Watch them all. I love every movie in this series. Every single one. The chemistry between Gibson & Glover is lightning in a bottle. I was 18 when the first one was released, and I saw it four times in theater. 😂
I highly recommend all three sequels. The action scenes escalate with every movie, but more importantly for me, the character development continues and they add some great additional characters.
This is one of the best franchises ever. All four movies are really amazing and build on each other. Change your plans...it will be worth it! - Richard Donner directed all four films. - Michael Kamen did the scores for all four films with his collaborators David Sanborn (on the saxophone) and Eric Clapton (on the electric guitar). The sax is present when Murtagh is on screen, the guitar when Riggs is on screen...and both combine when Riggs and Murtagh are in sync and working well together. - The films add new members of the cast with each film and retain all the previous main cast...Riggs, Murtagh, the psychiatrist, the Captain (played by Donner's cousin Steve Kahan), the Murtagh family...all stay a part of the films for the duration. The next big cast member to join is Joe Pesci...and you'll love him! - There is a very subtle overarching story with all four mainly in character development, but hits and easter eggs from the previous films do come back...so that when you rewatch them (and you will...I guarantee it) you'll spot new things and make more connections. How they really did it is amazing considering the same writers do not come back film after film. - The chemistry between all of the actors in the main cast is just off the charts, and when new cast members join, they gel instantly.
Revisiting this movie, one thing that really strikes me is that most other buddy cop movies of this type would have made Riggs the audience's sole connection point, with Murtaugh as the wet blanket stick in the mud trying to stop his fun. But instead, his mental instability is portrayed as genuinely scary, and we're able to sympathize just as much with Murtaugh being stuck dealing with it as we do to Riggs for the circumstances that made him that way. It also helps that this was just a few years after First Blood gave everyone an unforgettable taste of the hellish PTSD that the Vietnam War left on its veterans.
That's a great point! Had Riggs not been presented as genuinely unstable it would have impacted my enjoyment of this one in a negative way so I'm thrilled they did it that way.
Hi Chris, Yes, I'd watch them all. The character development is strong. And the friendships are so good! Plus ,lots of action and taking down the bad guys, always fun!
Wait until you see the rest of them. They actually get better and better. You'll see. Great reaction and comments. As we say here in Texas; Y'all be safe.
This isn't just a buddy cop movie. It is THE buddy cop movie. The rare case where all 4 movies are great. Mel Gibson is a phenomenal actor. He's also a fantastic director. Brianna WAS dating a blond kid named Mark. The radio call said they found a kid matching his description shot near Murtaugh's house. That's why they went to his house. She wasn't dating Mr. Joshua.
You should. They carry the family with Riggs on through logistically and it keeps getting better. Each film has carried its own merit but ties in with the growth of the family and characters.
What a great flick! Should I watch the rest of the series? Let me know! If you wanna watch the full movie with me get your free trial and check it out! www.patreon.com/posts/lethal-weapon-78524678 *Edit: You've all convinced me! I'll react to the whole franchise. Coming soon!
Thanks for the reaction. All four movies are good, and each builds off the previous ones. Also Murtaugh's daughter was dating a teen who is blonde and has dimples. I believe the cops found him dead. That is when Murtaugh begins to realize his daughter is in danger as the villains have already targeted Riggs.
Since you're are a fan. Richard Donner directed all of the movies. So yes watch them all. The lethal weapon movies are so much more to me than action movies. With each sequel the lethal weapon Family expands. Riggs and Murtaugh become more a family than cops.
Yes, watch all of them. If anything, they get better as they go. The fourth one introduced Jet Li to American audiences. Fun fact: Murtaugh’s wife is played by Darlene Love, classic Motown singer, who may be best known for the song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Please watch all 4! Lethal Weapon 2 is my favorite. BTW, why'd you think the teenage blonde boy with dimples (Mark) that the dispatcher told Roger was found dead a couple blocks from his house was an older guy, let alone the bad guy, Joshua? You even said that again at the end of the video. She was on a date with Mark, and the bad guys killed him and kidnapped her. Then on the police radio, Riggs & Murtagh were told to go investigate the blonde boy's dead body near Roger's house. Their house is the same as the Griswolds' in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's on the same street as the homes from Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Partridge Family. I think maybe Leave It to Beaver as well, but not sure of that one. My favorite helicopter stunt was flying under the bridge in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
I definitely need to dig back into my reaction and see how I missed that! Maybe I was distracted or something, but wha a relief! *Not that Mark died, but that she was never dating Joshua!
@@CasualNerdReactions I definitely thought the same thing as you did the first couple dozen times I watched it as a kid. Also, FYI, the actress who plays Rianne is actually only about 5 years younger than Mel Gibson, even though she was supposed to be playing a teenager in the movie.
