Movie Review: Fernando Di Leo - The Italian Crime Collection Volume Two (Blu-ray)

To many Italian action enthusiasts, Fernando Di Leo is the best when it comes to crafting the perfect polizia or crime film. Raro Video released the popular box-set on Blu-ray with Fernando Di Leo: The Italian Crime Collection - Volume One a little over a year ago. Naturally, there had to be another release with more films as this master of Italian cult cinema had some other gems in his filmography, most notably, Naked Massacre, The Kidnap Syndicate and one of his finest creations, Shoot First, Die Later.
 

Shoot First, Die Later centers on Domenico Malacarene (Luc Merenda, Torso) a not-so squeaky clean cop who lives slightly better than his fellow officers because he accepts money from the city's crime syndicate. Outside from a little corruption here and there, Domenico actually seems like a regular guy who likes to spend time with his girlfriend, Sandra (Delia Boccardo, Massacre in Rome). The only problem here is he gets way in over his head. His father also works in the police department but doesn't quite dabble in these illicit affairs.

Movie Review: Shoot First, Die Later (1974, Blu-ray)

Raro Video has taken it upon themselves over the past few years to release numerous classic film works from writer/director Fernando Di Leo. There was the excellent release of Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man, a Blu-ray boxset with four of his finest films (Caliber 9, Rulers of the City, The Boss and The Italian Connection) and now the recently released Shoot First, Die Later in a Blu-ray special edition is finally available. If you’re itching for some no-nonsense, violent Polizia, Mr. Di Leo rarely disappoints.

Shoot First, Die Later centers around Domenico Malacarene (Luc Merenda, Torso) a not-so squeaky clean cop who lives slightly better than his fellow officers because he accepts money from the city's crime syndicate. Outside from a little corruption here and there, Domenico actually seems like a regular guy who likes to spend time with his girlfriend, Sandra (Delia Boccardo, Massacre in Rome). The only problem here is he gets way in over his head. His father also works in the police department but doesn't quite dabble in these illicit affairs.

Movie Review: Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976)

On the heels of their Fernando Di Leo crime collection (Caliber 9/ The Boss/ Italian Connection/ Rulers of the City), Italian cult film specialists Raro DVD are continuing their run of Polizia DVDs with their recently released, Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man. Written by Di Leo and directed by the controversial and always fearless Ruggero Deodato, Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man ventures many places most police films don't.

Buy Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man on DVD


It really doesn't take very long for the viewer to get a clear indication as to where Deodato is going to take Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man. In actuality, the first ten minutes hit you quick and hard with some surprising brutality and a thoroughly impressive manic motorcycle chase . French actor, Marc Porel and Ray Lovelock (Violent City, Django, Kill!) play Alfredo and Tony, two crime-fighting pretty-boys who have a knack for killing criminals before a crime has been committed. With the help of their boss (Adolfo Celi, Thunderball) these guys take apart Italian crime, in a very unorthodox fashion.