Category: Z-View

“Alien Romulus” (2024) directed by Fede Álvarez / Z-View

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Alien Romulus (2024)

Director: Fede Álvarez

Screenplay: Fede Álvarez, Rodo Sayagues; based on characters by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett

Stars: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu, Rosie Ede, Daniel Betts and Ian Holm (facial and vocal reference).

Tagline: They went looking for a new life. It found them.

The Plot…

In the year 2142, on the distant mining planet LV-410, workers live on a planet barely hospitable.  When the mining company, Weyland-Yutani, unilaterally extends all miners contracts, six friends come up with a plan to escape.

The team consists of…

  • Rain (Spaeny) – an orphan whose only “family” is…
  • Andy (Jonsson) – an android programmed by Rain’s late father to protect her at all costs
  • Tyler (Renaux) – Rain’s ex-boyfriend and brother to…
  • Kay (Merced) – Tyler’s pregnant sister
  • Bjorn (Fearn) – Kay’s lover
  • Navarro (Wu) – Bjorn’s adopted sister

The plan is to board a derelict spacecraft recently discovered in low orbit.  Andy will interface with the ship’s operating system.  Then they will access the crio-chambers that will allow them to escape to civilization.

Easy-peasy.

But the best laid plans often go sideways.  The friends quickly realize they’re in a fight for their lives when they discover xenomorphs on the ship.

And the xenomorphs discover them.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Alien Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens.  There are many easter eggs / callbacks to both of those films (and others in the franchise including video games).

Fede Álvarez’s direction is top notch.  He was the right choice to revitalize the franchise.

David Jonsson is amazing as Andy.  I’d never seen Jonsson act before, but he is someone I will watch for.

Alien Romulus (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Revenge of the Creature” (1955) starring John Agar, Lori Nelson & John Bromfield / Z-View

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Revenge of the Creature (1955)

Director: Jack Arnold

Screenplay: Martin Berkeley,  story by William Alland

Stars: John Agar, Lori Nelson, John Bromfield, Nestor Paiva, Grandon Rhodes, Dave Willock, Robert B. Williams, Charles Cane, Bill Baldwin, Clint Eastwood, Brett Halsey and Ricou Browning.

Tagline: ALL-NEW 3-D THILLS!

The Plot…

An expedition returns to the Amazon’s Black Lagoon.  They capture the Creature and bring it to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in Florida.  Professor Clete Ferguson (Agar) and Helen Dobson (Nelson) are the two main scientists studying the beast.

The Creature becomes enamored with Helen.  When the Creature escapes, it goes after Helen.  As one of the movie’s taglines says, “Monster Escapes! Terror Seizes City! …a woman’s beauty the lure for his dangerous desires!“

Oh my!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Revenge of the Creature was originally released in 3D, but theaters could request a regular version. The studio released both since the 3ED craze was dying.

Marineland in Saint Augustine, Florida doubled for the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium.  I was in heaven as a kid when I went to Marineland and was able to walk the same paths as The Creature from the Black Lagoon!

Revenge of the Creature falls short of the original.

Ricou Browning appears again (uncredited) playing the Creature. He did appear on-screen as one of the lab technicians.  Interestingly enough, Clint Eastwood also appears uncredited as a lab worker.

Revenge of the Creature (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.

LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN By Ace Atkins & Marco Finnegan / Z-View

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LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN By Ace Atkins (writer) and Marco Finnegan (artist)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Nick Travers is a Tulane University blues historian.  You’d never know that by just looking.  Nick played pro ball for the New Orleans Saints.  But those glory days are behind him.  Now still a young man, Nick spends time at JoJo’s bar drinking too much and listening to Fats make his sax sing.

Fats is an old-time bluesman and Nick’s friend. Fats’ gambling and drinking often eat up his paycheck before the week is over. So when Fats takes a break, Nick offers to buy him a meal. As they’re talking Fats says that he’s in love.  Real love.  He’s found a woman and she’s something.

