One packs a weapon, the other is one!. Review on Lethal Weapon Movie

1987... The year that changed the way buddy action flicks were made.

Lethal Weapon is one of my favorite movies of all time and having seen it first in 1989, I am happy to say that I still enjoy watching it - even last night on HBO.

What makes this movie special?

Two cops. Glover carries a weapon, Gibson is one ... He's the only LA cop registered as a lethal weapon.

Mel Gibson plays Martin Riggs, an LA cop who has gone mental after the death of his wife, who we learn in the sequel was actually killed by the villains of LW2. Riggs is a man on the edge - he has no reason to live and that makes him dangerous.

Danny Glover is Roger Murtaugh. He is 50, thinking of retirement and a family man.

Riggs and Murtaugh are assigned a case of suicide blonde who just happens to be the daughter of Murtaugh's Vietnam buddy. Of course the two cops don't get on the proper footing.

Murtaugh: ''God hates me. That's what it is.''

Riggs: ''Hate him back; it works for me.''

Then we have the building scene. Riggs jumps of a building with a guy who threatens to commit suicide. Riggs makes it easy for him...

''Do you really wanna jump?? Do you wanna? Well then that's fine with me! Come on. Let's do it, ass! Let's do it! I wanna do it - ''

And then Murtaugh knows that he has a real psycho in his hands.

However, things start getting better and when these two guys stand each other, the bad-guys don't stand the chance!!

The bad-guys are great, a narcotic syndicate with roots from Vietnam. General Peter McAllister played by Mitchell Ryan, and his sidekick, the delightful Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua.

Murtaugh:''You sure?'' (about Mr. Joshua)

Riggs:''Yeah, I'm sure man. I never forget an asshole.''

There is action all the way, and the ending is quite stunning. All action sequences were different fro the movies of the time and created a trend. This movie gave life to the buddy-action genre.

Riggs: ''I don't make things difficult. That's the way they get, all by themselves.''

The screenplay is tongue in cheek. Lotsa humor makes this movie very funny at times.

Murtaugh: ''Have you ever met anybody you didn't kill?''

Riggs: ''Well, I haven't killed you yet.''

Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen and David Sanborn has made this terrific theme music! You have Clapton's guitar essaying through the entire movie, giving it a life of its's own. Terrific!!! Songs include Bobby Helms's '' Jingle Bell Rock ''. We also has Elvis Presley singing ''I'll be home for Christmas'' and Honeymoon Suite singing the main theme, ''Lethal Weapon''.

Richard Donner... thank you very much!

Finally...

Murtaugh:''Are you through?''

Riggs:'' I haven't even started ''

True... they made 3 fantastic sequels.