfriend who gets crippled and killed, while Mario Van Peebles certainly seems to be enjoying himself as he goes way over the top as 'X', the leader of the punk gang who delights in death, destruction, and torture.The violence is pretty strong and gritty with it, although as this film was released uncut in the UK you can tell straight away that it in no way matches the original's brutal, grisly bloodshed. Lots of people get fried in loving slow motion, while another character is killed off screen by getting run over by train! The stickiest fate is left for the end of the movie, unsurprisingly. The modified garbage truck that Ginty creates is an impressive piece of weaponry and there's a fair amount of explosions and mindless destruction to enjoy. Also, you've gotta love that BREAKDANCE-inspired interlude in the park; cool stuff! While not on par with the original, EXTERMINATOR 2 successfully carries the same kind of gritty on-the-street atmosphere and you could do a lot worse, so if you like the first then give it a go.

tdrish Mario Van Peebles makes his debut in Exterminator 2...the lackluster sequel to the "blockbuster" Exterminator. Okay, so it wasn't really a blockbuster, so what? You still had a vigilante Vietnam vet going around eliminating people that had no right existing. Lowering a godfather into a meat grinder. Knocking off a pedophile. How can this not be good? Unfortunately, none of the kills in Exterminator 2 are worth remembering. In fact, I think it's an insult. Mario plays "X", a character so silly, it's literally laughable. He doesn't even come off remotely as tough, appearing as a gang leader for an extremely violent group of people ( sorry, didn't want to use the word "gang" again.) All quotes aren't worth remembering. Script is awful. Violence seems toned down quite a bit, leans more towards being an action/ adventure rather then being a violent vigilante flick such as Exterminator. Make no mistake, the goods are on the original. If you want to see an early appearance from Peebles, go ahead and have a look, just don't expect to be wowed too much. And, I'm sorry, ummm...break dancers? Did a few cast members leave Electric Boogaloo to star in this? What did you expect, it was the 80's. And the ending? I'm still laughing 30 plus years later! I'd give Exterminator 2 three thumbs down, but I only have two hands.

videorama-759-859391 The late Robert Ginty could really show humanity and compassion in his performances, an actor I really would of like to have met, yet he's continually in this and other stuff. Our vigilante John Eastman has returned, so it's time to bring out that flamethrower again. He falls in love with a beautiful dancer, while tagging with vet buddy (Faison) in his disposal truck where the human vermin deserve to be in the back. Peebles, playing it bad really well, a side we don't see from this versatile actor, plays gang leader X, responsible for crippling Ginty's girlfriend, destroying her dreams, and later killing her, leaving his signature boldly branded on her back, so a much wanted and hungry revenge for the viewer in these cliché near endings, ensues. Some sequels like this are excuses, to keep the series running for a little while longer, dragging them out. Some "really suck" sequels have shown such desperation for their existence. Exterminator 2 is just a forgettable one, as if almost non existent. It's just a little part of story added on to the last, both shows set a couple of years apart, the original one, too sick for words. Ginty at the time, represented the film, that actually won an award for stunts or something. We know one award it won't win, or be nominated for. Horrible music score that sounds like it jammed in the tape recorder.

lost-in-limbo Johnny Long is back to doing what he does best and that's cleaning up the New York streets of its scum. This time he's all geared up with the flame-thrower set on exterminate. When he's not flaming street gangs. He spends time with his dancer girlfriend and that of an old army buddy. Although things get real personal, when Johnny's girlfriend is brutally beat up by a power hungry gang lord of the streets, known as X. This really tips Johnny over the edge and drives him to revenge. Don't you just hate when you get through watching a movie to realise it was heavily cut, as it doesn't go as long as it's advertised on the video case (which by the way has a great cover art work). Well, that was the case here and I couldn't hide my disappointment of it. I'm not a massive fan of the original, but I was still interested in seeing the sequel after reading how much crueler and nihilistic it is in its actions. Sure, that would have been great, that's if I saw it that way, but I didn't. The deaths scenes were cut down and some (like the always mentioned subway scene and Johnny's girlfriend beat-up in the park) I didn't even get to see. Those moments where choppy as hell and had me going "What on earth just happen?!" Even the film's final standoff between X (a dreadfully juicy turn by Mario Van Peebles) and Johnny Long comes on too early in the story and then drags on for ages. Until it meets its murky conclusion. In all, it's a very inferior sequel that turns into an embarrassingly, vapid cheese-fest in the tradition of the Death Wish sequels (… namely part 3). There's no foot grounded in reality compared to the original and it comes off like an action comic fantasy. Thanks to Peebles and his laughable bunch of roaches. Robert Ginty (and his placidly stiff nature) is back as Johnny the Vietnam VET turned vigilante. On this occasion he brought with him his welder helmet and the trusty old flamethrower (the iconic picture found on the poster of the original) to clean up the dirtily decayed and crime-riddled streets. When he gets mad. Vicious punks and petty thieves better watch out! As he appears from nowhere (like a ghost) to wipe the floor. How they don't notice someone dressed like this until its to late, goes beyond me. Imagine the noise he would be make carrying all of this and how hard it would be to swiftly maneuver with it! The mangled story is basic and skips a lot stuff that happened in the original and heads its own direction… well kind of… ah, yeah its derivative. How could the cops go from knowing who the exterminator is at the end of the first feature to be at square one in the follow up? Who knows? I don't. While, there's nothing much else going on in the thin material to derail the main focus off Ginty's character and emotional build up. Still cluttering up the pace are redundant fillers (give me some break dancing) and an over-plus of scene-stealing Van Pebble posing and preaching his "He is the street" speeches. Just proving how much of a bad-ass he is. Poor Van Pebble, because he comes across as extremely wretched and too fruity looking to invoke that presence. Mark Buntzman's no-nonsense direction is ineptly junky (great campy slow-mo pieces), but he makes decent of the gritty and beat up look of the New York surroundings. It's not as prominent, say like the original, but Bob Baldwin's grounded photography gives it that rough edge. On the other-hand, the progressively clunky score by David Spear is a manipulative piece of mess. There's an explicit vibe created, but sadly its more comic style than nastily exploitive. Nonetheless it's still fun and creative in its set pieces.There are moments of ridiculously stupid and roistering fun evident, but make sure you get your hands on the uncut version.P.s. Watching the uncut version (shockingly on Pay TV?!) was a much better experience. The subway sequence was rather unsettling. Shonky, but amusing comic action.