Review of Lethal Weapon 3: Director`s Cut

Introduction

When the Director`s cuts of the first three Lethal Weapon films were announced, I paid little attention. After all, the added scenes advertised were all available as deleted scenes on Lethal Weapon 4. Otherwise the discs were identical in content. However, on the day of release, I was able to take a look at the cases and saw something that piqued my interest, the words Dual Layer. The original films were released as single layer single sided discs. Tempted by the promise of better picture quality and three trade-ins later, here is what I found.

This was the third movie in the series, released in 1992. By now, the characters were familiar and comfortable. The story is pretty much irrelevant, as you know what to expect. The film delivers exactly what is advertised on the box. But for those who wish to know, Lethal 3 concerns our heroes pitted against a vicious gunrunner, the twist being that he used to be a police officer and uses their procedures against them. The first film was a tense emotional affair, the second film played on peoples` emotions by killing off Riggs` love interest. In the third film, there is a token attempt to do the same in a sub-plot concerning Murtaugh shooting a teenager. It doesn`t quite succeed and ends up just playing it for laughs. The action scenes are even more thrilling and the stunts more spectacular. There are some genuinely funny moments also.

Video

Visually, again this has been polished for this release. The 2.35:1 anamorphic picture looks pristine and is absent of any artefact or grain. Curiously, there seems to have been less improvement on the original release compared to the first two movies, and that speaks well for the original transfer. Perhaps that is because it`s a more recent film. The stunts are spectacular and the effects bigger and all that comes through well on this disc.

Audio

Sound is again the DD 5.1 transfer. I really can`t tell if there has been any improvement on the original disc, but it all sounds impressive when the action is going on. Sting, who had a rash of soundtrack work in the early 90`s, Demolition Man and The Three Musketeers as well as his title track for this movie join Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton on the soundtrack.

Features

Extras are again consigned to the flipside of Lethal 4, you get another static cast list and the spruced up menu screens.

Conclusion

For Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, these characters are comfortable old shoes by now. They slip effortlessly into the buddy-buddy banter and edge of the seat zaniness. Returning to join them as a fifth wheel is Joe Pesci as Leo Getz, here rehabilitated as an estate agent who wants to join in the action. He adds even more humour and transfers his ire from drive-throughs to hospitals. Making her debut here is Rene Russo as Lorna Cole. She is added as romantic interest for Riggs and makes for an interesting character who is only slightly less deranged than Riggs. The charm is still here and the character interactions are still strong. Stuart Wilson is the nemesis, Jack Travis. He plays the role with a manic sparkle in his eyes and is convincing as the crazy ex-cop.

Again a director`s cut. This has added scenes for extra flavour. Avoiding the mess made of Lethal 2, this one has come through with all its bits intact. The added scenes are fewer and equally unnecessary. They are just added Lethal Weapon moments. One scene at Riggs` trailer shows construction work and presages the large sprawl that it had become in the final feature.

That`s Lethal 3: DC, a film that has a go at plot but wisely gives it up for action, laughs and that old Lethal Weapon magic. The strong cast really make this movie work and you`ll enjoy every minute of it, if you remember to put your brain in neutral. Danny Glover is still too old for this s**t and Mel Gibson`s mullet is well and truly out of control. As close as you can get to a live action cartoon, just brilliant.