Interesting note: I don't think Rianne was dating Joshua. Since they say "body found near your(Murtaugh) house," I suspect her then boyfriend get nerfed when she got kidnapped. Innocent life, more to show Shadow Company is shoot on sight.
I do like Lethal Weapon, it's a very good film. It's a great introduction to the characters mixed with humour and some very dark moments. Personally I would say to watch the sequels as Lethal Weapon 2 is my favourite from the franchise. Thanks as ever for another enjoyable reaction.
Two things I like to point out about this movie: First, as you observed, that scene in Riggs’ trailer, when he was contemplating suicide, was absolutely masterful acting. Superb. Second, IMO, I don’t think it can be overestimated just how much that first dinner with Roger’s family helped Riggs out. I’m about certain that that was the first real, genuine laughter he’s had since his wife died.
1987 was perhaps the single greatest year ever for action movies. Besides this, you had Predator (with Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black as one of the actors!), The Running Man, Extreme Prejudice, The Hidden, Robocop, the list goes on.
They said that the "blond guy with dimples" was a dead body that had just been found... Not that he was the guy that took his daughter. So that means that his daughter was on a date and they killed her boyfriend, in order to kidnap her.
This is the only movie I've ever seen where I came out of the theater thinking, "I hope they make a sequel." They made three, and they're all great -- yes, you should absolutely watch them.
Hell, yeah, you should watch all four! This is the only - and I *do* mean the only - franchise I know that's never been tarnished by a bad sequel. (For a long time, the only other one was the Indy franchise, but then came Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...) Sure, a fifth outing is in the works, but as long as it hasn't been released yet, Lethal Weapon will be the impossible franchise that boasts consistently outstanding entries. It seriously is brilliant throughout, and if you think you love this bromance to end all bromances now, just wait until you've watched them all.
There were two blond guys in this, not one. The first was Rhiann's date to the prom, theoretically a kid from her school, with the dimples. He was killed when they took Rhiann. The second was Gary Busey's special services bad guy who blew up Dixie's house and had the lawn fight with Mel
3 things: 1) The blonde with big dimples that dispatch asked Murtaugh about was a kid dating Rianne not Mr. Joshua 2) It is a Christmas movie that explores something most Christmas films don't. The emotional anguish and depression of a first Christmas without a spouse which leads to self harm. Truly deserves more discussion 3) Absolutely watch all 4. All are consistent quality movies even with the tonal changes of each
Yeah, her boyfriend was definitely NOT Mr Joshua. Murtaugh met her boyfriend (remember, Chris, Roger asks her if it’s the one with pits in his face?), and ain’t no way he’d have allowed her to date that adult psycho.😂
@@CasualNerdReactions Re-visit after dinner boat scene. Rianne interrupts her dad and Riggs asking to go out with so and so. Her dad asks "the one with blonde hair and pits in his face?" Easy to miss first time viewing. Mr. Joshua is notable blonde, so an understandable mistake. Happy to help and enjoy 2, 3, & 4. Pro tip for #2: be ready when you hit play
Each of the four movies in this franchise have different tones and themes -- as much as big budget action movies ever have. But the buddy cop chemistry remains, and the high energy stays strong, as well as the fun dialogue, good plotting, and high stakes. Plus they introduce new major actors each film. All are fun.
As expected, a nice reaction in which you quite rightly highlighted the scene where Riggs tried to kill himself. For me, that's one of the most impressive scenes in film history anyway, because you think he really wants to kill himself and we're watching footage from a camera that's been secretly installed there and through which we're secretly watching him, such an impression can, in my view, only be conveyed by exceptional acting talent. Btw, originally I wasn't going to make a recommendation this time, just enjoy the reaction, at least until you started talking about the music in movies and how important it is to you. So, if you like the band Queen, you should definitely see "Highlander" (1986) with Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, which is full of songs by Freddy Mercury, which were written especially for the soundtrack and sound even better because of the meaning, after you have heard them while watching the corresponding movie.
Gibson decided on his own to actually put a live round in the gun to aid his performance. The dude didn't have to do much actual acting to play an insane person.