Two days later Fats is dead.  Self-inflicted gun shot is the reported cause.

Nick is given the task to clean out Fats’ apartment.  It’s a sad job.  Too many memories.  Then it gets worse. Nick realizes that Fats’ beloved saxophone is missing.  Nick is determined to learn who took it.

As Nick begins looking for the sax, he gets information that leads him down a different path.  One that involves human trafficking, rich and powerful men and the woman that Fats loved.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I first became aware of Ace Atkins when he took over writing Robert B. Parker’s Spencer novels. Atkins was the perfect choice to continue the series. Which led me to Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson novels.  Each new novel became a must read.  So when I learned that Ace had done a graphic novel with Marco Finnegan, it was a quick buy.  I wasn’t let down.

Atkins has created a great protagonist.  A college professor built like a thug.  A bluesman.  Someone willing and able to right wrongs and go the distance for a friend.  The Nick Travers novels have now moved to my “must-get” list.

Marco Finnegan was a great choice to create the art for this graphic novel.  Finnegan was an Atkins fan and actually reached out to Ace with samples of his art.  The two hit it off and the end result was LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN.  Finnegan’s art is black and white with gray wash which is an excellent choice for a noir story.  I’m a fan of Marco’s art thanks to LAST FAIR DEAL.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Chris Brunner’s wraparound cover.  It’s the icing on the cake.

LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN By Ace Atkins (writer) and Marco Finnegan (artist) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Fall” (2022) directed by Scott Mann, starring Grace Caroline Currey & Virginia Gardner / Z-View

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Fall (2022)

Director: Scott Mann

Screenplay: Scott Mann, Jonathan Frank

Stars: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jasper Cole, Julia Pace Mitchell.

Tagline: Fear reaches new heights.

The Plot…

Becky (Currey), her husband Dan (Gooding) and their best friend Shiloh (Gardner) are free climbing a mountain when Dan slips and falls to his death.

A year passes.

Becky quit climbing.  She drinks too much and sometimes thinks of ending it all.  Shiloh is now an internet star.  She livestreams her daring climbs.  Shiloh visits Becky and hoping to end her depression invites Becky to join her on a climb.  Shiloh plans to scale a 2,000 foot decommissioned television tower that sits in a remote desert location.

Becky reluctantly agrees.  Both women are having such a blast climbing that they miss some danger signs.  They make it to the top of the tower.  Then a mishap sends the only ladder crashing down.  Stuck 2,000 feet on a small perch in the middle of nowhere… what chance do they have?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fall was surprisingly good.  You’re almost guaranteed to get sweaty palms and stomach butterflies.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s role is so small it’s more of a cameo.

Fall (2022) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Amazing Johnathan Documentary” (2019) / Z-View

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The Amazing Johnathan Documentary (2019)

Director: Ben Berman

Screenplay: Ben Berman

Stars: John Edward Szeles (aka The Amazing Jonathan), Eric André, Criss Angel, Penn Jillette, Max Maven, Scott ‘Carrot Top’ Thompson and ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.

Tagline: Magic. Meth. Mayhem.

The Plot…

The Amazing Jonathan was a magician/comedian who regularly appeared on television, in Vegas and around the country.  But that was decades ago.  After being diagnosed with a fatal heart condition, Jonathan gets the itch to perform again.  Ben Berman agrees to create a documentary of Jonathan’s final tour.

Berman begins filming.  The Amazing Jonathan has earned enough to live in a mansion and never work again.  The stress of  preparing for the tour, let alone the actual performing could kill him.  So why not live out his final days in the comfort from the wealth he’s earned?  Then Berman learns that Jonathan still smokes meth regularly.

Death wish, maybe?

As the documentary continues, Berman discovers that The Amazing Jonathan has another documentary crew filming… and another… ultimately there are four crews with each thinking that they have the rights to The Amazing Jonathan’s story.

