SPOILER ALERT! Saw it this afternoon. Here's what I think: First off, the climax is just as I expected -- Eastwood's character does finish things off with a macho display of violence. Yes, he pulls out a lighter rather than a gun, but the delivery is violent, and essentially alone, he meats out his (evidently evil) opponents' destruction. (What would have been unexpected is if Walt listened to his priest's advice, contacted the police, and *they* figured out a way to inhibit the gangs' predations; instead, we get a priest who comes to learn that Walt was right all along). Also, I wish the film was more aware of an interesting equivalence it sets up: namely, that Walt and the evil gang-bangers share violent reactions to trespasses into their territory. But as Dorothy notes, the film is not interested in drawing connections between Walt and gang-bangers. They are set up so we have no empathy for them, so that we can hate them. (Those who want to war against...