mellan_love Reviews

48 Hrs. (1982)

Buddy Movie - maybe first, but not the best

[5/10 · 15 July 2005]

I first saw this movie a couple of days ago on TV. I'd heard a lot about it and most people seemed to like it, so I thought it was worth a shot. But I must say I was disappointed. It was nothing like what I had anticipated.

The plot was a bit confusing and the fist-fights looked real stupid (perhaps because the movie's pretty old by now...). Especially the one between Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, although that was one of the funniest parts of the movie.

Murphy and Nolte created the "Buddy-genre" with this flick, but most of the film they're just spending time insulting each other (especially Nolte) as much as possible. Too much rough macho-talk, in my opinion. But Murphy was great in his break-through role as smooth, sweet-talking convict Reggie Hammond. This was the time when Murphy was still actually funny. And I must admit that Nick Nolte did a pretty good job playing the grumpy, stubborned police-officer Jack Cates.

Cates and Hammond are teamed up to catch an old business pal of Hammond's, who happens to have escaped from prison with the help of an Indian gangster called Billy Bear. He also has got the old of Cates' gun and is using it to shoot cops with.

I really thought this movie would be a lot more entertaining, and I also anticipated more chemistry between the two lead actors. Sometimes they came out alright together - after about half of the movie or so - but it was mostly Murphy who got the punch-lines. Nolte seemed like he was trying a little too hard to be a tough guy.

I don't know. Maybe my biggest problem is that I saw this movie AFTER I'd seen the Lethal Weapon series. I'd like to say that Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte CREATED this film genre, but it was Mel Gibson and Danny Glover who DEFINED it. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

I'm not saying this movie is bad, but if you liked it and would like to see a REALLY good buddy movie, I recommend Lethal Weapon. That's where you'll find the real Magic.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Magic!

[10/10 · 28 June 2005]

Do things like magic really exist? Well, if you've seen Lethal Weapon - not only the greatest action comedy, but perhaps also the greatest movie of all time! - you should know that the answer to that question is YES. If you don't, it's very obvious that you need to see a doctor. And in case you for some incomprehensible reason haven't seen Lethal yet, I have only one thing to say: stop reading this comment and go rent it immediately!!! There's simply no logical excuse for anyone old enough NOT to see this brilliant movie.

The Lethal Weapon series started out with this film back in 1987, starring the phenomenal Mel Gibson as psychotic loose cannon Martin Riggs and Danny Glover (truly wonderful as well) as his total opposite for a partner - family man and by-the-book police officer Roger Murtaugh.

Murtaugh lives a happy life with his loving family in a friendly neighborhood and is planning to retire from the force. But on his 50th birthday his life takes off in a different direction when the daughter of an old friend from Vietnam jumps out from a window and dies. This incident tosses Murtaugh into a dangerous and twisted investigation. And as if that's not enough: he is also teamed up with a new partner - a burned-out lunatic named Martin Riggs, who's been leaning on the edge of suicide ever since his wife was killed in a car crash. Roger is shocked when he meets this "lethal weapon". These two cops only have two things in common: they're both Vietnam vets and they both hate working with partners.

This is my all time favorite movie, because it gives you everything you could ever ask from a great flick: action, drama, suspense, and even love (without getting all sentimental). And if you love Mel Gibson (God, he used to be so beautiful!!)- like me - this is were he makes one of his strongest and most remarkable performances. Actually, I can hardly call it acting - he IS Riggs. The emotions he's going through is so evident in his eyes and so real and cuts right through your soul: you can actually feel his pain and his anger. And Mel also contributes a great deal to the humorous element of the film with his attitude, witty comments and eagerness of doing his job: "Man, I love this job! Can we put the sirens on?" Danny Glover is outstanding as Murtaugh and serves the audience a normal, middle-aged man who is fighting with his age, a daughter who's turning into a young woman and a partner who doesn't care whether he lives or dies. Danny's hilarious making those faces and throwing back at Mel! He plays his part with great sensitivity and I think he, just like Mel, gives so much life to his character that no other actor could have done it better. And together, he and Mel undoubtedly makes the best film team there was, is or ever will be! (The concept has been copied too many times, though..."

With the fantastic action, humor, performances and screenplay, Lethal Weapon and its sequels definitely top the list of all time action movies. Danny and Mel (naturally) won an award for "best duo on screen" on MTV Movie Awards once, and considering their work with these series, I believe director Richard Donner and producer Joel Silver makes the best duo OFF screen.

I'm convinced this is a movie that not only action fans would enjoy watching, so I recommend it to everyone. This is a movie you can't afford to miss!