Great reaction to one of the best action/adventure movies ever. Every actor in this was stellar, even down to Busey playing himself(ish. And no, I don't hate Busey. I just think he's not got a great acting range, but he made a good career out of it. Much like Jack Nicholson. Yes. I know. Those may be fighting words to some, but Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson in every movie he's in. He's just really good at making the character be Jack Nicholson. I like him too). One major correction: Rianne's boyfriend was actually a kid, not Mr. Joshua. If you rewatch, you'll find out that Murtaugh is being called to a homicide near his house. Rianne's boyfriend was murdered in the process of kidnapping her. Also, Murtaugh has seen her boyfriend, because he's commented on his dimples, though he called them pits, which means Murtaugh knows that he's a school age kid because a man reacting as he did to his daughter's little black dress sure as heck wouldn't let his high school daughter date someone Mr. Joshua's age. I knew of Gibson from the Mad Max movie, and while he was good in that movie his character, while tormented, didn't quite have the depth of character that Riggs does. And when I saw this movie as a teen when it first came out on video, watching the scene at the beginning of a distraught Riggs looking at his wife's picture and contemplating killing himself absolutely tore my heart out (and still does). That was a stellar performance that should be more widely recognized. And at the time it was the only Lethal Weapon movie so no one could know whether or not he'd end up dying before the end. But with that performance I had this sick feeling that he might die, possibly choosing to take the near certain death risk like in the introductory scene where he's antagonizing a man who was holding a gun to his head. And it made his Christmas present to Roger that much more poignant and significant. This was so much more than one would ever expect from a buddy cop or action adventure movie, even if it had been billed as an adventure character drama it wouldn't have been a good enough description. It crossed so many genres and worked in all of them. Scriptwriters today could take lessons from this script. Watch the rest. I've only seen up to #3 (for no reason beyond that these movies were movies my best friend James and I watched together, and by the time the fourth came out he was married and living in another state, so it never happened) but there's no drop off in any aspect of the script, acting, or music in them. And, another factor that is a tiny thing but so important to me is that Riggs has some scene or line in each that shows that his late wife is still on his mind and thoughts of her still come up, though he deals with them much better going forward. That kind of continuity on a core aspect of a character is so important to the movie and its characters being believable. And it is almost always discarded as soon as it's not important to the plot. I hate that.
Oh yeah, they're all fantastic, different story lines, same characters with some new add ons, you'll get teary, you'll cheer, you'll laugh, yeah they're all fantastic
This is a great movie. I have seen it multiple times since it first came out. Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did. Maybe I am just partial, but I think that the 80's and 90's had the best movies.
I love your reactions and was delighted to see you doing this one. Much like some people with Die Hard, this is the film from my childhood that whenever my Mom suggested a Christmas movie, my Daddy and I would smile and put Lethal Weapon in. While the later films go a little more over the top, all 4 are good. Watch them all please.
One of the rare (if not ONLY) movie franchise where each movie is awesome and different- they don't feel like copies of the original. Please watch the rest!
Funny story here, Casual Nerd (great name btw, from a fellow nerd), I was just about to watch Lethal Weapon 2 (which came out 4 days prior to me writing this) and I realized I had not watched your reaction to the first one. So I'm here watching this one (hoping you enjoy it, have not started the review yet), which will be immediately followed by watching your reaction to Lethal Weapon 2. Now on with the show ...🤓
The director of Hamlin by Shakespear, picked Mel Gibson for the role based on the scene in his trailer with the gun and his crazy attitude with such depth.
The daughter wasn't dating one of the bad guys. She was going with a boy from her school (blond hair with dimples). They murdered him and kidnapped her.
Take it from Philthemovieguy, definitely check out/react to the other 3 sequels. The Lethal Weapon franchise is amazing. It’s fun, it’s humorous and it’s amazing character development throughout. You get to really care about the characters more and more with each film.
Yes, you should (change your plans). Arguably, the LW sequel movies just get better and better, in many ways - I would argue, in the most important ways. Clearly one of the best and most consistent movies series (which was never planned to be a series) in cinema. And each movie adds another important and key and likable character - without diluting the central Riggs-Mutaugh relationship, which only gets deeper and better.
These movies are different from their buddy cop movies like Bad Boys or Rush Hour. The Lethal Weapon movies have character development. From movie to movie you see each of them mature and grow together. You really get to know and care about them.
Did I hear you correctly that you thought the Rianne was dating Joshua? She was dating a boy her age and Joshua killed him when they were parked on her street.
The first is the best IMHO, others are decent but this one has a nice tight story. Every part has a purpose, no wasted time, everything either develops the characters or moves the plot. Like watching a young Ali jab, bam-bam-bam-bam.
Hi Chris I am currently a very happy subscriber and usually do not miss a reaction from your channel . I would Love to see your reactions to the Lethal Weapon franchise ....all four tell a growing story of meaningful relationships . I know your movie schedule is probably fixed in right now but maybe before or around the holidays would be a great chance to watch more of Lethal Weapon . Your reactions for this movie were very thoughtful and excited .....the laughter was a bonus! Thank you for this and I look forward to more .
Yes! Just waiting on 2 to go a week without getting copyright claims before I release it. 3 has the full length on Patreon already. They’re on the way. :)
I guess you didnt hear when the daughter reminds the him who her date is the kid with the dimples and he even comments he meet him. So no way could it have been the Joshua.
