The "Leathal Weapon" series

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Recently, in the sci fi forum, there was talk about BTTF being one of the best trilogies that was not adapted from another source, Recently I was waatching the LW series and I found them fun, etnertaining and action-packed. I don't have 4, but I remember that aside from jet li, I wasn't a big fan... the story was too complex, considering that all the other films had the same formulaic plot, (that's what made them fun) and it had too many characters ... and I hate Chris Rock in anyhting.

Anyway comments on the films are welcome.. What's your fav and least fav??
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[butch101]

wow!!! LW series is still pretty good in my book. LW4 is the lowest installment, but the three others are great. great action, humor and chemistry between the actors. I like the bad guys in th series. I love to hate them...

LW1 is my favorite. a pure intense drama with some soft humor. really great, even for today's standards...

Butch

 

[Mr Light]

I love, love, love Lethal Weapon. Along with Die Hard that is to me the quintessential early 90s action classic. I actually love 4 through and through, and don't get why its so maligned. Hilarious comedy and amazing action. The one I don't care for is #1 as its too dark and slow and Riggs isn't his usual hilarious self. #3 was so-so. But 2 and 4 are classic!

 

[Aragorn]

LW is one of those series where each movie is lesser than the previous one. There's a small dropoff from 1-2, a moderate dropoff from 2-3, and a big dropoff from 3-4.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I actually like 3 a lot for the following reasons...

1. Lorna was truly Riggs' equal and she kicked ass, which she didnt do much of in the 4th film
2. The Sting song that opened the film truly spoke of the friendship between the characters. Also the imagery of the fire during the credits represents the end of the film, when they burn down the site.
3. Murtaugh's family wasn't threatened.. that's a refreshing change.
4. The humor was fast and great.. I loved the hockey scene.

It's good because it follows all the beats you'd want. It's like watching TNG, it's easy to be entertained by it

 

[CheapTrick]

LW2 was my favorite because it had the best balance between humor and action. And topless Patsy Kensit. And Riggs' "I'm not a cop tonight" line.

 

[Daneel]

I love, love, love Lethal Weapon. Along with Die Hard that is to me the quintessential early 90s action classic.

Actually, both series started in the 80s: Lethal Weapon was released in 1987 and Die Hard was released in 1988.

I just saw the first two Lethal Weapon movies on TV in the past couple of months, and I saw #4 with the family when it was in theatres (haven't seen #3 yet). They're fun flicks, but kind of lightweight and typical of the genre, IMO. If it weren't for Gibson and Glover, I doubt there would even be any sequels.

Still, not a bad way to kill a couple hours. And, after Die Hard, the first LW is possibly my favourite Christmas movie!

 

[payndz201]

1 and 2 are both great fun, as well as being 'proper' 18-certificate violent action movies in that classic 1980s style. 3 played up the comedy a bit too much, and had a rather bland villain... but was still much better than 4, which practically became a self-parody and felt as though Donner and the cast were having so much fun goofing around that they forgot it was supposed to be an action thriller.

 

[Nardpuncher]

1 and 2 are both great fun, as well as being 'proper' 18-certificate violent action movies in that classic 1980s style. 3 played up the comedy a bit too much, and had a rather bland villain... but was still much better than 4, which practically became a self-parody and felt as though Donner and the cast were having so much fun goofing around that they forgot it was supposed to be an action thriller.

Took the words out of my mouth!

 

[John Clark]

Haven't watched them in ages, but even though they went a little down (in my opinion) I did enjoy them all.

I keep hearing rumours of a fifth, but haven't bothered checking up on it too much

 

[Kirkman1987]

When it comes to cop action films, I prefer Dirty Harry, but Leathal Weapon is great too.

The first one is a classic, and the others are generally fun if nothing special. Leathal weapon 2 gets some respect for that genius toilet scene, but the first film couldn't be topped.

 

[Lonemagpie]

LW1- Fabulous, nasty and gritty 10/10
LW2- Fabulous, adds humour for a new direction 10/10
LW3- Meh, it's OK, but just repeats too many of the same gags from #2, and Leo should never have been in it. 6/10
LW4- OK, better than #3. It has the feel of a bunch of pals getting together for fun and letting us in on it, and it rounds off the series nicely. Could have done without the amazingly racist "Flied lice" bits though. 8/10

 

[captcalhoun]

i like the first 3. the fourth sucks donkey balls.

i'd rate em 9/10, 8/10, 8/10 and 2/10

 

[Bishbot]

2 is my favourite, and one of my favourite films of all time. I've lost count of the times I've watched an action film, even a really good one like Die Hard, and thought - "yeah - this is good, but how much better would it be with Riggs and Murtaugh?"

 

[Roshi]

I liked the first Lethal Weapon movie a lot. That was when Gibson had that bad motherfucker attitude with him, fresh from Mad Max 1 and 2. As years went by, he softened (both Riggs and Gibson) and all that lingered was remains from a flamboyant yet insane past. Now I just shrug at the sequels.

 

[Hicks]

I enjoy all four of them, really. I think the first two are awesome, the third one dips, and the fourth one dips again, but all can be watched and enjoyed.

 

[Brikar99]

Great flicks. The first one is definitely one of my favorite action flicks ever, though the second and third are definitely solid. The fourth.... mehhhh it has some nice action sequences (especially that freeway car chase) but that's about it. Otherwise it was just too overblown and very bloated.

 

[Holdfast]

It's good because it follows all the beats you'd want. It's like watching TNG, it's easy to be entertained by it

1 and 2 are both great fun, as well as being 'proper' 18-certificate violent action movies in that classic 1980s style. 3 played up the comedy a bit too much, and had a rather bland villain... but was still much better than 4, which practically became a self-parody and felt as though Donner and the cast were having so much fun goofing around that they forgot it was supposed to be an action thriller.

I'll co-sign on both these comments. I enjoy 1-3 a lot, though 3 is definitely a bit softer. 4 is watchable, but nowhere near as good as the first 3.

 

[Kelthaz]

I love all four of the Lethal Weapons. Four may be very different in tone, but that doesn't make it a bad movie.

 

[T'Baio]

The one I don't care for is #1 as its too dark and slow and Riggs isn't his usual hilarious self. #3 was so-so. But 2 and 4 are classic!

Riggs isn't his "usual" self in the first movie?

I'd say Riggs isn't himself in the latter movies. They Han Solo-ed him.