Search - Lethal Weapon on DVD

A good film gets better

Martin W. Ward | Littleton, CO USA | 06/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The recent release of the director's cut of Lethal Weapon add depth to the film by the inclusion of approximately 7 minutes of new scenes. The additions are in the beginning of the film when the characters are still being developed. In one scene, Gibson's character walks into the line of fire of a sniper, and in another he has a rather violent reaction to a commercial on TV. In the context of this portion of the movie, it further establishes the pain Gibson's character is going through and his mental state...is he crazy or just not caring what happens to him? Additional scenes also establish Glover's character's concern at growing old...does he still have it?The balance of the film is pretty much unchanged. Lethal Weapon is a fun buddy action/comedy movie, but shines more than the sequels, which emphasized comedy and cartoonish action. Gibson and Glover actually act here, Gibson in particular in the scenes where he is struggling with his wife's death. The interplay between the actors makes this movie a cut above the standard action movie."

Cousinpaco's top action: #5

cousinpaco | Cincinnati, OH United States | 09/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Retiring cop gets new partner. They don't get along, until they shoot a bunch of bad guys together. The formula has become cliché.Who cares?!?"Lethal Weapon" is such a great movie, that it defines the concept of a buddy-cop picture. Both lead actors give top-of-their game performances. Gibson is a standout, playing burned-out narc Martin Riggs, who's wallowing in grief for his dead wife.(Ever notice that Mel Gibson always plays a widower? Wonder how Robin Gibson feels about this...)Danny Glover plays the down-to-Earth Roger Murtaugh, who steps up to the plate when his family is threatened.Heck, even Gary Busey deserves a nod for his portrayal of shadowy Mr. Joshua. Riggs and Mr. Joshua face off in a massive martial-arts brawl that apparently took four days to film.One of my favorite supporting actors appears in "Lethal Weapon" - Al Leong, playing the guy who tortures Riggs with an electric shock apparatus. Riggs' payback is pretty bone-crushing, so don't expect to see Leong in the sequel!This DVD version contains some footage not seen in previous releases. None of it adds much, thematically--but it's kind of fun to see Riggs stand off against a crazed sniper."

Great Movie Poor Blue-Ray Quality

Andres Ramos | New York City | 04/17/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As much as i love this movie, I was turned off by the poor job that was done on the tranfer to Blue-Ray quality.
Save your money, Hopefully a better version will be released in the future."

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."