UA-cam has been a pain with this one so if anything happens...you were the lucky ones to see it first haha! Want to see me watch the series FARGO SEASON 2 & Arcane? Click here for early access: www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Fargo S2 EP1 Tomorrow! Have a great day everyone!
Look into doing Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch". The cast was full of award winning actors in the first 'western Action movie' ever. You won't regret it.😅
Now you got some Christmas tradition to share. 😁🎅🎄 Die Hard and Lethal Weapon... every Christmas. 😊 Oh... two of the best improv musicians were featured live as they watched the film and were directed to share their music with each scene... David Sanborn on sax and Eric Clapton on guitar.
Random trivia, the flannel shirt Christmas tree drug dealer is Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers dad. Murtaugh turns 50. Danny was 41. Riggs (Mel Gibson) is supposed to be a specisl forces Vietnam Vet. He would have been 19 when the war ended. Too young to be special forces.
@@dicekolev5360 If he is a millennial it may be, the millennials did not live in the 80s, they had not been born, therefore they have not seen the cinema of that decade
@@andarporbuenosaires Yep even if he watched it young folks have no idea how great the 80s were for movies. It is and always will be the best decade. No whining just great movies, music and tons of fun.
"If she's gonna die, she's gonna die with me. My way, not yours." Even as a kid I felt than and I could feel my dad nodding to that line. Something so genuine about that line, like in that situation, if it has to be done, then it should be done by the person you love.
@@novembercherry4 Its funny though isn't it? I mean, at its core, its a father saying HE will be the one to kill his daughter. But deep down in our core, I think it says so much that you die together in a situation where you take your fate away from others hands.
@@galerios1 Wo wo there. I never said anything about dying for no wife. That is what wearing black is for. She would want me to live. My daughter on the other hand, that's different. ;)
@@gutz1981 Well that is your hangup then. I don't have that problem. I will die for my family. I don't know what your situation is. But considering how I feel about my x-wife, I think I understand what is going on here. At least to an extent.
I used to argue that Damon Wayans and Bruce Willis chemistry was a slight better in Last Boy scout but now I have to say I was dead wrong. This is God Tier buddy cop chemistry
It's a bit more antagonistic in Last Boy Scout due to the big differences in their background. In Lethal Weapon they at least are both cops and served in Vietnam.
You can thank Ben Burtt for that. He did sound effects for Raiders of the Lost Ark. He wasn't sure whether to use realistic sounds or exaggerated ones, so he asked George Lucas if Indiana Jones loses the hat in the fight scenes. When Lucas said no, he knew he should make the sounds over the top. Indy's revolver sounds like a Winchester rifle and every punch sounds like a pile of leather jackets being hit with a baseball bat -because that's what they were!
Check out the sound of guns in Michael Mann's movies... Like Heat is a good example, the robbery scene where they start WW 3 in the streets. But an earlier example of his is in Miami Vice, the episode where there's an assault on Crocket's life. A rentakiller is in Crocket's house and opens fire at him.. if you put add some base to your soundsystem.. listen to that baby spit fire, the sound effects in that scene are remarkable. It made a serious impact on me as kid.
@@JamesVSCinema actually, in Die Hard he was the guy, who took some treats from the sweets cabinet on ground floor, when the cops tried to get into the building :D
I think he was one of the stunt coordinators and loved to get in front of the camera, not as a star, but just.... The eating the sweets in Die Hard was his idea and he director loved the action ad-lib. But now you've seen him in Die Hard there are very few action movies or TV shows from that era where you will not see him. Very recognisable.
Hell yes! Such a damn classic. The chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh is great. Mel Gibson killed this role for sure. Definitely one of my favorite action heroes 🤘🏽 Also, you gotta love that saxophone 🎷
@@JamesVSCinema please react to another Shane Black written movie The Last Boy Scout (1991) starring Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans, & a very young Halley Berry.
9:50 He can feel pain, that's the whole point of the scene. McAlllister was demonstrating how loyal his subordinates were to him by ordering Joshua to allow him to burn him. Joshua willingly did so without any hesitation despite the fact that it was gonna hurt like hell, thus proving how loyal McAllister's men were to him.
Recommended: _The Long Kiss Goodnight_ 💋 starring Geena Davis & Samuel L Jackson, from _Lethal Weapon_ screenwriter Shane Black. An amazing, underrated '90s Action classic worth checking out. Davis plays one of cinema's most badass [albeit, little known] Action heroes. And the great _Lethal Weapon 2_ is a first viewing to look forward to.
Man you need to watch all parts, the best part of this franchise is the connection between them its just soo good, especially the 3rd movie. Lookin forward to it man.
One of those films I should just go around recommending to people lol. Mel Gibson's acting is sublime in this, brought the buddy cop genre into new heights, Gary Busey at his very best, that desert setpiece is *mwah*, and it inspired some goodness to come out of Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The sequel may be even better fyi. Gonna get the popcorn.
I thought the same thing as a kid watching this movie, just seeing a black family living a normal nice life is such a great start, then seeing Riggs life - it's a perfect character setup they worked so well together.
Wanna know something cool? The way Amanda falls onto the car room is actually done by using a mattress covered in a "overhead" perspective sheet of the car done by painting. If you pause one frame, you can see it bend in and crinkle right before the interior cut.
