Customer Reviews

Lethal Weapon (Widescreen Director's Cut)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

positive reviews -Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film directed by Richard Donner - stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover

*Note, my score is for this edition, not the film itself*
Every cliché has to start somewhere, and few have a better beginning than Lethal Weapon. The Buddy-Cop genre has been done to death, but Gibson and Glover's chemistry as Riggs and Murtaugh still keeps this one feeling fresh and energetic. By far the grittiest film the franchise, the first Lethal Weapon smartly relies more on good story-telling and engaging characters rather than elaborate set-pieces. That's not to say that this is high-drama, just that it (wisely) puts the story ahead of the eye candy.

With far fewer laughs and explosions here than in the franchise's later films, people that didn't start with the original may be a little disappointed. That's unfortunate, if understandable, but those who can appreciate the roots of the Buddy-Cop story are sure to be pleased.

Extras
"Disappointing" is an inadequate word for this paltry selection. The trailer and some production notes are little more than an insult to fans of this film.

Presentation
As phoned in as the extras seem, they've got nothing on this transfer. This was never a slick, glossy action movie but this disc will have you wondering if there's something wrong with your Blu-Ray player.

Bottom Line
If you don't already own Lethal Weapon, then this might be a worthwhile purchase. But if you already own the DVD then this definitely isn't worth the upgrade. Save your money for a release that lives up to the film's content.

i thought this movie was not bad.it teams Mel Gibson and Danny Glover
together as two cops who couldn't be more different,and end up
partnering with each other.both hate having partners.Martin
Riggs(Gibson)is a loose cannon who likes to bend the roles,and who just
might be suicidal and/or homicidal.Roger Murtaugh is older,more
conservative,and likes to do things by the book.i wouldn't say the
movie is action packed,but it does seem to move at a fairly decent
pace.i wouldn't say it's that funny,either,although it is classified as
an action/comedy.still,i've seen a lot worse in the genre.Gary Busey
has a nice turn as a bad guy.when all is said and done,Lethal weapon is
3/5

Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love.
Running Time: 105 minutes.
Rated R for cop violence and language.

The ultimate in the cop-buddy action flicks, Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon" is still an essential part of the action-drama genre to this day. Mel Gibson stars as the unstable, suicidal cop who is still grieving the tragic death of his wife, but finds purpose when he is teamed with over-the-hill Sergeant Danny Glover to investigate the mysterious death of a small-time hooker that jumped/was thrown off a building.

As the duo dives deeper into the case, they realize they are in the middle of a tense, big-time drug traffic arrangement and they are up against some tough cookies (namely Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan). Gibson is great as the reckless Martin Riggs, using his insane tendencies as adrenaline throughout the film, but often also showing a sofer, tender side that produces a lot of laughs. Glover is his equal as Murtaugh, who feels that he is at his last stand as a police officer, but tags along because he feels his duty as a cop is unfinished. An excellent script by Shane Black and an explosive, taut directorial effort from Donner. Has lost some of its mustard due to numerous sequels and imitations ("Rush Hour" anyone?), but still an extremely fun action-adventure that will delight all those who are Gibson fans and love to laugh and gasp.

