Over the top fun- 70's style!
Added 7/26/2009
I watched this last night for the first time since seeing it on HBO in the early 1980's. I love about every Clint Eastwood movie I've ever seen, and this is no exception! Sure, as others have pointed out, you have to suspend belief (like any other action movie today) and the end is a bit over the top- but it's just a fun, action packed thrill ride. There are actualy some very good performances and the characters are interesting. Just sit back and enjoy a good time action flick- 70's style!
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Hokey fun
Added 7/20/2009
The Bottom Line:
As long as you don't approach The Gauntlet with anything close to a literal mindset you'll probably have a good time: Clint is in top form as Clint the Cop (back before he could play anyone else) escorting a prisoner back to Arizona when all heck breaks loose, and the movie is stupidly enjoyable from start to finish.
3/4
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Over the top and entertaining
Added 4/15/2009
In the 1970s when star/director Clint Eastwood was at the top of his game, I guess he still is, he made a cop movie, The Gauntlet, that poked fun at his super-cop mystique he created in the Dirty Harry movies. Eastwood is Ben Shockley, a Phoenix police officer who joined the force for all the right reasons but he's been beaten down over the years as he waits for his big case. He seems to get a shot at it with orders to extradite a prisoner from Vegas, Gus Mally who happens to be a prostitute testifying in a low-level trial. Things aren't as they seem though as Shockley and Gus discover that the mob and maybe even the police are gunning for them. Can they make it back to Vegas before they're finished off? There's plot holes here and the last 10 minutes is as ridiculous and over the top as you can get, but that's the appeal of the movie. It's entertaining from start to finish as the storyline unravels and some twists are revealed.
Taking some jabs at Harry Callahan, Eastwood as Phoenix police officer Ben Shockley is a good if not great performance. As Shockley discovers he was picked for the job for all the wrong reasons, the veteran officer regains some of the drive and motivation he'd lost over the years. Sondra Locke gives one of her best performance as Augustina "Gus" Mally, a prostitute expected to testify in a mob trial. Locke shows she can handle her own against Eastwood with a role so few movies have, a strong and smart woman. Pat Hingle leads the supporting cast as Josephson, Shockley's old partner who may be the only straight cop around. William Prince is just the opposite as Blakelock, the police commissioner looking out for No. 1. Bill McKinney gives a memorable turn as a country constable Shockley and Mally run across with Michael Cavanaugh playing Feyderspiel, the assistant DA who seems too perfect.
Along with a good if not great widescreen presentation, the DVD has a trailer and cast and crew info which is really just an Eastwood filmography. Still, it's a good price at under $10. The Gauntlet isn't Eastwood's best film, but it is still entertaining with Eastwood and Locke going toe to toe. Give The Gauntlet a try!
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The Guantlet on Blu Ray!!! Clint Eastwood takes the bus!!!
Added 2/17/2009
One of Eastwood's best films,and one of Sondra Locke'e for that matter,this Blu transfer blows away the previous DVD release which really wasnt all that bad,but this Blu Ray transfer and sound are just incredible,it blows the old DVD right out of the water!!!,your HD TV,and sound system will get quite a workout here!!! No extras here,just the movie,not even a trailer,but for the pretty low price,this one's worth picking up if you're a fan,worth the upgrade!!! The final scenes with the bus(Clint also had some bus action also in Dirty Harry,remember these films were made well before "Speed"!) are truly incredible,this movie is action packed!!! "The Gauntlet" is a winner!!! I've had this on VHS,DVD and now Blu Ray!!! A+
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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1 of eastwoods best, dont listen to the low raters
Added 2/11/2009
The low raters of this movie are clearly not eastwood fans. No its not all realistc on the story especially the ending....who cares!!! its clint eastwood...he carrys the movie out very well. The dvd is not a great transfer.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Over the top fun- 70's style!
Added 7/26/2009
I watched this last night for the first time since seeing it on HBO in the early 1980's. I love about every Clint Eastwood movie I've ever seen, and this is no exception! Sure, as others have pointed out, you have to suspend belief (like any other action movie today) and the end is a bit over the top- but it's just a fun, action packed thrill ride. There are actualy some very good performances and the characters are interesting. Just sit back and enjoy a good time action flick- 70's style!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Hokey fun
Added 7/20/2009
The Bottom Line:
As long as you don't approach The Gauntlet with anything close to a literal mindset you'll probably have a good time: Clint is in top form as Clint the Cop (back before he could play anyone else) escorting a prisoner back to Arizona when all heck breaks loose, and the movie is stupidly enjoyable from start to finish.
3/4
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Over the top and entertaining
Added 4/15/2009
In the 1970s when star/director Clint Eastwood was at the top of his game, I guess he still is, he made a cop movie, The Gauntlet, that poked fun at his super-cop mystique he created in the Dirty Harry movies. Eastwood is Ben Shockley, a Phoenix police officer who joined the force for all the right reasons but he's been beaten down over the years as he waits for his big case. He seems to get a shot at it with orders to extradite a prisoner from Vegas, Gus Mally who happens to be a prostitute testifying in a low-level trial. Things aren't as they seem though as Shockley and Gus discover that the mob and maybe even the police are gunning for them. Can they make it back to Vegas before they're finished off? There's plot holes here and the last 10 minutes is as ridiculous and over the top as you can get, but that's the appeal of the movie. It's entertaining from start to finish as the storyline unravels and some twists are revealed.
Taking some jabs at Harry Callahan, Eastwood as Phoenix police officer Ben Shockley is a good if not great performance. As Shockley discovers he was picked for the job for all the wrong reasons, the veteran officer regains some of the drive and motivation he'd lost over the years. Sondra Locke gives one of her best performance as Augustina "Gus" Mally, a prostitute expected to testify in a mob trial. Locke shows she can handle her own against Eastwood with a role so few movies have, a strong and smart woman. Pat Hingle leads the supporting cast as Josephson, Shockley's old partner who may be the only straight cop around. William Prince is just the opposite as Blakelock, the police commissioner looking out for No. 1. Bill McKinney gives a memorable turn as a country constable Shockley and Mally run across with Michael Cavanaugh playing Feyderspiel, the assistant DA who seems too perfect.
Along with a good if not great widescreen presentation, the DVD has a trailer and cast and crew info which is really just an Eastwood filmography. Still, it's a good price at under $10. The Gauntlet isn't Eastwood's best film, but it is still entertaining with Eastwood and Locke going toe to toe. Give The Gauntlet a try!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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