I love this franchise. Richard Donner does such a great job building on these characters over the course of the 4 movies. It's just a shame he passed before he could do Lethal Weapon 5. Supposedly Gibson plans on directing though so that should be interesting. I wouldn't mind going one more round with Riggs and Murtaugh if the story is worth it.
Yes Richard Donner gave us some great movies. Before he died he told Mel Gibson he wanted him to direct Lethal Weapon 5 and they have Shane Black back to write the script for it. It’s going to be interesting to see the script seeing how Danny Glover is near 75 & Mel Gibson is near 65. Maybe have Riggs kid and Murtaughs grandkid working together and then Riggs & Murtaugh need to help them with an old case they’re tied to.
I met Danny Glover and got his autograph a couple of years ago at a sci fi convention. I asked him about a movie he did called "Be Kind Rewind" and why that movie is a love letter to movie making. He was a really friendly guy and i will remember it forever. As always, great reaction vid and great editing. Keep going and i'll keep watching! 👍
I first saw this film as a young teenager, and at that time the darkness didn't really register, andI only saw the comedy and action. This meant that when I revisited it as an adult, all of that was completely new to me and therefore I saw an almost entirely new movie. As others have said, Mel's acting during the almost-suicide scene is beyond brilliant.
man I love these films, so glad you're watching them. the way they handle race, or neglect to handle it sometimes, I think is fantastic. always wished Murtaugh was my dad!
I agree!! It’s so well recognized and them even presenting it was pretty damn clever and aware. Good damn job! Surprisingly not done often with how it was handled!
"The henchman from Die Hard." Funny you should say that, his name is Al Leong and there's a great documentary about him called "Henchman: The Al Leong Story". Well worth the watch and a great insight into the character actor and stunt man world.
i love him.. in the 80s and 90s he was like in every second movie as a bad guy .. doing everything from gun fights to hand to hand to early parcour .. awesome dude
What I loved about the entire Murtagh and Riggs dynamic, they were able to be raw and unfiltered about each other, leading both to them feel that they could trust the other wholeheartedly with the other’s live. The most consistent thing in each film of this series is how you can see Murtagh and Riggs develop a legit brother relationship, like they really do become closer than blood, which makes the “Lethal Weapon” tetralogy the greatest ever. I feel the third one in this series is the best but I rewatch all three over and over again, it just so genuine, raw, and real
Jesus, I didn't expect that scene of Gibson contemplating suicide to hit me so hard. It just brought back a lot of bad memories of when I was in that same place about thirty years ago. Shit, that was rough.
I absolutely LOVE the Lethal Weapon movies! All four of them are awesome! The overall story progresses perfectly for the characters as things go along. Not a bad movie in the bunch(4). You should do the other three in the set. You won't be disappointed.
I love the rawness of older films. So much skills and imagination with regards to engineering and film. I love love the lethal weapon movies! Enjoying my night
Another classic. It's surprising how well some 80s action flicks managed that delicate balance between genuine humor, gut punch emotion, and matter of fact violence. Traci Wolfe was fine as hell. 😚
This is one of my favourite movies. The chemistry between the two leads is what makes this movie work so well. For me, this movie is the gold standard for a buddy cop film.
James - One of the most significant things you might have missed about this movie is the fact that IT IS the originator of the Buddy Cop genre. It all sprang from this movie.
I am heavily addicted to reaction videos, but I must say - This is my first time watching someone react from the cinematographers perspective.... I DIG
I love how Murtaugh is always in a full suit and Riggs is always in an old tshirt and jeans. I think the second movie is my favorite though, if only because "Just been revoked!"
The chemistry between these two is fantastic. It pretty much set the standard for the "buddy cop" genre. It was so good they made four LW movies, and if what I've heard is true, there's a fifth one being made.
I remember seeing this in the theater when it opened, in LA with my college friends. We were blown away, it was so good. Exciting, funny, action, great cast, good chemistry of course. This was the first buddy cop movie of its kind, with this brand of action/humor, it started it all. We got to see so many great movies back then.
This is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Most of my fav's are from the 80's or early 90's. A quiet response to your subtle note about being glad to see a 'normal family that happens to be black'..... YES!
Mel Gibson is my all time favorite actor. There's really not too many actors or actresses that can pull off crazy like Mel can and make it seem genuine. Mel Gibson did absolutely phenomenal along side Julia Roberts in the movie Conspiracy Theory.
Glad you're diving into so many iconic movies from different decades and actually appreciating them for what they are. I feel like you understand why these movies were all relevant when they came out. I think people forget Lethal Weapon also takes place at Christmas. So it's actually great you're watching it in December.
Probably my favorite action film. The whole series really. The 2nd is really good. 3 and 4 aren't great...but the relationship and chemistry between the leads makes them entertaining and worth a watch.
Since you had Nightcrawler and the whole LA experience I can only recommend "To live and die in LA" it fits right in to the 80ies action theme you´re on, and is criminally underrated. It also got the "I´m to old for this shit" line before Lethal Weapons.
One of the greatest buddy cop films ever. Loved your reaction mate. Always enjoy your comments about film style choices. Can't wait until you watch the rest of the Lethal Weapon movies!
Little trivia, Rorion Gracie, one of the leading figures in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and founder of the UFC, was the fight choreographer for the last fight scene between Gibson and Busey. Hence the triangle choke before anyone even knew what the heck that was.
