Cớm Bẩn Dirty Harry 2: Magnum Force (1973)

Magnum Force brilliantly subverts expectations set by its seminal predecessor, transforming Harry Callahan from a maverick anti-hero navigating a corrupt system into a reluctant champion of due process against a far more insidious threat: radicalized vigilante police officers. Ted Post's direction, while perhaps lacking Don Siegel's raw intensity, offers a taut, methodical exploration of unchecked power. Clint Eastwood, in his iconic reprisal, masterfully embodies Callahan's moral compass, portraying a man who, despite his own brutal methods, understands the perilous line between justice and tyranny.

The film's strength lies in its profound thematic depth, dissecting the dangerous allure of extra-judicial killings and the inherent corruption in a justice system that fails to hold itself accountable. The dynamic between Callahan and the clean-cut, yet morally compromised, "death squad" officers, particularly Hal Holbrook's chilling Lt. Briggs, provides a compelling dialectic on societal decay. The action sequences are meticulously crafted, serving the narrative rather than dominating it, while the urban sprawl of San Francisco adds a gritty realism. Magnum Force solidifies the "Dirty Harry" legacy by challenging its own premise, cementing its status as a pivotal, thought-provoking entry in the vigilante thriller subgenre and a critical commentary on the thin blue line.