Happosai
Hold onto your panties
Which Lethal Weapon movies were your favorites? This is a short thread to discuss or write what you like about the Lethal Weapon movie franchise. This is about the movies and has nothing to do with the spin-off TV series.
The 1980's was the apex of explosive action films for the West. We saw a number of great titles coming out every year. This prompted writer Shane Black to create the original script for Lethal Weapon in the early 1980's. The script was passed from hand-to-hand before Warner Brothers eventually bought rights and started production on the first Lethal Weapon movie in 1986. With Danny Glover playing Roger Murtaugh and Mel Gibson cast as Martin Riggs...the duo along with a great supporting cast one of the best comedy-cop action films of the 1980's. The direction was lead by Richard Donner who never disappoints with his resume of action films. Soundtrack artists included Eric Clapton and each time a sequel was made, the stories got more elaborate and the cast grew larger. The first movie was released in 1987, Lethal Weapon 2 in 1989, Lethal Weapon 3 in 1992, and after a short hiatus a forth and final film was made in 1998 (Lethal Weapon 4. My favorites will be in the poll as well and those are: Lethal Weapon (1987) and Lethal Weapon 2. The first two to me were so intense and well-written that the latter two never quite made it to that level. 3 and 4 are not bad but I feel they're missing something.
My first exposure:
I came from a pretty strict catholic family and it was hard to get my hands on any movies with an "R" rating during my Middle-School years. I recall a kid who had the luxurious HBO cable package and would record full length movies and sell them for about $2 on label less VHS tapes. I bought some tapes from him and was never told what movies were on the tapes. I popped a tape in my VCR and found that he had recorded all 3 of the first Lethal Weapon movies from an HBO marathon. They were uncut and I recall the first movie having additional scenes which were either edited from later releases or I imagined them. One part I remember was an extended scene after Dixie's house is blown up by Gary Busey in the first movie. After the house blows up both Riggs and Murtaugh hit the ground and you can hear Mel Gibson yell, "Get off me, I'm not a faggot." Not sure if anyone can validate that scene but I recall it fairly well and the following lines are the kids saying: Was Dixie in the house? Riggs and Murtaugh look at eachother and nod yes.
Another scene which does exist but is now separated as a deleted scene is one in the original Lethal Weapon movie where Riggs is driving around L.A. in the rain. He comes across a hooker and asks her to come in his car, not for sex but inviting her to give him company and watch the Three Stooges with him. I recall seeing that scene in the movies I had from the 90's recorded on VHS.
The 1980's was the apex of explosive action films for the West. We saw a number of great titles coming out every year. This prompted writer Shane Black to create the original script for Lethal Weapon in the early 1980's. The script was passed from hand-to-hand before Warner Brothers eventually bought rights and started production on the first Lethal Weapon movie in 1986. With Danny Glover playing Roger Murtaugh and Mel Gibson cast as Martin Riggs...the duo along with a great supporting cast one of the best comedy-cop action films of the 1980's. The direction was lead by Richard Donner who never disappoints with his resume of action films. Soundtrack artists included Eric Clapton and each time a sequel was made, the stories got more elaborate and the cast grew larger. The first movie was released in 1987, Lethal Weapon 2 in 1989, Lethal Weapon 3 in 1992, and after a short hiatus a forth and final film was made in 1998 (Lethal Weapon 4. My favorites will be in the poll as well and those are: Lethal Weapon (1987) and Lethal Weapon 2. The first two to me were so intense and well-written that the latter two never quite made it to that level. 3 and 4 are not bad but I feel they're missing something.
My first exposure:
I came from a pretty strict catholic family and it was hard to get my hands on any movies with an "R" rating during my Middle-School years. I recall a kid who had the luxurious HBO cable package and would record full length movies and sell them for about $2 on label less VHS tapes. I bought some tapes from him and was never told what movies were on the tapes. I popped a tape in my VCR and found that he had recorded all 3 of the first Lethal Weapon movies from an HBO marathon. They were uncut and I recall the first movie having additional scenes which were either edited from later releases or I imagined them. One part I remember was an extended scene after Dixie's house is blown up by Gary Busey in the first movie. After the house blows up both Riggs and Murtaugh hit the ground and you can hear Mel Gibson yell, "Get off me, I'm not a faggot." Not sure if anyone can validate that scene but I recall it fairly well and the following lines are the kids saying: Was Dixie in the house? Riggs and Murtaugh look at eachother and nod yes.
Another scene which does exist but is now separated as a deleted scene is one in the original Lethal Weapon movie where Riggs is driving around L.A. in the rain. He comes across a hooker and asks her to come in his car, not for sex but inviting her to give him company and watch the Three Stooges with him. I recall seeing that scene in the movies I had from the 90's recorded on VHS.