My favorite is Leathal Weapon 3 because its so hyper active, it moves along so fast, slick action, 3 film editors, great camera work. Of corse the 1st one is great and original. I didn't connect with LW4 just didn't grab me. LW2 is a very good progression with story and Joe pesci joins the crew.... The bar is raised in sertain aspects.
Al Leong (endo) was in many films as a actor/stuntman/coordinator featuring his distinct look, fu manchu, and being well versed in multiple martial arts. He got brain cancer in 1993 but continued working on movies until he suffered a stroke in 2005. The was the last film Gary Busey worked on before he had his horrible motorcycle accident tearing up the left side of his face, jawline, splitting his skull, and causing brain damage and his big near death experience. Amazingly after just over a year of recovery he returned to work in Predator 2; again along side Danny Glover.
This movie is great exactly because it spends the first half establishing the characters, putting each on their own trajectory, and then delivering redemption and resolution where they collide. It established the formula that so many buddy action movies tried to copy, but very few managed to pull off without directly copying this film. The tension between them is real, not forced. We understand why Murtagh is careful, deliberate, and cautious. We understand why Riggs is reckless and spontaneous. So we understand why they can't stand each other. And then we get to watch them understand each other. It's brilliant.
After watching the Lethal Weapon movies. I highly recommend Loaded Weapon 1 (1993). It's like a Naked Gun-style parody of the Lethal Weapon series (or just the first movie).
@@scottneil1187 Good choices! Loaded Weapon is kind of a gem! Me and a friend had completely missed it somehow and watched it a couple of years back, laughed our asses off 😂
Good vid as always James. There are indeed 4 total Lethal Weapon movies. This is one of very series of films that I would say I recommend all of them. Obviously some are better than others, but all worthwhile watches nonetheless.
classics are often classics for a reason! things that were considered good back in the day and are still considered good now really have the advantage of standing the test of time which is proof itself they are bangers.
Richard Donner is such a solid and underrated director. You should really watch Superman The Movie. He just nails it. As I understand it, his sets were a joy to work on. Nothing but fun and professionalism.
I would LOVE to see you watch some infamous B-Movies like Miami Connection and New York Ninja. Both of those movies has INSANE back stories as to how they came about for our viewing pleasure.
@@scottneil1187 a lot of the fun comes from analyzing them as a filmmaker and seeing how these no budget films were made. That adds a whole other level of enjoyment as you notice things like movies using the same hallway over and over, boom mics, other weird technical quirks. Plus the GREAT B-Movies are fun.
James, since you present yourself as a film maker...I feel compelled to make a technical industry correction. I understand a lot of the younger people reacting to films on UA-cam grew up with CGI however it really wasn't until at least the mid 90s that CGI really became a thing in Hollywood films. Please try not to confuse the term "visual effects" done with models, paintings etc. with computer generated imagery. Nothing but respect for you, bro, as I think that you are one of the most thoughtful reactors her on UA-cam...you see the underlying themes of these films way better than a lot of these guys so are just about my favorite to watch. Keep up the good work!
Well said! You’re right I should clarify on separating the two because they are different. I know that, but I’m sure not a lot of people here do..thanks buddy!
James, assuming no one else has said, which I doubt, there are a total of 4 Lethal Weapons currently with a 5th being worked on now directed by Mel Gibson as Richard Donner has since passed away...just this last July 5th.
Great reaction, James😊 This is a great action movie; arguably my favourite in the Lethal Weapon series. I think this is the most serious of the bunch; dealing with themes of mental health, and suicidal tendencies. Later entries focused more on the buddy-cop relation of Riggs & Murtaugh; now this is not necessarily a bad thing; their friendship and their banter is among the best of its kind! 😊 Later movies in the series just have a bit of a different tone. And yes, the soundtrack is amazing; if I recall correctly, it was the combined efforts of Eric Clapton, David Sanborn on the sax, and the great composer and arranger, Michael Kamen (rest in peace). Sting was also included on a couple of tracks, I believe…
Along with Die Hard I’ve easily seen this over a hundred times.... saw it in the theater. A little trivia... the Christmas Tree/Coke deal scene... the guy with the red flannel and long black hair is Anthony Kiedis’ (from RHCP) dad irl.... Also... I recently confirmed a long time belief (from when I saw it in the theater) that most of the responding officers in that scene were all actual LAPD officers.... not sure on the female but the two dudes for sure. More... the psychiatrist and “Endo” were in Die Hard....
What a great reaction! You were really feeling all of this movie for the first time. In fact, your reactions have been so good this year. This and Schindler’s List might be my two favorites of yours from 2021. You’re doing great man!
Fun fact: one of the writers for Lethal Weapon is Shane Black. Before writing this script, he was in Predator (1987) as Hawkins (the guy with the glasses telling dirty jokes). He would go on to contribute to working on Monster Squad (1987), The Last Boy Scout (1991) and Last Action Hero (1993). He would make his directorial debut with Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005), where he worked with Robert Downey Jr. He would later go on to direct RDJ again in Iron Man 3 (which he co-written with Drew Pearce), considered one of the better MCU films. A bulk of the stories he's written often features stories set within the Christmas season.
As always great reaction from my favorite react youtube, James, Leathel Weapon is funny, but have some dark themes... I've been following you since day one and I have to admit I'm a big movie buff and when I came across your channel and saw your reactions to movies, from your professional side, I started to experience movies in a completely different way, not just as fun but as art. Greetings from Croatia and sorry for bad English. I hope that soon there will be a reaction for my favorite movie Amadeus, by Milos Forman.
