Lethal Weapon Reviews and Ratings


  • Yelverton
    November 25, 2009
    Yelverton
    This film is lethal alright.
  • SkywalkerJones
    November 25, 2009
    SkywalkerJones
    I īm a real cop,this is a real badge and this is a real fuckinīgun.-Martin Riggs

    ...( read more)text-align:center;font-size:10px;">Flixster - Share Movies

    Director:Richard Donner
    Cast:Mel Gibson.Danny Glover,Gary Busey,Mitchell Ryan
    Genre:Action,Comedy
    Year of release:1987
    Running Time:106 minutes

    Plot:
    The story begins on the night of December 14, 1987 with the apparent suicide of Amanda Hunsaker, who jumped from an apartment balcony after a cocaine session, (Jackie Swanson), the daughter of Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), an old friend and former army buddy of LAPD Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). A veteran cop of 20 years, Roger Murtaugh gets stuck with a new partner on his 50th birthday. That partner is 37-year-old Detective-Sergeant Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife was killed in a car accident three years earlier. As a result, Riggs is a suicidal, borderline alcoholic, who has become so reckless and violent that he is considered a "lethal weapon". Sergeant Murtaugh first believes that his new partner is "trying to draw a psycho pension" and is horrified to learn that he genuinely is "crazy." However, he is soon indebted to his new partner for saving his life.

    Review:
    Lethal Weapon is a one explosive movie.I m a huge fan of the series since i was a kid and the sequels are great but the original remains as one of the greatest action movies of all time.Lethal Weapon looks like a typical action film but goes faster and faster in every single minute.Forget those CGI craps of today.This is what i call a kick ass adrenaline rush and a awesome action movie and personally it won t be a fun movie like Lethal Weapon.

    Flixster - Share Movies


    I absolutely love Mel Gibson as our favorite crazy son of a bitch Martin Riggs and he really nailed the part perfectly.Riggs is a ticky time bomb ready to explode since his wife died and he becomes a danger not only for the badguys but also to his own partner.Gibson is so awesome as Riggs and a complete badass too.Danny Glover is great as Roger Murtaugh,Riggs s reluctant partner.Unlike Riggs,Murtaugh is lovable family man and can t wait for his retirement but his life becomes a living hell when his new partner drags him to lot of trouble.Gibson and Glover s chemistry is a must see in the movie.They may be different but Riggs and Murtaugh make one hell of a team.Gary Busey was a great villain as Joshua.He s such a phsyco as Riggs and he s very relentless aswell.The fight between Riggs and Joshua is one of the violent scenes of the movie.

    Richard Donner s direction is so full of energy and adrenaline that makes Lethal Weapon a great movie with a great script of Shane Black.Donner combines masterfully the action and comedy and makes a explosvie trademark of the series.