The film starts out interesting enough.  I remember seeing The Amazing Jonathan perform many times on television.  His act was entertaining.  As the documentary continued, I began to lose interest.  Jonathan comes off in a bad light.  It’s not just smoking the meth.  What kind of person enters deals with multiple crews for the same thing.  And the documentary director decides to smoke meth with Jonathan to prove… what?

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary (2019) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE WAYS OF WOLFE by James Carlos Blake / Z-View

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THE WAYS OF WOLFE by James Carlos Blake

First sentence…

Axel Wolfe stole a white Ford Fairmont out of the zoo parking lot, then followed Duro’s black Mustang up to I-30 and then eastward a few miles to an exit near a shopping mall.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Axel Prince Wolfe was a married college student whose future was assured.  On track to take a position of honor in the Wolfe family’s law firm.  Axel would have a position of power to various Wolfe family criminal endeavors.  Success and riches were assured.

When an opportunity for a big money heist came his way, it was too much for Axel to resist.  He went in with his best friend, Billy, and a Mexican stranger.  When things went sideways Billy and the new guy took off.  Axel was arrested and convicted.  A thirty year prison sentence took away everything.

Axel disgraced his family.  His wife took off.  His young daughter would grow up refusing to see him.

After two decades in prison, with another decade to go, Axel get the opportunity to escape. He takes it.  Axel and Cacho, an inmate with cartel connections make it out.  Now Axel and Cacho are on the run into the badlands.  With state and local cops dogging their trail and Federales on the Mexican side waiting, the chance for survival is slim.

But if he does survive Axel will see his daughter… and have his revenge.

+++++

James Carlos Blake has created a universe where the Wolfe family’s history spans decades.  It’s interesting (and fun) to see how Wolfe’s on both sides of the border work together in respectable/legal as well as criminal enterprises.

I’ve never been disappointed by any of James Carlos Blake’s novels, but his Wolfe tales are always moved to the top of my to-be-read pile.

Rating:

Scared Stiff (1953) starring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis / Z-View

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Scared Stiff (1953)

Director: George Marshall

Screenplay: Herbert Baker, Walter DeLeon; based on The Ghost Breaker by Paul Dickey, Charles W. Goddard

Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lizabeth Scott, Carmen Miranda, Dorothy Malone, William Ching, Jack Lambert, Leonard Strong, Henry Brandon, Chester Clute, Earl Holliman, Frank Fontaine and Bing Crosby & Bob Hope.

Tagline: They’re making a spook-tacle of themselves!

The Plot…

Mary Carroll (Scott) receives word that she has inherited an island estate.  She also receives death threats and warnings that the place is haunted.  Throwing caution to the wind Mary boards a ship to claim her inheritance.  Joining Mary on the trip is nightclub singer, Larry Todd (Martin) and his buddy Myron Mertz (Lewis).

They three arrive at Mary’s castle… cue the ghosts and zombies!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Scared Stiff is based on the play The Ghost Breaker.  It was previously adapted in the movie The Ghost Breakers starring Bob Hope.  George Marshall directed both Scared Stiff and The Ghost Breakers.

Scared Stiff features Carmen Miranda’s last film appearance.

Frank Fontaine has an uncredited cameo as a drunk.  I recognized him from his appearances as Crazy Guggenheim on The Jackie Gleason Show.

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby have an uncredited cameo.  The previous year, Martin & Lewis made an uncredited cameo in Hope & Cosby’s Road to Bali film.

Scared Stiff is advertised as a comedy/horror film.  It takes forever to get to the horror aspect and then it’s not that funny.  I prefer the Bob Hope version, The Ghost Breakers.

Scared Stiff (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“At War with the Army” (1950) starring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis / Z-View

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At War with the Army (1950)

Director: Hal Walker

Screenplay: Fred Finklehoffe; based on the play At War With the Army by James Allardice

Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mike Kellin, Danny Dayton, Polly Bergen and Douglas Evans.