That actually is why I got confused. I remembered them referencing a blonde kid she was dating and on when the 911 call described the victim I thought they were describing the kidnapper.
I think this movie doesn’t get enough credit for balancing the comedy with the crime drama BEFORE Die Hard. It also looks less dated than Die Hard, though the amount of daytime sets probably help with that. Die Hard is ultimately more timeless somehow, but this movie is really under-credited for its precedence.
I'm absolutely a big fan of the lethal weapon series. Kelly fell in love with Mel Gibson when I first saw the first film. They actually get better four is my favorite
Are 2 and 3 only on your Patreon? Dont see them on your RUclips playlist. Would love to see them. Unfortunately can't subscribe to patreon. Have a strict budget
Yes watch all 4. The story is not complete other wise. Each movie builds upon the previous in character development. All 4 should be seen as one story.
"I'm too old for this shit!" Fun Fact: Gary Busey says he was hired to play Joshua because they were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Mel Gibson. Busey also credits the film for reviving his failing movie career. Gun Enthusiast Fact: The Beretta 92F Mel Gibson uses in this film is the same gun that would be used by Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988). The gun has since been retired. Done For Real Fact: Jackie Swanson performed the high fall on her own, trained by legendary stuntman Dar Robinson. Also, the stunt was done using an airbag covered with a life-size painting of the driveway and cars, which, like a foreground miniature, visually blends into the real scene. Thus, the editor is able to hold the shot until just as she makes contact with the airbag, for greater realism.
The line is "I'm too old for this shit" but was constantly misquoted by the public as "I'm getting too old for this shit." So, for future films they actually use the line everyone quotes lol
Watch them all. I love every movie in this series. Every single one. The chemistry between Gibson & Glover is lightning in a bottle. I was 18 when the first one was released, and I saw it four times in theater. 😂
I highly recommend all three sequels. The action scenes escalate with every movie, but more importantly for me, the character development continues and they add some great additional characters.
This is one of the best franchises ever. All four movies are really amazing and build on each other. Change your plans...it will be worth it!
- Richard Donner directed all four films.
- Michael Kamen did the scores for all four films with his collaborators David Sanborn (on the saxophone) and Eric Clapton (on the electric guitar). The sax is present when Murtagh is on screen, the guitar when Riggs is on screen...and both combine when Riggs and Murtagh are in sync and working well together.
- The films add new members of the cast with each film and retain all the previous main cast...Riggs, Murtagh, the psychiatrist, the Captain (played by Donner's cousin Steve Kahan), the Murtagh family...all stay a part of the films for the duration. The next big cast member to join is Joe Pesci...and you'll love him!
- There is a very subtle overarching story with all four mainly in character development, but hits and easter eggs from the previous films do come back...so that when you rewatch them (and you will...I guarantee it) you'll spot new things and make more connections. How they really did it is amazing considering the same writers do not come back film after film.
- The chemistry between all of the actors in the main cast is just off the charts, and when new cast members join, they gel instantly.
Revisiting this movie, one thing that really strikes me is that most other buddy cop movies of this type would have made Riggs the audience's sole connection point, with Murtaugh as the wet blanket stick in the mud trying to stop his fun. But instead, his mental instability is portrayed as genuinely scary, and we're able to sympathize just as much with Murtaugh being stuck dealing with it as we do to Riggs for the circumstances that made him that way. It also helps that this was just a few years after First Blood gave everyone an unforgettable taste of the hellish PTSD that the Vietnam War left on its veterans.
That's a great point! Had Riggs not been presented as genuinely unstable it would have impacted my enjoyment of this one in a negative way so I'm thrilled they did it that way.
Hi Chris, Yes, I'd watch them all. The character development is strong. And the friendships are so good! Plus ,lots of action and taking down the bad guys, always fun!
Super convincing! Definitely will watch them all then.
Wait until you see the rest of them. They actually get better and better. You'll see.
Great reaction and comments.
As we say here in Texas; Y'all be safe.
This isn't just a buddy cop movie. It is THE buddy cop movie. The rare case where all 4 movies are great.
Mel Gibson is a phenomenal actor. He's also a fantastic director.
Brianna WAS dating a blond kid named Mark. The radio call said they found a kid matching his description shot near Murtaugh's house. That's why they went to his house. She wasn't dating Mr. Joshua.
You should. They carry the family with Riggs on through logistically and it keeps getting better. Each film has carried its own merit but ties in with the growth of the family and characters.
What a great flick! Should I watch the rest of the series? Let me know! If you wanna watch the full movie with me get your free trial and check it out! www.patreon.com/posts/lethal-weapon-78524678
*Edit: You've all convinced me! I'll react to the whole franchise. Coming soon!