English was excellent here, well done! Thank you for the kind words my friend. That’s the beautiful balance! Appreciate the craft while also being immersed with entertainment. There’s a false matter at hand when people say the more you know, the less magical it can be..and I completely disagree with that. It’s all about how YOU interpret it. I found that my love for art only increased with my knowledge towards them!
@@scottneil1187 Thank you for your support. For a person who is 47 years old and studied only German and Russian at school, and learned English over the Internet, that means a lot to me. Thank you.
This is the major difference between older films and modern ones, back then everything looked real because it was, every stunt, every explosion and every effect actually had to be produced and happened, NO CGI. Nowadays everything looks and feels like a cartoon because they don't have to allow for the real world factors, the ONLY time this didn't occur was during the crossover when they made Jurassic Park because everyone built the film around real, physical effects and the CGI was a bonus. That is why today is still looks like a real film with real events.
Richard Donner the director of the Lethal Weapon films as well as Superman(1978), The Omen and The Goonies died earlier this year but he has left a great collection of movies behind. The other Lethal Weapon movies are good and you should react to them.
This entire series of movies were genuinely great. The 4th one was definitely a bit more 'lets make a movie and have some fun' but it was still a good movie.
Yes, Albert "Al" Leong, the actor that played Endo was also in Die Hard. He was a stuntman and actor, and played henchmen in many action movies in the 80's and 90's, he also played Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Hope you continue the series into part 2 and 3 (I didn't much care for 4). Part 2 is equally as good, with a great story, and some good new characters.
Yo James! This was a great vid mate! If you liked this, you've got to check out one of my all time faves as a kid... "Drop Zone" with Wesley Snipes! It's of the same ilk as these movies pal!🤙
UA-cam has been a pain with this one so if anything happens...you were the lucky ones to see it first haha!
Want to see me watch the series FARGO SEASON 2 & Arcane? Click here for early access: www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema
Fargo S2 EP1 Tomorrow! Have a great day everyone!
Arcane is freaking great. Can't wait to see your reaction
Look into doing Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch". The cast was full of award winning actors in the first 'western Action movie' ever.
You won't regret it.😅
Now you got some Christmas tradition to share. 😁🎅🎄 Die Hard and Lethal Weapon... every Christmas. 😊
Oh... two of the best improv musicians were featured live as they watched the film and were directed to share their music with each scene... David Sanborn on sax and Eric Clapton on guitar.
This was pre Hong Kong directors transforming Hollywood fight scenes.
Random trivia, the flannel shirt Christmas tree drug dealer is Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers dad.
Murtaugh turns 50. Danny was 41. Riggs (Mel Gibson) is supposed to be a specisl forces Vietnam Vet. He would have been 19 when the war ended. Too young to be special forces.
Can’t wait for you to watch the rest of the franchise. They really make you feel like you’re a part of a family
Yep. The Action franchise that feels like home.
The rest of the saga has much more action, more comedy and they are more expensive.
@@dicekolev5360 If he is a millennial it may be, the millennials did not live in the 80s, they had not been born, therefore they have not seen the cinema of that decade
@@andarporbuenosaires Yep even if he watched it young folks have no idea how great the 80s were for movies. It is and always will be the best decade. No whining just great movies, music and tons of fun.
@@andarporbuenosaires I was born in 81... I’m a millennial. I grew up with these movies.
"If she's gonna die, she's gonna die with me. My way, not yours." Even as a kid I felt than and I could feel my dad nodding to that line. Something so genuine about that line, like in that situation, if it has to be done, then it should be done by the person you love.
I agree with you. I felt it when he said that. Even to this day, I still believe it.
@@novembercherry4 Its funny though isn't it? I mean, at its core, its a father saying HE will be the one to kill his daughter. But deep down in our core, I think it says so much that you die together in a situation where you take your fate away from others hands.
Good father. If I can't save my daughter, or my wife, or both. Then I die with them. I couldn't live without them.
@@galerios1 Wo wo there. I never said anything about dying for no wife. That is what wearing black is for. She would want me to live. My daughter on the other hand, that's different. ;)
@@gutz1981 Well that is your hangup then. I don't have that problem. I will die for my family. I don't know what your situation is. But considering how I feel about my x-wife, I think I understand what is going on here. At least to an extent.
I used to argue that Damon Wayans and Bruce Willis chemistry was a slight better in Last Boy scout but now I have to say I was dead wrong. This is God Tier buddy cop chemistry
Hahaha right!? I gotta check Last Boy since I haven’t seen it!
It's a bit more antagonistic in Last Boy Scout due to the big differences in their background.
In Lethal Weapon they at least are both cops and served in Vietnam.
@@JamesVSCinema Bonus is Last Boy Scout also has a music score from MIchael Kamen, just like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon.
@@mnomadvfx Same writer too.
@@mnomadvfx how did I miss that? Murtaugh served in Vietnam
another consistent feature of 80's actioners: sound design, especially for weapons. they really made their guns sound like literal hand cannons.
