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[vigilanteforce]

My review of this gem, originally posted at my blog:

BLASTFIGHTER (Lamberto Bava, 1984)



Tiger Sharp is released from Jail after serving an 8-year sentence for avenging the killer of his wife. He meets an old friend who gives him a super gun that fires grenades, smoke bombs, steel balls, rockets, etc. One day while looking through the scope of his gun he sees a group of hunters killing a deer. It appears that they work for a merchant who uses the animal parts to make some sort of medicine. When Tiger tries to find out who the boss is he comes across his ex-best friend (George Eastman). His employees want Tiger dead at any cost and attempt to murder him several times. Eventually they murder his teenage daughter and that's when he goes on a rampage of revenge, giving the damn rednecks hell!

Wow, I've had this tape in my collection for quite a few years and just got to watch it! All the great old pals are here- Bava, Soavi, Eastman. And of course Michael Sopkiw, the star of 2019 AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK! It is obviously influenced from Ted Kotcheff's FIRST BLOOD and also has shades of DELIVERANCE and THE DEER HUNTER. The script could have been tighter if some boring parts had been avoided. However it is still quite enjoyable and the ending where Tiger exterminates all the redneck scumbags using his custom weapon is one of Lamberto Bava's finest moments. For the record: Lucio Fulci was the producer's initial choice but he declined in order to direct THE NEW GLADIATORS.

Fans of hard-hitting action will certainly appreciate BLASTFIGHTER, it is certainly not a bad film, in fact it is among Lamberto's best. Unfortunately the only DVD release of the film is the Italian one which lacks English options (damn I need to start reading my Italian language books again!) but is at least widescreen and look great!

EDIT: I have watched it a couple of times since I wrote this review and now I consider it to be one of the finest Italian action films! It just gets better and better with every viewing.

[Inspector Tanzi]

Nice review Lefteris

I know what you mean about the slow bits but it's more than worth the wait when it kicks into gear!

[IL COMMISSARIO]

passed over it along with HANDS OF STEEL years back in the vid store. I do want to see it along with the former title to simply see cassinelli's final film.

[vigilanteforce]

Both are masterpieces, period. HANDS OF STEEL is Martino's greatest film if you ask me. Ok, you guys can crucify me now 

[Dorado]

This is a surprisingly good action film, I had it on VHS back in the eighties and now I have it on DVD with English sound.

Michael Sopkiw is very good in this one as he was in 2019 after the fall of New York, it’s to bad that we don’t see him star in a lot of films.
 

[vigilanteforce]

This is a surprisingly good action film, I had it on VHS back in the eighties and now I have it on DVD with English sound.

You mean DVD-R?

[Dorado]

This is a surprisingly good action film, I had it on VHS back in the eighties and now I have it on DVD with English sound.

You mean DVD-R?

No it’s on DVD, I purchased it from the same seller who sold med “Hands of Steel”.

And as was the case with “Hands of Steel” he has probably used a Japanese laserdisc as source.

[Inspector Tanzi]

And as was the case with “Hands of Steel” he has probably used a Japanese laserdisc as source.

Is there a laserdisc? I want it!!!!!!!!!!!

If someone's got it i'll give em a good swap

[vigilanteforce]

No it’s on DVD, I purchased it from the same seller who sold med “Hands of Steel”.

And as was the case with “Hands of Steel” he has probably used a Japanese laserdisc as source.

Revok?

[Dorado]

No it’s on DVD, I purchased it from the same seller who sold med “Hands of Steel”.

And as was the case with “Hands of Steel” he has probably used a Japanese laserdisc as source.

Revok?

yes.

http://www.revok.com/searchall.php?cur=20&max=10&search=b&type=atoz

[vigilanteforce]

But I thought Revok sold DVD-Rs? I ordered from them once (a few moths ago actually) and I got DVD-Rs, not factory-pressed DVDs.

[Dorado]

But I thought Revok sold DVD-Rs? I ordered from them once (a few moths ago actually) and I got DVD-Rs, not factory-pressed DVDs.

Sorry you are right it’s my mistake there. It is a DVD-r and not factory made.

[vigilanteforce]

Wish it was a DVD. I would order it right away.

[Inspector Tanzi]

Wish it was a DVD. I would order it right away.

Likewise

[Dorado]

Wish it was a DVD. I would order it right away.

Well there must be a Japanese laserdisc of this as there is with “Hands of Steel”, but finding it may be hard.