Yeah, gotta watch'em all!
Thanks for the reaction. All four movies are good, and each builds off the previous ones.
Also Murtaugh's daughter was dating a teen who is blonde and has dimples. I believe the cops found him dead. That is when Murtaugh begins to realize his daughter is in danger as the villains have already targeted Riggs.
Yesssss! 😊
Since you're are a fan.
Richard Donner directed all of the movies. So yes watch them all.
The lethal weapon movies are so much more to me than action movies. With each sequel the lethal weapon Family expands.
Riggs and Murtaugh become more a family than cops.
Yes, watch all 4 . . . . . it is as much about Family as it is buddy cop.
Yes, watch all of them. If anything, they get better as they go. The fourth one introduced Jet Li to American audiences.
Fun fact: Murtaugh’s wife is played by Darlene Love, classic Motown singer, who may be best known for the song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Please watch all 4! Lethal Weapon 2 is my favorite.
BTW, why'd you think the teenage blonde boy with dimples (Mark) that the dispatcher told Roger was found dead a couple blocks from his house was an older guy, let alone the bad guy, Joshua? You even said that again at the end of the video. She was on a date with Mark, and the bad guys killed him and kidnapped her. Then on the police radio, Riggs & Murtagh were told to go investigate the blonde boy's dead body near Roger's house.
Their house is the same as the Griswolds' in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's on the same street as the homes from Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Partridge Family. I think maybe Leave It to Beaver as well, but not sure of that one.
My favorite helicopter stunt was flying under the bridge in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Yes. This comment.
I scrolled through so many comments just to see if anyone would mention the Mark-is-*not*-Joshua-thing! 😅
I definitely need to dig back into my reaction and see how I missed that! Maybe I was distracted or something, but wha a relief! *Not that Mark died, but that she was never dating Joshua!
This is not a Buddy-Cop movie
This is THE buddy-Cop movie!
30:29 Rianne wasn't dating Mr Joshua. Mr Joshua killed a blond kid with dimples, that's who Rianne was dating.
Thank God.
@@CasualNerdReactions I definitely thought the same thing as you did the first couple dozen times I watched it as a kid. Also, FYI, the actress who plays Rianne is actually only about 5 years younger than Mel Gibson, even though she was supposed to be playing a teenager in the movie.
Interesting note: I don't think Rianne was dating Joshua. Since they say "body found near your(Murtaugh) house," I suspect her then boyfriend get nerfed when she got kidnapped. Innocent life, more to show Shadow Company is shoot on sight.
You’re definitely right. I totally misunderstood that scene with the call lol
Such great chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh
I do like Lethal Weapon, it's a very good film. It's a great introduction to the characters mixed with humour and some very dark moments. Personally I would say to watch the sequels as Lethal Weapon 2 is my favourite from the franchise.
Thanks as ever for another enjoyable reaction.
Well, I can't ignore your favorite in the franchise!
I would really like to see your reactions to the entire series, hopefully you find the time to work them into your schedule in the near future.
The schedule has been worked! Coming soon.
Two things I like to point out about this movie:
First, as you observed, that scene in Riggs’ trailer, when he was contemplating suicide, was absolutely masterful acting. Superb.
Second, IMO, I don’t think it can be overestimated just how much that first dinner with Roger’s family helped Riggs out. I’m about certain that that was the first real, genuine laughter he’s had since his wife died.
1987 was perhaps the single greatest year ever for action movies. Besides this, you had Predator (with Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black as one of the actors!), The Running Man, Extreme Prejudice, The Hidden, Robocop, the list goes on.
Wish there were reactions to The Hidden. Lo there would be confused reactors.
Watch the second one when you get time. You find out more about Rigg's wife and what happened.
I highly recommend all four they're all amazing movies in their own right
They said that the "blond guy with dimples" was a dead body that had just been found... Not that he was the guy that took his daughter. So that means that his daughter was on a date and they killed her boyfriend, in order to kidnap her.
This is the only movie I've ever seen where I came out of the theater thinking, "I hope they make a sequel." They made three, and they're all great -- yes, you should absolutely watch them.
Hell, yeah, you should watch all four! This is the only - and I *do* mean the only - franchise I know that's never been tarnished by a bad sequel. (For a long time, the only other one was the Indy franchise, but then came Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...) Sure, a fifth outing is in the works, but as long as it hasn't been released yet, Lethal Weapon will be the impossible franchise that boasts consistently outstanding entries. It seriously is brilliant throughout, and if you think you love this bromance to end all bromances now, just wait until you've watched them all.