They screwed tbe Terminator :/ they changed the sound on the .45 Longslide in the mid 00's so it sounds "Pew!Pew!", instead of the original "BOOM!" :(
@@strangebiped original 45sound!
ua-cam.com/video/87Mp0yX7-CU/v-deo.html
You can thank Ben Burtt for that. He did sound effects for Raiders of the Lost Ark. He wasn't sure whether to use realistic sounds or exaggerated ones, so he asked George Lucas if Indiana Jones loses the hat in the fight scenes. When Lucas said no, he knew he should make the sounds over the top. Indy's revolver sounds like a Winchester rifle and every punch sounds like a pile of leather jackets being hit with a baseball bat -because that's what they were!
Check out the sound of guns in Michael Mann's movies... Like Heat is a good example, the robbery scene where they start WW 3 in the streets.
But an earlier example of his is in Miami Vice, the episode where there's an assault on Crocket's life. A rentakiller is in Crocket's house and opens fire at him.. if you put add some base to your soundsystem.. listen to that baby spit fire, the sound effects in that scene are remarkable. It made a serious impact on me as kid.
@@alainvosselman9960 YES!!
Yes, Endo played by Al Leong was also a henchman in Die Hard. He was also great as Genghis Khan in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Hahaha sweet! Nice to see him doing his thing!
@@JamesVSCinema actually, in Die Hard he was the guy, who took some treats from the sweets cabinet on ground floor, when the cops tried to get into the building :D
One of the more prominent 80s stuntmen to also do bit parts. You see him in a lot of films.
@@JamesVSCinema I actually got to meet Al Leong at a Chinese New Years banquet hosted by the kung fu school I was enrolled at, Great human.
I think he was one of the stunt coordinators and loved to get in front of the camera, not as a star, but just....
The eating the sweets in Die Hard was his idea and he director loved the action ad-lib.
But now you've seen him in Die Hard there are very few action movies or TV shows from that era where you will not see him.
Very recognisable.
Hell yes! Such a damn classic. The chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh is great. Mel Gibson killed this role for sure. Definitely one of my favorite action heroes 🤘🏽 Also, you gotta love that saxophone 🎷
You know it! 🎷
And this is one of the few franchises that gets better each sequel.
@@mellysomethingclever Overall, yes. 4 was "iffy" but still fun.
@@seanellio I enjoyed 4. It’s probably my second favorite one.
@@JamesVSCinema please react to another Shane Black written movie The Last Boy Scout (1991) starring Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans, & a very young Halley Berry.
9:50 He can feel pain, that's the whole point of the scene. McAlllister was demonstrating how loyal his subordinates were to him by ordering Joshua to allow him to burn him. Joshua willingly did so without any hesitation despite the fact that it was gonna hurt like hell, thus proving how loyal McAllister's men were to him.
The entire franchise is worth watching. With each successive film they add new characters that blend well with the chemistry.
One of the best series out there. The next three are all worth the watch.
Recommended: _The Long Kiss Goodnight_ 💋 starring Geena Davis & Samuel L Jackson, from _Lethal Weapon_ screenwriter Shane Black. An amazing, underrated '90s Action classic worth checking out. Davis plays one of cinema's most badass [albeit, little known] Action heroes.
And the great _Lethal Weapon 2_ is a first viewing to look forward to.
Long Kiss Goodnight is well worth a watch for sure.
Nothing but facts! 🤷🏻♂️👌🏼
I really love his newer films Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys too! 🥰✌🏼
Yes!
If you want to get really ahead of the Curve I would do king in New York
By the way, it's Sam Jackson's favourite character and film! 🥰✌🏼
Long Kiss Goodnight is definitely dope!!! Would love to see James check it out!
Man you need to watch all parts, the best part of this franchise is the connection between them its just soo good, especially the 3rd movie. Lookin forward to it man.
My man! I gotchu!
@@JamesVSCinema
You should also watch the comedy parody version National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon starring Samuel L Jackson and Emilio Estevez.
One of those films I should just go around recommending to people lol. Mel Gibson's acting is sublime in this, brought the buddy cop genre into new heights, Gary Busey at his very best, that desert setpiece is *mwah*, and it inspired some goodness to come out of Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The sequel may be even better fyi. Gonna get the popcorn.
I used to live near the desert setpiece. lol
Yeah, this one’s super fun, and the chemistry between the leads is awesome!
Such good chemistry!
The best Team
I thought the same thing as a kid watching this movie, just seeing a black family living a normal nice life is such a great start, then seeing Riggs life - it's a perfect character setup they worked so well together.
“get that shit off my lawn!” best line in a movie, ever. 😆
It's such a perfect buddy cop movie and movie in general. Mel's suicide scene was amazingly powerful acting.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) should be on your 80's action list too! ✌🏼
Wanna know something cool? The way Amanda falls onto the car room is actually done by using a mattress covered in a "overhead" perspective sheet of the car done by painting. If you pause one frame, you can see it bend in and crinkle right before the interior cut.
I love this franchise. Richard Donner does such a great job building on these characters over the course of the 4 movies. It's just a shame he passed before he could do Lethal Weapon 5. Supposedly Gibson plans on directing though so that should be interesting. I wouldn't mind going one more round with Riggs and Murtaugh if the story is worth it.
Will they be solving crimes at the nursing home? I mean Jesus.... Murtaugh was too old for this shit 34 years ago, lol
The reboot isnt too bad either.