Tagline: America’s Funniest Guys Are GI’s!

The Plot…

Vic Puccinelli (Martin) and Alvin Korwin (Lewis) were nightclub performers before the war.  Now Vic is a Sergeant and Alvin a private at a stateside army base.  The change in their status has caused some problems between the two.

To complicate matters, Vic wants a transfer to active duty.  Alvin just wants a weekend pass to see his wife and new baby.  Add to the mix confusion about a woman that may be pregnant and who the father is.

Martin and Lewis are at war with the army.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

At War with the Army is in public domain.  Beware of shoddy copies.

Although Martin and Lewis had appeared together in films twice before, At War with the Army was their first starring roles as a team.

To Catch a Killer (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Tall in the Saddle” (1944) starring John Wayne, Ella Raines & Ward Bond / Z-View

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Tall in the Saddle (1944)

Director: Edwin L. Marin

Screenplay: Michael Hogan, Paul Fix; based on TALL IN THE SADDLE by Gordon Ray Young

Stars: John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Donald Douglas, Paul Fix, Russell Wade, Emory Parnell, Harry Woods,  and Clem Bevans.

Tagline: A Man Looking For TROUBLE…could always find it in Santa Inez!

The Plot…

Rocklin (Wayne) a big stoic cowboy arrives in Santa Inez.  Rocklin has come to town to take the foreman job at Red Cardell’s ranch.  Only problem is Red was recently murdered.

Despite some run-ins and encouragement to move on, Rocklin is determined to find out who killed Red.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ward Bond was a friend and regular co-star of John Wayne.  They appeared in 23 films together.

If you’re a fan of old school westerns, you should enjoy Tall in the Saddle.

Tall in the Saddle (1944) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“To Catch a Killer” (2023) directed by Damián Szifron, starring Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo and Ralph Ineson / Z-View

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To Catch a Killer (2023)

Director: Damián Szifron

Screenplay: Damián Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham

Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Richard Zeman, Dusan Dukic, Jason Cavalier, Darcy Laurie, Mark Camacho, Marcello Bezina and Maurizio Terrazzano.

Tagline: A city at the center of chaos. A detective with special skills. A madman testing her limits.

The Plot…

A sniper from a high rise begins shooting New Year’s Eve rooftop partiers.  Dozens of people are killed.  The sniper is fast and efficient.  One shot.  One kill.  Police throughout the area are called to respond.  An explosion rocks the building used by the sniper.  As people begin pouring out of the structure, street cop, Eleanor Falco (Woodley) begins recording faces and tells other officers to do the same.

Special Agent Lammark of the FBI (Mendelsohn) is put in charge of the case.  He learns that Eleanor had the presence of mind to record those exiting the building.  Lammark speaks with her and is quickly impressed with her frankness and intuition.  Lammark invites Eleanor to join him and FBI agent Jack McKenzie (Adepo) on the case. She accepts.

Lammark gets some pushback from higher ups at the FBI.  Eleanor had applied to the Bureau and been rejected.  She had no college and things in her background that made her unacceptable.  Lammark stands his ground and Eleanor is kept on the team.

The sniper killed dozens of people.  Another mass killing is coming soon.  As Lammark, Eleanor and McKenzie work the case, the public outcry intensifies.  Politicians and FBI brass put the pressure on Lammark.

Then they get the break they need…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I absolutely loved To Catch a Killer.  Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn and Ralph Ineson give power house performances.  This is Damián Szifron’s first time directing an English language film and he hit a home run.  Kudos also to Damián Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham for their screenplay.

To Catch a Killer (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini / Z-View

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NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Terry Cole agreed to one job to pay of his brother-in-law’s debt to a gangster named Rex.  It was a jewelry store robbery.  The heist went sideways when the getaway driver panicked and left early.  Terry made it out, but the haul came up short.  There wasn’t enough to cancel the debt.

