Search - Lethal Weapon [HD DVD] on HD DVD

Gibson And Glover Deliver

Reviewer | 11/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the one that started all the "lethal" action and introduced one of the most memorable cop teams in cinematic history. "Lethal Weapon," directed by Richard Donner, is a hard-hitting, fast-paced action/drama starring Mel Gibson as Detective Sergeant Martin Riggs, who once served in the Special Forces in Vietnam, and who now serves the city of Los Angeles. Riggs has some inner demons with which he must cope (the loss of his wife), and starts every day thinking of reasons why he shouldn't swallow a bullet. In the end, it's the job that keeps him going; it's what he does best in the world. Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is dealing with some issues in his own life: He just turned fifty, has a teenaged daughter who is suddenly grown-up and dating, and he's just been assigned a new partner, Riggs, whom he quickly learns has a propensity for dangerous situations and apparently has a death wish. His assessment of his situation is summed up with his now classic line, "I'm too old for this ----." And the adventure begins. The plot involves an investigation into the death of a young woman, Amanda Hunsaker (Jackie Swanson), the daughter of an old war buddy of Murtaugh's, Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), who is now a successful banker. Ultimately, it leads Riggs and Murtaugh into some murky waters where they encounter a former General, Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan), and some ex-special forces mercenaries, including the especially psychotic Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey). There's some twists and turns along the way, but most importantly Donner keeps the action going and the tension building all the way to the climax. The dialogue is sharp, the story and characters are developed extremely well, and Donner wisely injects some humorous moments (courtesy of Gibson, with shades of The Three Stooges) that provide a respite to the intensity of the overall proceedings. But what really makes this movie is the pairing of Gibson and Glover. Perfectly cast as Riggs, Gibson is at his charismatic best here. He brings a depth to his character usually reserved for more dramatic fare, and layers him with a complexity that makes Riggs so much more than just another action hero. If you look deeply enough, you'll find a bit of McQueen's "Bullitt" in him. To his credit, Gibson took what could have been just another "star" outing and created a truly memorable character. Glover, as well, breathes real life into Murtaugh; he lets you in on what really makes his character tick, what his loyalties are and his perceptions of the world in which he lives. Like Gibson, he gets beneath the surface and gives you a lot more; much more than meets the eye. And there's a chemistry between the two that really clicks and makes it all work so well. Watching these guys operate is real kick; they give the audience something to relate to, and it's that connection they make with the viewer that is one of the reasons the "Lethal" films have been so successful. Also memorable in supporting roles are Darlene Love, as Roger's wife, Trish; and Traci Wolfe as their daughter, Rianne. In the end, "Lethal Weapon" is an exhilarating, entertaining movie that introduces some great characters that happily, for the audience, return in the sequels. It's like meeting good people who become your friends for life. But be prepared; once you've seen this one, you're going to HAVE to see the rest. And I guarantee, you're going to want to see them all more than once, so be ready to add to your DVD/video collection. These are keepers."

A Portrait of Greatness Getting Better...

Jason Anticevich | Schaumburg, IL | 08/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't count how many times I've seen this movie, and I still don't get sick of it! I have to watch it all the way through once I start to watch a scene. Is there a better action movie with the depth of Glover's and Gibson's characters? I haven't found one. The interplay the guys have with each other is amazing. The dialogue and emotions are fluid and natural, much like the movement of the camera in recording this awesome spectacle. This new version finally gives everyone the opportunity to see the brilliant writing and thought processes behind the Glover and Gibson characters. The studio has added 7 minutes of footage to enhance the foundation of the characters' motivations. It's almost a new movie! The new DTS sound is as good as it gets with the old audio tracks. The picture is clean and crisp. The scene where Riggs is shot through the glass window of a store shows every cracking shard with absolute precision. The extra footage is seamless after being transfered brilliantly. I would recommend this disc as a starting piece for anyone looking to build a collection of solid movies. There is more to this movie than incredible action sequences. This is one of those action movies where you and your date are physically exhausted and sporting huge, goofy smiles at the end of the movie. There aren't many movies like this anymore. Magic like this only happens once in a great while. Get this disc and capture a little piece of it."