    Lethal Weapon is an oustanding action classic and one of the best movies of the 80 s.No other film of the genre can capture the energy and excitement of Lethal Weapon and a must see for the action fans.Classic.
  • itbegins2005
    November 22, 2009
    itbegins2005
    Buddy cop movies don't get much better than Lethal Weapon. It didn't invent the genre- T.V. had sort of hatched the idea, with Starsky and Hutch being the earliest example I can think of, if you don't count Dragnet- but it sure as hell perfected it, and everything from its plot s...( read more)tructure to its distinctive score has been imitated so many times that they've entered the the official lexicon of movie cliches. But what it's sometimes hard to remember, following three progressively sunnier, cheerier sequels, is that the first Lethal Weapon was a surprisingly gritty, even edgy film, and, while it was certainly a rollercoaster ride of thrills and excitement, don't get me wrong, the story goes to some pretty dark places before it's all tied up with a bullet-riddled bow. I mean, one character is contemplating suicide for half the film, the other's daughter is kidnapped and nearly raped, and both of them are tortured pretty mercilessly before story's end; but somehow this sardonic sense of almost gallows humor belies all that darkness, making the film tolerable to the viewer, not to mention entertaining (it's the kind of sense of humor I imagine real cops might actually have, just so they can deal with their jobs). Of course, the film's greatest asset is the pairing of Riggs and Murtaugh, two polar opposite cops who are somehow perfectly complimentary to each other because of their dedication to the job- and while that may sound like an umbrella pitch for every shitty buddy-cop flick ever made, that's just because they were all trying to rip off this movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover click so harmoniously together as a team- the loose cannon and the straight shooter, the clown and the straight man- that it's just as much fun to see them hating each other for the first half of the movie as it is to see them working together in the second half. Set in L.A. on Christmas (and what was it with setting cop movies on Christmas in the '80s?), Lethal Weapon begins with Sgt. Roger Murtaugh investigating the death of an old friend's daughter. While initially it appears to be a suicide, it soon becomes clear that the girl was murdered- but the who and why are still a mystery. Things get complicated when Murtaugh is assigned a new partner: Sgt. Martin Riggs, a former Special Forces operative transferring from Vice, who may or may not have a death wish following the death of his wife. Riggs and Murtaugh don't work well together at first (Riggs jumps off a building, Murtaugh tells him to just kill himself already, hilarity ensues), but both of them realize that there's more to the girl's death than it seems, and after they work out their differences over dinner with Murtaugh's family and a frosty brew afterwards, the pair unravel an intricate web of drugs and secrets that go back to the Vietnam War. One kidnapping, a drive-by, some torture, and a heck of a body-count later, the day is saved, and the two men forge a bond of respect and friendship that will last them for at least three sequels. Making his first big splash in the world of American cinema is Mel Gibson, whose mullet-sporting Martin Riggs is supposedly such an indisputable badass that he IS the "lethal weapon" of the title. Gibson pushes crazy to some fun new levels, giving new meaning to the term "loose cannon", but it's almost more fun to see him toying with people who expect him to act crazy, throwing on a laid-back, "hey-man-what's-the-big-deal" attitude when people start tip-toeing around him. Still, his temper-tantrums are legendary, and he does bring a lot of- well, if not realism, than emotional investment and energy- to the part. Curbing his enthusiasm, so to speak, is Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh, an old-school cop with a wife and kids who still wields a six-shooter. Murtaugh is kind of set in his ways and starting to feel like an old man when the movie starts, so being teamed with an unpredictible, potentially-psychotic partner drives his stress levels through the roof (which is why, at some point in every film, he finds an excuse to start screaming "RIGGS!!!", a quote I associate inseperably with Glover now). Together, though, Glover and Gibson just click, and all the comedy in the film comes from their character dynamics- Lethal Weapon would have tanked without these two guys as the leads. The rest of the cast is pretty solid, too- Gary Busey in particular as the inhumanly tough, sadistic Mr. Joshua, whose final battle with Riggs in the mud of Murtaugh's decimated front lawn is a classic action sequence- but make no mistake, this is Glover and Gibson's show, and all the other players are incidental. I like that the script for the first film is tighter than the ones for any of the sequels, and while we know from early on in the movie who the villains actually are, there are some intriguing twists in the film's plot as we learn the whys behind the whodunit opening scene; and the character work is stellar, bringing both men through a distinct arc (though strangely, Murtaugh's arc is all about how he reacts to Riggs, while Riggs' is about not just Murtaugh but his outlook on life). The action in this movie is pretty darn spectacular for 1987, and while it may not hold much of a candle to the preposterous sequences in the sequels to follow, I'm sure the stunt coordinators had their hands full- and it's hard to beat the visceral intensity of Rigg's foot-chase after Mr. Joshua's car, which just had badass written all over it (especially given that Riggs is barefoot and toting a machine gun). The score, as I mentioned, is probably the most iconic part of the movie: composed by Michael Kamen, the score featured the guitar work of Eric Clapton, coupled with the saxophone stylings of David Sanborn (The guitar was used for Riggs' themes, the sax for Murtaugh's). Interestingly, Clapton and Sanborn would become joint composers with Kamen for all of the sequels, as the guitar-and-sax combo proved perfectly emblematic of the style of the film; it's fun, engaging, and hard to get out of your head once you hear it. (more to come)
  • doglover000000
    November 20, 2009
    doglover000000
    For some reason, i've only just got round to watching this film and i'm annoyed that i've gone this long without seeing them! This is a brilliant film, with a great, action packed storyline thats hilarious and emotional. Great performances from Gibson and Glover.
  • hugenymetsfan
    November 2, 2009
    hugenymetsfan
    a wonderful new version of the new breed of action-comedy that Eddie Murphy put on the map with Beverly Hills Cop
  • elpasmo
    October 16, 2009
    elpasmo
    First time I watched on original version and I've got impressed with Mel Gibson performance. A great movie.
  • Zento
    October 10, 2009
    Zento
    Lethal Weapon is a complete action thriller that is heightened by fine performances. The film has a remarkable balance of humor, adventure, excitement, and drama.
    The story begins with the pairing of two cops who have opposite personalities. One is Roger Murtaugh, who is a dece...( read more)nt and devout family man. He has just turned fifty and feels that he is too old for a lot of things. The other is Martin Riggs, who is self destructive and emotionally unstable because his wife had recently passed away. Both cops are immediately assigned to investigate an alleged suicide. What they unravel is an illegal drug operation. From there, the pace quickens and the action intensifies as the partners wage war on the cartel.
    There are a good number of well staged action sequences involving explosions, gun fights, martial arts, car crashes, and helicopter chases. The momentum accelerates in the last half hour and it is non-stop.
    But it is the chemistry of the main characters that provide much of the entertainment. Throughout the film, the partners argue about their differences from petty habits like smoking to their methods in police work. There is a moment where Murtaugh allows Riggs to prevent a depressed man from jumping off a building roof. Without revealing the funny outcome, let's just say that Murtaugh nearly loses his mind.
    But eventually the partners learn to respect one another and gain each other's trust.
    A young Mel Gibson plays Martin Riggs with much fun and sincerity. Due to the manic nature of the character, the role can pose a challenge. But Gibson is impressive and believable. There is one scene where Riggs is crying alone in his trailer on Christmas Eve. He is mourning the loss of his wife. It is one of Gibson's most authentic and touching portrayals.
    Danny Glover is Roger Murtaugh. He too delivers a wonderful performance. At over 6 feet tall, Glover has a commanding presence. But he has the ability to play compassionate. The relationship between the Murtaugh character and his wife and kids are so genuinely affectionate that their moments on screen are a delight.
    The film is directed by Richard Donner who is known for making films with a lot of interesting characters like in Superman, Gremlins, and the Omen. Lethal Weapon is a fine addition to this list. Gibson's Riggs and Glover's Murtaugh are a natural combination. They are convincing as cops but we believe in their friendship. And ultimately, that is what the film is about.
  • thisdaredevil
    October 9, 2009
    thisdaredevil
    1 of my all time fav's
  • jamesm1068
    October 3, 2009
    jamesm1068
    action packed, not the best acting but entertaining
  • akbarj
    September 24, 2009
    akbarj
    wah ini awal kenapa gw suka mel gibson ... lethal weapon ... sama halnya tango & cash
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Classic cop/buddy movie that all other cop/buddy movies aspire to. Donner was the best choice for the franchise and It all the better for him directing all 4 films. Written by the brilliant Mr. Black!
  • barbarawalker656
    September 23, 2009
    barbarawalker656
    All the LW movies get my vote..
  • ElCochran90
    September 18, 2009
    ElCochran90
    A decent action film made like they aren't made nowadays. Entertaining, and funny great characters. Action fans won't be let down.