There were two blond guys in this, not one. The first was Rhiann's date to the prom, theoretically a kid from her school, with the dimples. He was killed when they took Rhiann. The second was Gary Busey's special services bad guy who blew up Dixie's house and had the lawn fight with Mel
"Rest in pieces?" OMG I'm dead.
Definitely watch them all. 2 and 4 are probably my favorites. The relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh only grows stronger throughout the series.
3 things: 1) The blonde with big dimples that dispatch asked Murtaugh about was a kid dating Rianne not Mr. Joshua
2) It is a Christmas movie that explores something most Christmas films don't. The emotional anguish and depression of a first Christmas without a spouse which leads to self harm. Truly deserves more discussion
3) Absolutely watch all 4. All are consistent quality movies even with the tonal changes of each
Yeah, her boyfriend was definitely NOT Mr Joshua. Murtaugh met her boyfriend (remember, Chris, Roger asks her if it’s the one with pits in his face?), and ain’t no way he’d have allowed her to date that adult psycho.😂
I have to dig into my reaction and figure out how I ended up with that thought in my head! I'm so relieved though. haha
@@CasualNerdReactions Re-visit after dinner boat scene. Rianne interrupts her dad and Riggs asking to go out with so and so. Her dad asks "the one with blonde hair and pits in his face?" Easy to miss first time viewing. Mr. Joshua is notable blonde, so an understandable mistake. Happy to help and enjoy 2, 3, & 4. Pro tip for #2: be ready when you hit play
Each of the four movies in this franchise have different tones and themes -- as much as big budget action movies ever have. But the buddy cop chemistry remains, and the high energy stays strong, as well as the fun dialogue, good plotting, and high stakes. Plus they introduce new major actors each film. All are fun.
Back then, in a film like that, all of the stunt work was practical.
As expected, a nice reaction in which you quite rightly highlighted the scene where Riggs tried to kill himself. For me, that's one of the most impressive scenes in film history anyway, because you think he really wants to kill himself and we're watching footage from a camera that's been secretly installed there and through which we're secretly watching him, such an impression can, in my view, only be conveyed by exceptional acting talent.
Btw, originally I wasn't going to make a recommendation this time, just enjoy the reaction, at least until you started talking about the music in movies and how important it is to you. So, if you like the band Queen, you should definitely see "Highlander" (1986) with Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, which is full of songs by Freddy Mercury, which were written especially for the soundtrack and sound even better because of the meaning, after you have heard them while watching the corresponding movie.
Gibson decided on his own to actually put a live round in the gun to aid his performance. The dude didn't have to do much actual acting to play an insane person.
On the contrary.....75% of why I enjoy your reactions is your singing with the soundtrack lol. Sing on, sir!!
haha thanks! I'll be sure not hold back the songs next time I watch one of your choices ;)
Yes, Chris, you should watch the sequels!! Loved the reaction, as usual!
This is an amazing movie Mel Gibson is absolutely incredible he brings so much emotion to his character
Yes! You definately have to watch the sequels!!
Great reaction to one of the best action/adventure movies ever. Every actor in this was stellar, even down to Busey playing himself(ish. And no, I don't hate Busey. I just think he's not got a great acting range, but he made a good career out of it. Much like Jack Nicholson. Yes. I know. Those may be fighting words to some, but Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson in every movie he's in. He's just really good at making the character be Jack Nicholson. I like him too).
One major correction: Rianne's boyfriend was actually a kid, not Mr. Joshua. If you rewatch, you'll find out that Murtaugh is being called to a homicide near his house. Rianne's boyfriend was murdered in the process of kidnapping her. Also, Murtaugh has seen her boyfriend, because he's commented on his dimples, though he called them pits, which means Murtaugh knows that he's a school age kid because a man reacting as he did to his daughter's little black dress sure as heck wouldn't let his high school daughter date someone Mr. Joshua's age.
I knew of Gibson from the Mad Max movie, and while he was good in that movie his character, while tormented, didn't quite have the depth of character that Riggs does. And when I saw this movie as a teen when it first came out on video, watching the scene at the beginning of a distraught Riggs looking at his wife's picture and contemplating killing himself absolutely tore my heart out (and still does). That was a stellar performance that should be more widely recognized. And at the time it was the only Lethal Weapon movie so no one could know whether or not he'd end up dying before the end. But with that performance I had this sick feeling that he might die, possibly choosing to take the near certain death risk like in the introductory scene where he's antagonizing a man who was holding a gun to his head. And it made his Christmas present to Roger that much more poignant and significant.
This was so much more than one would ever expect from a buddy cop or action adventure movie, even if it had been billed as an adventure character drama it wouldn't have been a good enough description. It crossed so many genres and worked in all of them. Scriptwriters today could take lessons from this script.