Yes Richard Donner gave us some great movies. Before he died he told Mel Gibson he wanted him to direct Lethal Weapon 5 and they have Shane Black back to write the script for it. It’s going to be interesting to see the script seeing how Danny Glover is near 75 & Mel Gibson is near 65. Maybe have Riggs kid and Murtaughs grandkid working together and then Riggs & Murtaugh need to help them with an old case they’re tied to.
Danny: "Thin" is my middle name.
Mel: With your wife's cooking, I'm not surprised.
Me: shots fired
Mel: *fires actual shots
"What was that?"
I met Danny Glover and got his autograph a couple of years ago at a sci fi convention. I asked him about a movie he did called "Be Kind Rewind" and why that movie is a love letter to movie making. He was a really friendly guy and i will remember it forever. As always, great reaction vid and great editing. Keep going and i'll keep watching! 👍
I first saw this film as a young teenager, and at that time the darkness didn't really register, andI only saw the comedy and action. This meant that when I revisited it as an adult, all of that was completely new to me and therefore I saw an almost entirely new movie. As others have said, Mel's acting during the almost-suicide scene is beyond brilliant.
man I love these films, so glad you're watching them. the way they handle race, or neglect to handle it sometimes, I think is fantastic. always wished Murtaugh was my dad!
I agree!! It’s so well recognized and them even presenting it was pretty damn clever and aware. Good damn job! Surprisingly not done often with how it was handled!
@@JamesVSCinema You've got to watch LW2. The scene with Murtaugh in the embassy is freaking amazing.
@@TheGavrael diplomatic immunity!
@@leftofpunk Its just been revoked!
"The henchman from Die Hard." Funny you should say that, his name is Al Leong and there's a great documentary about him called "Henchman: The Al Leong Story". Well worth the watch and a great insight into the character actor and stunt man world.
i love him.. in the 80s and 90s he was like in every second movie as a bad guy .. doing everything from gun fights to hand to hand to early parcour .. awesome dude
Gibson’s crazed energy will never be matched
What I loved about the entire Murtagh and Riggs dynamic, they were able to be raw and unfiltered about each other, leading both to them feel that they could trust the other wholeheartedly with the other’s live. The most consistent thing in each film of this series is how you can see Murtagh and Riggs develop a legit brother relationship, like they really do become closer than blood, which makes the “Lethal Weapon” tetralogy the greatest ever. I feel the third one in this series is the best but I rewatch all three over and over again, it just so genuine, raw, and real
Nothing better than getting on UA-cam and seeing James reacting to an all time favorite :D
Jesus, I didn't expect that scene of Gibson contemplating suicide to hit me so hard. It just brought back a lot of bad memories of when I was in that same place about thirty years ago. Shit, that was rough.
Yes... it's intense...
Probably my favourite set of movies, from beginning to end.
'87-'88 were 2 years of amazing action films. I am so happy I got to witness them in the theater at that time as a 12-13 year old.
I absolutely LOVE the Lethal Weapon movies! All four of them are awesome! The overall story progresses perfectly for the characters as things go along. Not a bad movie in the bunch(4). You should do the other three in the set. You won't be disappointed.
Every time I come back to this movie I appreciate it more. There’s so much heart and soul in this film.
A CLASSIC
I love the rawness of older films. So much skills and imagination with regards to engineering and film. I love love the lethal weapon movies! Enjoying my night
Another classic. It's surprising how well some 80s action flicks managed that delicate balance between genuine humor, gut punch emotion, and matter of fact violence. Traci Wolfe was fine as hell. 😚
This is one of my favourite movies. The chemistry between the two leads is what makes this movie work so well. For me, this movie is the gold standard for a buddy cop film.
Fun fact. The bad guy in the plaid shirt in the scene with Mel Gibson at the Christmas tree lot is Anthony Keidis’s (lead singer of the RHCP) dad.
I did not know that! Very cool.
This is just one of those films with perfect chemistry between the stars.
James -
One of the most significant things you might have missed about this movie is the fact that IT IS the originator of the Buddy Cop genre. It all sprang from this movie.
I'm pretty sure 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop were before this one.
I am heavily addicted to reaction videos, but I must say - This is my first time watching someone react from the cinematographers perspective.... I DIG
I love how Murtaugh is always in a full suit and Riggs is always in an old tshirt and jeans. I think the second movie is my favorite though, if only because "Just been revoked!"
Ah, PLEASE do Lethal Weapon 2, 3 and 4! They're all fantastic! :)
Yes! Please enjoy one of the best action movies of the 80s. Lethal Weapon is the best!!!!!!!
Woooo!
The sequel is also a classic !
All 4 of these films are classics. 😎
There is a very fun spoof of this film called "Loaded Weapon 1" from 1993, starring Samuel L. Jackson.
And Emilio Estevez
The chemistry between these two is fantastic. It pretty much set the standard for the "buddy cop" genre. It was so good they made four LW movies, and if what I've heard is true, there's a fifth one being made.
James, it was great to see a normal, happy, functional black family in this.
I remember seeing this in the theater when it opened, in LA with my college friends. We were blown away, it was so good. Exciting, funny, action, great cast, good chemistry of course. This was the first buddy cop movie of its kind, with this brand of action/humor, it started it all. We got to see so many great movies back then.
This is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Most of my fav's are from the 80's or early 90's. A quiet response to your subtle note about being glad to see a 'normal family that happens to be black'..... YES!
Mel Gibson is my all time favorite actor. There's really not too many actors or actresses that can pull off crazy like Mel can and make it seem genuine.