Lethal Weapon is one of the best films of the action genre, blending off-beat humor with surprisingly expressive acting and tense situations. Though much of the plot is over the top, and the casualness of the gunplay (as Danny Glover asks Mel: "have you ever met anyone you didn't kill?) seems like it should make the movie too unbelievable to be good, the humor with which the situations are treated pulls the film together easily. Even though the scenes added in the director's cut don't add up to a much longer movie, they do further the character development of Mel Gibson's character. Notably, the sniper scene shows the audience the extent of Gibson/Riggs' emotional disturbance, and lends a deeper character credibility during the confrontation between Riggs and Murtaugh after the rooftop jump, in which Riggs explains that the only thing restraining him from suicide is "the job." Riggs is seen more clearly in this version as a modern gunslinger, a victim of depressed and unstable victim of circumstance who decides daily to keep on living only because he stubbornly refusus to let the bad guys win. Glover plays well opposite, and he does a very good job interpreting a man confronting middle age, family responsibilities, and his responsibility and desire to be a good cop despite the changes in the world that are occuring around him.
The humor is, at the end, what ties this film together. the punchlines seem to come at the tensest moments, though for the most part they avoid the cheesy one liners before blowing the bad guys away. They simply arise out of the context, and do not feel artificial. Busey is also good, and he can really act the part of being one mean SOB. The action is spectacular, and the end fight scene is extremely well choreographed, as the crew hired one of the infamous Gracies (A brazillian family who define modern mixed martial arts) to help out with it. One of my favorite movies of all time, and easily the best of the series, Lethal Weapon defines the action genre in a way that hasn't been seen since.

This movie starts out the way all great movies should... From the moment you make eye contact with the nips you are sucked into it. And then theres the crazy awsomeness of Martin Riggs. The school sniper scene very cool. And then theres Roger Murtog a great character, we are introduced to him in the bath tub where his family seems to wind up hanging out with him every movie. Am I the only one who thinks they are alittle TOO loveing. All that aside Roger is an awsome character. The more these movies go on the more the better the chemistry between these two cops. By the time you get to the fight with Riggs and Mr. Joshua at the end you will be trying to keep from shouting at the screen and rooting Riggs on. Good stuff

this is one of my top ten movies of all time. I like how the director shows the beginning of their friendship on a very dark note, but then ends the movie with them making jokes and having the two not as serious as before. This movie is great and i highly recommend buying it.

LETHAL WEAPON is an action masterpiece, and one of my most favorite films. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star as two extremely mismatched cops; one is on the edge after losing his wife in a car crash, the other is a newly-turned 50-year-old just trying to keep alive. Together they're slowly learning to like each other; when they do, they'll have to try to take down a secret drug ring run by Vietnam vets. Richard Donner's directing is very good, from a witty script by Shane Black; the score, by Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen, is one of the best and most jazzy film scores I've heard. There's plenty of action, plenty of thrills, but not plenty enough; you'll want this film to never end. An interesting version is this Director's Cut, which features more emphasis on Riggs' suicidal attitude. If you want action, if you want hilarious comedy, if you want non-stop entertainment - you want LETHAL WEAPON.

Gunfights abound in this action classic from director Richard Donner. The plot is similar now, being about two very different cops who become partners and, by the end of the film, best friends. Mel Gibson is Riggs, a suicidal gung-ho type with a quick wit and a quicker gun. Danny Glover is Murtaugh, an aging cop who couldn't be more different from Riggs. The two team up to take on a few drug dealers, and on the way kill a few more bad guys. What makes this film work so well and rise above the typical action movie is the attention paid to its characters. Both Murtaugh and Riggs are very well developed as we see little vignettes of their lives. It's also interesting how the two become friends as they help each other out. Gibson and Glover both do excellent performances, but it's Gibson who shines the most as the crazy cop. This is a must-see for all genre fans.

THIS IS ACTION AT ITS FINEST. AN LA COP [DANNY GLOVER] IS ASSIGNED TO A NEW PARTNER THAT HAPPENS TO BE PSYCHOTIC AND SUICIDAL. THIS IS ONE THAT STARTED OFF THE LETHAL WEAPON FRANCHISE. GREAT ACTION, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND A GREAT DUO. IT'S HARD NOT TO LIKE THIS MOVIE. THIS SHOULD BE IN EVERY MOVIE BUFF'S DVD COLLECTION. THIS MOVIE IS UNRESISTABLE. 7 MINUTES OF NEW FOOTAGE WAS ADDED FOR A DIRECTOR'S CUT VERSION OF THIS MOVIE WHICH WAS RELEASED BACK IN 1998. FOLLOWED BY THREE SEQUELS.