    60/100
  • precious14u2
    September 16, 2009
    precious14u2
    Im too old for this...
  • lanba
    September 12, 2009
    lanba
    It's a classical, it's an full action movie
  • wataki2
    September 1, 2009
    wataki2
    seen the gist of it.
  • miniborat
    August 25, 2009
    miniborat
    all good but first best!!
  • jontzis
    August 20, 2009
    jontzis
    A great action movie where Mel Gibson is the big star. The plot is typical in this type of movies, there is drugs, kidnapping, hookers and a lot of murders. But the acting and the action makes this one special. Mel Gibson is the crazy cop who donīt care about the rules. He makes ...( read more)his job on his own ways. And he is funny toghether with Danny Glover who is the opposite to Gibson. A great duo and I really enjoyed watching them!!
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    "Lethal Weapon" pairs one of the best duos ever seen in a movie. A suicidal cop (Mel Gibson) and an aging veteran cop (Danny Glover) have to team up to investigate a case of a woman that jumped from a building to her death. They also have to battle some bad guys and catch other c...( read more)riminals on their way. However, not all is smooth sailing when the duo first meets. They must learn to get along and accept each other's styles if they want to get the job done.
    "Lethal Weapon" couldn't have been done much better to start the series off at a fast pace. It has a lot of funny and action packed sequences in it. Some of the best are when Mel Gibson shows his ability to shoot a gun at target practice and the ending sequence.