Mel Gibson did absolutely phenomenal along side Julia Roberts in the movie Conspiracy Theory.
Lethal Weapon.... brings back a lot of memories watching these as a kid/teenager with my dad. Very solid films all around.
you can really tell how much influence this had over later movies and media
Glad you're diving into so many iconic movies from different decades and actually appreciating them for what they are. I feel like you understand why these movies were all relevant when they came out.
I think people forget Lethal Weapon also takes place at Christmas. So it's actually great you're watching it in December.
Great video! This is one of those movies I never tire of. One of the few movie franchises with no bad entries. All worth a look!
please do this entire series. AMAZING story arcs throughout
Love your reactions my guy, especially how you pause to appreciate good filmmaking, like lighting or acting or whatever else. Keep them coming 👍🏼
Lethal Weapon 4 essentially introduced Jet Li to the US. All the Lethal Weapon movies are fun..
Great reaction bro! Most of Hollywood doesn't make action films like this anymore. 😕
I greatly enjoyed this when it was new in the theater. Your investment in the characters and the story brought back that feeling. Thanks, James!
Probably my favorite action film. The whole series really. The 2nd is really good. 3 and 4 aren't great...but the relationship and chemistry between the leads makes them entertaining and worth a watch.
Since you had Nightcrawler and the whole LA experience I can only recommend "To live and die in LA" it fits right in to the 80ies action theme you´re on, and is criminally underrated.
It also got the "I´m to old for this shit" line before Lethal Weapons.
Yeah, that's a great watch. Make it a William Petersen ultra-80's double-header and add Manhunter.
Beverly Hill Cop. Has he watched that yet? That's a must see 80's action flick.
I have not!
One of the greatest buddy cop films ever. Loved your reaction mate. Always enjoy your comments about film style choices. Can't wait until you watch the rest of the Lethal Weapon movies!
Little trivia, Rorion Gracie, one of the leading figures in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and founder of the UFC, was the fight choreographer for the last fight scene between Gibson and Busey. Hence the triangle choke before anyone even knew what the heck that was.
My favorite is Leathal Weapon 3 because its so hyper active, it moves along so fast, slick action, 3 film editors, great camera work. Of corse the 1st one is great and original. I didn't connect with LW4 just didn't grab me. LW2 is a very good progression with story and Joe pesci joins the crew.... The bar is raised in sertain aspects.
The chemistry carries through all 4 movies.
Yep,Al Leong. He's one of the OG stuntmen from the 80's and 90's.
Loved your reaction , please don't stop on this one , all the Lethal Weapon movies are great. Looking forwards to see if you watch them all.
Great film… all 4 have their moments but this one is in a league of its own
Merry X-mas to James from Finland!
Endo (Al Leong) was in Die Hard. He was the guy that was eating the candy bar in the lobby when the cops were trying to break into the building.
Al Leong (endo) was in many films as a actor/stuntman/coordinator featuring his distinct look, fu manchu, and being well versed in multiple martial arts. He got brain cancer in 1993 but continued working on movies until he suffered a stroke in 2005.
The was the last film Gary Busey worked on before he had his horrible motorcycle accident tearing up the left side of his face, jawline, splitting his skull, and causing brain damage and his big near death experience. Amazingly after just over a year of recovery he returned to work in Predator 2; again along side Danny Glover.
24:34 Yes it’s the same actor. I like to believe it’s even the same character
This movie is great exactly because it spends the first half establishing the characters, putting each on their own trajectory, and then delivering redemption and resolution where they collide. It established the formula that so many buddy action movies tried to copy, but very few managed to pull off without directly copying this film. The tension between them is real, not forced. We understand why Murtagh is careful, deliberate, and cautious. We understand why Riggs is reckless and spontaneous. So we understand why they can't stand each other. And then we get to watch them understand each other. It's brilliant.
Please don't abandon the franchise! There are not enough reactions to the whole thing and it will only get better! Love this!
After watching the Lethal Weapon movies. I highly recommend Loaded Weapon 1 (1993). It's like a Naked Gun-style parody of the Lethal Weapon series (or just the first movie).
@@scottneil1187 Good choices! Loaded Weapon is kind of a gem! Me and a friend had completely missed it somehow and watched it a couple of years back, laughed our asses off 😂
Good vid as always James. There are indeed 4 total Lethal Weapon movies. This is one of very series of films that I would say I recommend all of them. Obviously some are better than others, but all worthwhile watches nonetheless.
classics are often classics for a reason! things that were considered good back in the day and are still considered good now really have the advantage of standing the test of time which is proof itself they are bangers.
Richard Donner is such a solid and underrated director. You should really watch Superman The Movie. He just nails it. As I understand it, his sets were a joy to work on. Nothing but fun and professionalism.
I would LOVE to see you watch some infamous B-Movies like Miami Connection and New York Ninja.
Both of those movies has INSANE back stories as to how they came about for our viewing pleasure.
@@scottneil1187 a lot of the fun comes from analyzing them as a filmmaker and seeing how these no budget films were made. That adds a whole other level of enjoyment as you notice things like movies using the same hallway over and over, boom mics, other weird technical quirks. Plus the GREAT B-Movies are fun.