Watch the rest. I've only seen up to #3 (for no reason beyond that these movies were movies my best friend James and I watched together, and by the time the fourth came out he was married and living in another state, so it never happened) but there's no drop off in any aspect of the script, acting, or music in them. And, another factor that is a tiny thing but so important to me is that Riggs has some scene or line in each that shows that his late wife is still on his mind and thoughts of her still come up, though he deals with them much better going forward. That kind of continuity on a core aspect of a character is so important to the movie and its characters being believable. And it is almost always discarded as soon as it's not important to the plot. I hate that.
“Rest in pieces”. Good one.
Oh yeah, they're all fantastic, different story lines, same characters with some new add ons, you'll get teary, you'll cheer, you'll laugh, yeah they're all fantastic
This is a great movie. I have seen it multiple times since it first came out. Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did. Maybe I am just partial, but I think that the 80's and 90's had the best movies.
It’s very easy to tell when Dixie’s is going to blow up…the airliner passes through Frosty on her roof ⚡️💥🔥
You should definitely watch the whole
Lethal Weapon series.
They're really fun.👍
I love your reactions and was delighted to see you doing this one.
Much like some people with Die Hard, this is the film from my childhood that whenever my Mom suggested a Christmas movie, my Daddy and I would smile and put Lethal Weapon in.
While the later films go a little more over the top, all 4 are good. Watch them all please.
One of the rare (if not ONLY) movie franchise where each movie is awesome and different- they don't feel like copies of the original. Please watch the rest!
You've sold them well!
Funny story here, Casual Nerd (great name btw, from a fellow nerd), I was just about to watch Lethal Weapon 2 (which came out 4 days prior to me writing this) and I realized I had not watched your reaction to the first one. So I'm here watching this one (hoping you enjoy it, have not started the review yet), which will be immediately followed by watching your reaction to Lethal Weapon 2. Now on with the show ...🤓
Excellent series saw at the theater, thanks Chris!
All 4 are very good, and there is a spoof (Loaded Weapon 1, with Sam Jackson and Emilio Estevez) that you should watch sometime after #3.
Definitely watch them all. 1 compared to 4 is so different but the tone shifts gradually and the heart beneath all the films is apparent.
Danny Glover has some serious screen presence no matter what role
The director of Hamlin by Shakespear, picked Mel Gibson for the role based on the scene in his trailer with the gun and his crazy attitude with such depth.
I agree, all 4 movies are very good, must watch, thanks for the movie reaction, keep them coming!
Absolutely watch all the sequels. Lethal Weapon is one of the rare franchises where each new installment is better than the last
The daughter wasn't dating one of the bad guys. She was going with a boy from her school (blond hair with dimples). They murdered him and kidnapped her.
Never more glad to be so wrong.
Danny Glover was also in Places in the Heart and Witness.
Almost Christmas is a great movie starring Danny Glover, Gabriel Union, Monique and Mekhi Phifer.
Definitely should watch the other 3. Not a bad movie in the series.
I love the soundtrack to the movie Primal Fear, I bet if you put that movie on a poll it would win.
Lethal Weapon 2 is even better! Hope you can react to that one also. Have loved me some Mel Gibson since the late 70's.
Change your plans,watch them all they just get better and better .
It's difficult for me to change my plans, but I was able to find a space for all of the sequels. Coming soon!
@@CasualNerdReactions Looking forward to them , thank-you :)
Yes, watch all of them! It progresses in each movie!
Mel Gibson said he’s ready to make the fifth film next year!
Same!
Take it from Philthemovieguy, definitely check out/react to the other 3 sequels. The Lethal Weapon franchise is amazing. It’s fun, it’s humorous and it’s amazing character development throughout. You get to really care about the characters more and more with each film.
Convinced.
The movies make a strong effort at using practical visual effects.
At the end, when Murtaugh blew up the car with the bus… all that smoke was burning heroin. So Murtaugh’s expression then could be a contact high.
oh that makes so much sense!
Lethal Weapon 2 is my favorite of the series. But all of them are amazing! You should DEF watch them!
Good reaction thanks!
Yes, you should (change your plans). Arguably, the LW sequel movies just get better and better, in many ways - I would argue, in the most important ways. Clearly one of the best and most consistent movies series (which was never planned to be a series) in cinema. And each movie adds another important and key and likable character - without diluting the central Riggs-Mutaugh relationship, which only gets deeper and better.
Roger has seen her bf. That's why he said the one with "pits" in his face. And the radio was talking about a dead body...so they killed the boy.
Lethal reaction bro. Just go to the second installment. You’ll love it. Dick Donner directed all 4!
I definitely encourage u to watch all 4. They are great
Change your plans, my friend! All four are worth it.
Chris: Rest in pieces?
Me: 😆🤣 I really shouldn't laugh at that, but it was super funny.