    If you like the "Lethal Weapon" series or action movies with a sense of comedy in them, I recommend getting "Lethal Weapon." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. This isn't the best movie in the series, but it was definitely a great start that had to have people anxiously awaiting the sequels!
  • sarapope61
    July 26, 2009
    sarapope61
    I'm too old for this ****...Hilarious, great movie.
  • flameamigo777
    July 26, 2009
    flameamigo777
    Cult classic shooter, what else can I say?
  • dizzy1312
    July 23, 2009
    dizzy1312
    I really enjoyed this Movie
  • beenbeen12
    July 21, 2009
    beenbeen12
    one of my favorits!great show
  • bleedirony
    July 21, 2009
    bleedirony
    Lethal Weapon is the first major blockbuster action film that had scope. It was epic in it's own right. The scene I still love the most in terms of cinematography is the scene shot in the desert, the way the helicopters are flying so low and still manage to keep the shot without ...( read more)spoiling it, is something I am still amazed with. This is actually my favorite Christmas movie, It maybe "a wonderful life" for some people, but I choose this life.
  • phubbs1
    July 18, 2009
    phubbs1
    Like 'Beverly Hills Cop' this is one of the all time best buddy cop action flicks. Also like Beverly Hills its kinda aged now but still works well haha I remember these films being classed as nasty adult violent flicks which were on the top shelves of the video shop :) the action...( read more) here is great, no cgi, just real gritty smash ups. It looks good and dirty with the bullets flying by our heroes. The cast are all cool, Busey being really ice cool as the baddie main man, and of course Gibson n Glover hit it of with great dialog. There are some nice set pieces here and great gun battles, the grit beats Beverly Hills sun drenched look actually, and of course, there's Mel's classic mullet haha
  • jennyvanderspek
    July 17, 2009
    jennyvanderspek
    really good movie. there is good chemistry between the unsteady but likeable mel gibson and the balanced danny glover. this is a slightly different take on the cops versus baddies movie, and it works well. watch out for mel gibson running, it's very comical :p
  • allan913
    July 16, 2009
    allan913
    A tough, slick, fast and relentless action-thriller. Hard edged and hard boiled fun. It packs plenty of thrills and frequent humor. One wild thrill-ride thats from the begining and dosent stop untill the very end. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are riveting, a pair of heroes that sh...( read more)ine together on screen with humor and intensity. A sharp and smart action-packed rollar-coaster ride.
  • callyboy
    July 11, 2009
    callyboy
    There are funny moments and the characters are likeable. The action is nice.
  • chanfan71
    July 6, 2009
    chanfan71
    Own it on DVD and Laser Disc
  • assassincree
    July 5, 2009
    assassincree
    One Of My Favourite Films Of ALL Time
  • nomefishman
    July 2, 2009
    nomefishman
    "do we have to register you as a lethal weapon"
  • bobby114
    June 28, 2009
    bobby114
    Danny Glover is due for a comeback.
  • mmcinally
    June 25, 2009
    mmcinally
    Watched it again recently, and it is an awesome movie. Mel Gibson plays crazy people very well :) I also like Mitchel Ryan and Gary Busey's performance as the bad-ass military / mercenary antagonists.
  • thoms51
    June 15, 2009
    thoms51
    By far the best of the series.
  • obsessedjc54
    June 14, 2009
    obsessedjc54
    I LOVE THIS MOVIE SERIES! TOO FUNNY FOR UR OWN GOOD!
  • lostnlonely70
    June 13, 2009
    lostnlonely70
    I have all 4 of them and watch them all over and over.
  • lilostitch6
    June 12, 2009
    lilostitch6
    Great movie series, Must See On Blu-Ray to appreciate....
  • Goalstopper28
    June 9, 2009
    Goalstopper28
    even if it is mel gibson
  • Saladin208
    June 5, 2009
    Saladin208
    Dark, moody, and intense, LW faced real issues in an amazing action film. The extended version adds some depth to the intense ride and is worth seeking out.
  • doctordoom
    June 5, 2009
    doctordoom
    A classic among classics in action and buddy cop movies. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have great chemistry in this film. This film helped define the buddy cop movies for other films. The two main characters are so great and fun to watch. Richard Donner directs a great film. With l...( read more)ikeable characters to a great story and great action. A film that is always worth watching. This is the best in the Lethal Weapon series. Plus I love the line from Danny Glover throughout the series. "I am getting to old for this shit!". A classic.
  • Benmuggeridge1
    June 3, 2009
    Benmuggeridge1
    so so good a must see
  • ikhypk
    May 22, 2009
    ikhypk
    A classic action thriller buddy cop movie!
  • anthonycfajardo
    May 21, 2009
    anthonycfajardo
    one of the best movies made by mel gibson.. that propel him to superstardom..
    i'll the directors cut of this movie..
    you should see it to... 7 minutes added to the movie..

Summary

Lethal Weapon Summary