Lethal Weapon – 4K UHD

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Previously, Shane Black, who went on to create a significant mark in screenwriting, was the individual behind the debut script that garnered much attention. A devotee of film noir and classic detective literature, he penned Lethal Weapon. As soon as his agent circulated it among studios, interest surged, leading to a fierce bidding war, ultimately resulting in Black receiving $1 million – an unprecedented amount for a debut script. He was just 22 years old at the time.

In the movie Lethal Weapon, we follow Martin Riggs, a police officer from Los Angeles who’s been dealing with the loss of his wife and growing instability. He’s paired up with Martin Murtaugh, a detective known for his strict adherence to rules and a happy family life. Initially forced to work together as partners, they start probing into what was thought to be a suicide case, but it leads them to an expansive crime network and escalating perils.

Mel Gibson had established his fame through a recently completed Mad Max trilogy and demonstrated his acting abilities in films like The River, The Bounty, and The Year of Living Dangerously. However, it was Lethal Weapon that solidified his status as an A-list actor (for some time at least). He was paired with Danny Glover, who was also making a name for himself in films like Witness, Silverado, and The Color Purple around the same time. Yet, Lethal Weapon was unlike anything either of them had done before; the closest comparison was a few episodes of Hill Street Blues for Glover, and the film would give him the iconic line, “I’m too old for this shit!” which he would carry throughout his career. Completing the trio that would become synonymous with the franchise was director Richard Donner, who had been successful with box office hits starting from his debut feature film, The Omen (1976), followed by the first two Christopher Reeve Superman films and the beloved The Goonies. This initial installment also featured an unstable antagonist played by Gary Busey, who fittingly embodied the role with increasing instability.

In contrast, Black’s original script was quite dark. The recently released 4K UHD version offers both the theatrical and director’s cut. It is the latter, longer director’s cut that includes additional seven-minute scenes, providing a deeper insight into Rigg’s mental state and his growing recklessness, even to the point of attempting suicide. These scenes were originally omitted from the theatrical version, which Donner favored. Interestingly, the director’s cut was not truly that, but rather a strategy to enhance the film’s appeal on the home rental market, a tactic the studio employed to promote its video release.

In the U.K., the movie earned an 18 rating due to its graphic violence, which was particularly unsettling given the country’s recent tragic event – the mass shooting in Hungerford just 11 days prior, where Michael Ryan killed 16 people and then took his own life. Thus, when the film was released with actor Mitchell Ryan in the credits, there was an initial sense of discomfort among viewers still grappling with the aftermath of the atrocity.

Despite earning just $60 million initially, the movie eventually made a substantial $120 million in profits. A sequel was swiftly approved, written, filmed, and launched two years afterward. The second film was significantly more action-packed and resembled a summer blockbuster extravaganza compared to its predecessor.

The 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition contains the following additional features:

  • Featurettes: A Legacy of Inspiration: Remembering Richard Donner
    “I’m Too Old or This…”: A Chemistry That Became Iconic
  • Theatrical and Director’s Cut in 4K and Blu-ray SteelBook
  •  Rigid slipcase with removable sleeve (target outlines)
  • Double-sided A3 theatrical poster
  • 4x character art cards
  • 3x behind-the-scenes art cards

In a sense, Lethal Weapon served as a blueprint for subsequent buddy-cop films, spawning three additional sequels that grew increasingly humorous. The final film included an emerging Chris Rock in a detective role, who even integrated one of his comedic routines into his character. Interestingly, Director Donner also began to subtly address various topics such as apartheid and animal rights, which can be seen in the posters and early scenes of many sequels.

In the following years, Glover solidified his A-list status by featuring in diverse films such as the big-screen adaptation of Maverick (in which he made a clever wink to LW) and Hamlet. Later, he stepped behind the camera again to win an Oscar with Braveheart. Since then, Glover’s career has flourished, producing multiple films annually, ranging from Predator 2 to Saw, amassing over 200 productions in his repertoire. Director Donner continued to helm sequels until his retirement in 2016 and passing in 2021; even then, a fifth Lethal Weapon film was rumored to be in development, with Gibson slated to direct Lethal Weapon 5 as a tribute to Donner.

Meanwhile, Black parted ways following a disagreement over the ending of Lethal Weapon 2, as his script called for Riggs’ character to perish. However, his affinity for unconventional duos would remain a recurring theme in many of his subsequent works, such as The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and most recently, The Nice Guys, where this motif was prominent.

However, the initial Lethal Weapon, undeniably one of the finest, serves as a refreshing reminder of its outstanding quality in this new 4K UHD release.

Here’s the Lethal Weapon trailer…..

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2025-07-12 02:23