I'd definitely watch them all. This is one of the rare franchises where every movie is just as good as the last!
These movies are different from their buddy cop movies like Bad Boys or Rush Hour. The Lethal Weapon movies have character development. From movie to movie you see each of them mature and grow together. You really get to know and care about them.
The character development from film to film is key. Definitely will be continuing!
Did I hear you correctly that you thought the Rianne was dating Joshua? She was dating a boy her age and Joshua killed him when they were parked on her street.
You should watch the Lethal Weapon series. They keep it fresh and the sequels are as fun and interesting as the first one.
The first is the best IMHO, others are decent but this one has a nice tight story. Every part has a purpose, no wasted time, everything either develops the characters or moves the plot. Like watching a young Ali jab, bam-bam-bam-bam.
Yeah this is a great series, the 2nd is just as good as the 1st.
Ok, I'll watch it today!
Hi Chris I am currently a very happy subscriber and usually do not miss a reaction from your channel . I would Love to see your reactions to the Lethal Weapon franchise ....all four tell a growing story of meaningful relationships . I know your movie schedule is probably fixed in right now but maybe before or around the holidays would be a great chance to watch more of Lethal Weapon . Your reactions for this movie were very thoughtful and excited .....the laughter was a bonus! Thank you for this and I look forward to more .
Thanks for your support! I'll be continuing the franchise. Watching 2 later today!
Greetings from Finland man!!! Yes definitely check out rest of this franchise it's one of the best I've seen!!! "I'll be back" 😎
Yes! Just waiting on 2 to go a week without getting copyright claims before I release it. 3 has the full length on Patreon already. They’re on the way. :)
@@CasualNerdReactions that's awesome!!! "I'll be back" 😎
Yes. Add them to your schedule.
#Added.
Hey, you should really check out "The Hidden" which is a 1987 buddy cop movie with a science fiction twist. I think you'd get a kick out of it!
I guess you didnt hear when the daughter reminds the him who her date is the kid with the dimples and he even comments he meet him. So no way could it have been the Joshua.
That actually is why I got confused. I remembered them referencing a blonde kid she was dating and on when the 911 call described the victim I thought they were describing the kidnapper.
the blond kid she was dating got killed by Mr. Joshua i think but maybe it was joshua
Danny Glover is Great in Lonesome Dove
Watch all of the sequels. They’re all really fun.
Yes this is a solid franchise all the way to the last
I believe you'll enjoy all 4, so watch them!
I think this movie doesn’t get enough credit for balancing the comedy with the crime drama BEFORE Die Hard. It also looks less dated than Die Hard, though the amount of daytime sets probably help with that. Die Hard is ultimately more timeless somehow, but this movie is really under-credited for its precedence.
Air America is a little known Mel Gibson movie.
I'm absolutely a big fan of the lethal weapon series. Kelly fell in love with Mel Gibson when I first saw the first film. They actually get better four is my favorite
Oh that's awesome! I really enjoyed three so I'm looking forward to finally watching the fourth!
Are 2 and 3 only on your Patreon? Dont see them on your RUclips playlist. Would love to see them. Unfortunately can't subscribe to patreon. Have a strict budget
Yes watch all 4. The story is not complete other wise. Each movie builds upon the previous in character development. All 4 should be seen as one story.
I'm back and this is an awesome movie great choice
The bad guys killed the kid Danny Glover's daughter was out on a date with& kidnapped her.
Each Sequel Gets Better...
"I'm too old for this shit!"
Fun Fact: Gary Busey says he was hired to play Joshua because they were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Mel Gibson. Busey also credits the film for reviving his failing movie career.
Gun Enthusiast Fact: The Beretta 92F Mel Gibson uses in this film is the same gun that would be used by Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988). The gun has since been retired.
Done For Real Fact: Jackie Swanson performed the high fall on her own, trained by legendary stuntman Dar Robinson. Also, the stunt was done using an airbag covered with a life-size painting of the driveway and cars, which, like a foreground miniature, visually blends into the real scene. Thus, the editor is able to hold the shot until just as she makes contact with the airbag, for greater realism.
The line is "I'm too old for this shit" but was constantly misquoted by the public as "I'm getting too old for this shit." So, for future films they actually use the line everyone quotes lol
haha really?! That's gonna feel jarring when I watch the second one later today.
Sorry to bring you down. But the daughter's date, the one with blond hair and dimples, was reported dead by the police dispatch.
Watch the hole series of movies there brilliant
Thanks!
Thank you!
@@CasualNerdReactions no problem thank you for doing one of my favorite franchises
One of the more constantly good series.
The order these movies where made is the order from best to worst. The first is awesome, the second is good, third is ok, and 4 is borderline bad.