Review – Magnum Force

Capitalizing on the popularity of the ultra-violent Dirty Harry, this first sequel once again gives us Clint Eastwood as Inspector Harry Calahan, still shooting his way through one problem after another. In many ways this is pure formula, the street-wise cop with his own brand of justice trying to ... well, you get the picture. Here the additional twist is that prominent members of the underworld are being assassinated by rogue members of San Francisco’s finest. The result is a fine tightrope balance between law with a certain lack of respect for due process, a la Eastwood, and outright vigilante justice. Some elements are somewhat dated (particularly costumes and soundtrack), but as a whole the brutal drama holds up pretty well. Mildly amusing