Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pag...
Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pages in a way. Thanks for all your rates.
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Following a three year gap, the Lethal Weapon team returned in 1992 to make the third installment of the film series. With Riggs and Murtaugh immensely popular characters, public demand forced this film's creation, written again by creator Shane Black. Richard Donner directs again, and the acting duo of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are rejoined by hyperactive Joe Pesci and new addition Rene Russo.
The Plot
One week away from his retirement, detective Murtaugh and his partner Riggs investigate a bomb scare. They make a hash of the situation and are relegated to street patrol, but soon come across armour-piercing bullets known as cop killers. Following the murder of a prisoner by a former police hardball, Riggs and Murtaugh are reinstated as detectives and sent after to former cop, a man named Travis. With sultry Internal Affairs agent Lorna Cole also investigating, things become tense as the partners close in on their prey.
The Cast and Performances
Mel Gibson is once again marvellous as loose cannon Riggs, with Danny Glover's performance as the near retirement Murtaugh a highlight of the film. The pair have by now cemented their on screen relationship, and there is some good character development here. Joe Pesci is the hyperactive Leo Getz, helping the cops as he had some shady dealings with Travis before. Rene Russo is very good as IA agent Cole, but is swept back to the sidelines as the leads take charge. Stuart Wilson is sufficiently menacing as Travis. The remainder of the cast do a good support job.
My Opinion
While I love the Lethal Weapon series, I felt this third film fell by the wayside somewhat. There was less conviction as the first two films, and they almost lost their ground here with too much concentration on the personal side of the characters and not enough focus on the main plot. The impending retirement of Murtaugh is a good adjustment to the plot basics. The film did need something a little different to the other two, and this combines well with the love interest between Riggs and Cole to provide enough of a change in tack from the other two films to make it different.
Donner directs the film well, and is cautious to retain many of the elements that made the first two films so successful, such as Riggs' cowboy approach and often lunatic phases and Leo's hyperactive ramblings. Controversially, the film was immediately successful at the box office, but was criticised by critics and the public straight after its initial success. It was hailed as being too repetitive and straying far too close to its predecessors. I am of the opinion that this is partly a positive and partly a negative. It's good because the winning formula is revisited, but I agree that this also means there is less ingenuity in the film. The series regained popularity with the fourth film released a few years later, but for me Lethal Weapon 3 is the weakest of the series.
The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for £5.97. The DVD I own has no extras on it.
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The lightest of the first three films,Lethal Weapon 3finds everyone occupying comfortable ... more
positions like students who always choose to sit in the same classroom seats. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD partners whose working method consists of...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
OK, OK, OK. They're back in their most successful, most explosive, most hilarious smash ... more
hit yet. They come, they see, they kick butt in a caper that has LA police detectives Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) ripping into a vicious crime ri...
The lightest of the first three films,Lethal Weapon 3finds everyone occupying comfortable ... more
positions like students who always choose to sit in the same classroom seats. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD partners whose working method consists of...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![Lethal Weapon 3 [DVD] [1992]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78546858.jpg "Lethal Weapon 3 [DVD] [1992]")
Mar 10th, 2009
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