James, since you present yourself as a film maker...I feel compelled to make a technical industry correction. I understand a lot of the younger people reacting to films on UA-cam grew up with CGI however it really wasn't until at least the mid 90s that CGI really became a thing in Hollywood films. Please try not to confuse the term "visual effects" done with models, paintings etc. with computer generated imagery. Nothing but respect for you, bro, as I think that you are one of the most thoughtful reactors her on UA-cam...you see the underlying themes of these films way better than a lot of these guys so are just about my favorite to watch. Keep up the good work!
Well said! You’re right I should clarify on separating the two because they are different. I know that, but I’m sure not a lot of people here do..thanks buddy!
James, assuming no one else has said, which I doubt, there are a total of 4 Lethal Weapons currently with a 5th being worked on now directed by Mel Gibson as Richard Donner has since passed away...just this last July 5th.
Great reaction, James😊
This is a great action movie; arguably my favourite in the Lethal Weapon series.
I think this is the most serious of the bunch; dealing with themes of mental health, and suicidal tendencies.
Later entries focused more on the buddy-cop relation of Riggs & Murtaugh; now this is not necessarily a bad thing; their friendship and their banter is among the best of its kind! 😊
Later movies in the series just have a bit of a different tone.
And yes, the soundtrack is amazing; if I recall correctly, it was the combined efforts of Eric Clapton, David Sanborn on the sax, and the great composer and arranger, Michael Kamen (rest in peace). Sting was also included on a couple of tracks, I believe…
Along with Die Hard I’ve easily seen this over a hundred times.... saw it in the theater. A little trivia... the Christmas Tree/Coke deal scene... the guy with the red flannel and long black hair is Anthony Kiedis’ (from RHCP) dad irl.... Also... I recently confirmed a long time belief (from when I saw it in the theater) that most of the responding officers in that scene were all actual LAPD officers.... not sure on the female but the two dudes for sure.
More... the psychiatrist and “Endo” were in Die Hard....
What a great reaction! You were really feeling all of this movie for the first time. In fact, your reactions have been so good this year. This and Schindler’s List might be my two favorites of yours from 2021.
You’re doing great man!
Fun fact: one of the writers for Lethal Weapon is Shane Black. Before writing this script, he was in Predator (1987) as Hawkins (the guy with the glasses telling dirty jokes). He would go on to contribute to working on Monster Squad (1987), The Last Boy Scout (1991) and Last Action Hero (1993). He would make his directorial debut with Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005), where he worked with Robert Downey Jr. He would later go on to direct RDJ again in Iron Man 3 (which he co-written with Drew Pearce), considered one of the better MCU films. A bulk of the stories he's written often features stories set within the Christmas season.
As always great reaction from my favorite react youtube, James, Leathel Weapon is funny, but have some dark themes... I've been following you since day one and I have to admit I'm a big movie buff and when I came across your channel and saw your reactions to movies, from your professional side, I started to experience movies in a completely different way, not just as fun but as art. Greetings from Croatia and sorry for bad English. I hope that soon there will be a reaction for my favorite movie Amadeus, by Milos Forman.
English was excellent here, well done! Thank you for the kind words my friend. That’s the beautiful balance! Appreciate the craft while also being immersed with entertainment. There’s a false matter at hand when people say the more you know, the less magical it can be..and I completely disagree with that. It’s all about how YOU interpret it. I found that my love for art only increased with my knowledge towards them!
@@scottneil1187 Thank you for your support. For a person who is 47 years old and studied only German and Russian at school, and learned English over the Internet, that means a lot to me. Thank you.
Dude you are dope as a reactor this is one of my favorite movie franchises.i can't wait to watch part two
This is the major difference between older films and modern ones, back then everything looked real because it was, every stunt, every explosion and every effect actually had to be produced and happened, NO CGI. Nowadays everything looks and feels like a cartoon because they don't have to allow for the real world factors, the ONLY time this didn't occur was during the crossover when they made Jurassic Park because everyone built the film around real, physical effects and the CGI was a bonus. That is why today is still looks like a real film with real events.
Richard Donner the director of the Lethal Weapon films as well as Superman(1978), The Omen and The Goonies died earlier this year but he has left a great collection of movies behind. The other Lethal Weapon movies are good and you should react to them.
This absolutely requires a follow up with "Lethal Weapon VII", created and produced by the Gang! (even if it's not for UA-cam)
I would love to see you react to Lethal Weapon 2. One of the greatest sequels ever. Hard to pick a favorite out of the two.
This entire series of movies were genuinely great. The 4th one was definitely a bit more 'lets make a movie and have some fun' but it was still a good movie.
Yes, Albert "Al" Leong, the actor that played Endo was also in Die Hard. He was a stuntman and actor, and played henchmen in many action movies in the 80's and 90's, he also played Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Yes, you must watch the entire Lethal Weapon franchise! I can't wait to watch your reactions. You will grow with all the characters like a family. 🤗
loved to see this again with your own slant on it. Th sequel is amazing too
These are my go too films when I just want to chill and watch a film I can always watch them and always enjoy them
All 4 of these movies are awesome.
Hope you continue the series into part 2 and 3 (I didn't much care for 4). Part 2 is equally as good, with a great story, and some good new characters.
Yo James! This was a great vid mate! If you liked this, you've got to check out one of my all time faves as a kid... "Drop Zone" with Wesley Snipes! It's of the same ilk as these movies pal!🤙
Definitely check out the rest of the franchise, such great movies.