To make matters worse, Terry discovers that Rex’s fiancée is Terry’s former lover.  Terry knew her as Debbie, but she now goes by Caprice.  Caprice is gaining a reputation as a burlesque entertainer.  Caprice dreams of stardom and Rex has the money and pull to help her get it.  Still, the attraction to Terry is still there.  And Terry feels the same.  Caprice loves the sex with Terry, but loves the idea of stardom more.

Rex learns of their past relationship and believes that they’ve started seeing each other.  (They have.  But is it lust or love?)  Rex orders Terry to do another job to finish paying off his brother-in-law’s debt.  It’s a suicide mission to rip off Rex’s competition — an Italian mobster.  If Terry is successful, Rex will kill him.

Terry is outmaneuvered and outgunned.  Or is he?  Terry has a secret and a plan that just might save his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re a fan of crime fiction and film noir, NOIR BURLESQUE is for you.  It’s obvious that Enrico Marini loves the genre.  Set in the 1950s, Marini checks off all the boxes expected for a fun crime story.  It’s got the stoic tough guy anti-hero, the sexy former lover who is as apt to shoot you as she is to make love to you, the jealous crime boss, the little tough guy and the big dumb lug henchmen.  It’s got sex (more than in older film noir, but nothing too graphic).  And more than a couple of twists.

I’ve been a fan of Marini’s art for a while, but this is the first story I’ve read by him.  I hope it won’t be my last.  (And I’d love to see more NOIR BURLESQUE tales.)

NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“The Living Ghost” (1942) / Z-View

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The Living Ghost (1942)

Director: William Beaudine

Screenplay: Joseph Hoffman;  Howard Dimsdale (original story)

Stars: James Dunn, Joan Woodbury, Paul McVey, J. Farrell MacDonald.

Tagline: SPOOK CHASER… A reckless sleuth follows the trail of a white ZOMBIE!

The Plot…

When wealthy banker Walter Craig disappears, his best friend, Ed Moline (McVey) hires retired PI, Nick Trayne (Dunn) to find him.  Trayne has his hands full.  Everyone is suspect and that includes Craig’s ex-wife Helen, his daughter Tina and her fiance Arthur, his sister Delia, her husband George, Craig’s friend Tony, Craig’s secretary and even Cedric the butler

When Walter Craig turns up in a zombie-like state, the case changes from a missing person to a who dunnit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

What could have been a fun old dark house murder mystery/comedy ends up being a lackluster affair.  The title indicates a ghost but we end up with more of a zombie.  Not that a ghost would have livened things up.

The Living Ghost (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.

RACING THE LIGHT: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais / Z-View

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RACING THE LIGHT: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais

First sentence…

Josh agreed to meet her at the Coffee Club, which was where they met the first time he interviewed her.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Adele Schumacher wants Elvis Cole to find her missing son.  She’s more than willing to pay since she brought a bag of cash (and a very professional security detail).  Her son, Josh, is a podcaster.  Adele believes her son stumbled on to a story big enough to get him killed.  Elvis isn’t so sure, but he takes the case.

At first it appears that Josh may have just run off with his porn star girlfriend.  But as Elvis digs deeper he wonders if the geeky young podcaster really did discover a story that some well placed politicians and a crime cartel are willing to kill to keep secret.

Elvis won’t have to wonder long.  Soon he is marked for execution.  That is nothing new for Elvis and his partner Joe Pike.  But the love of Elvis’ life, Lucy Chenier, and her son, Ben are in town.  And they could become collateral damage.

+++++

I’m a huge fan of Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole and Joe Pike tales. Each new novel is an automatic pick-up.  They’ve never disappointed.  RACING THE LIGHT is no exception.

Rating:

“Bloodshot” (2020) starring Vin Diesel / Z-View

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Bloodshot (2020)

Director: David S. F. Wilson

Screenplay:  Jeff Wadlow, Eric Heisserer; story by Jeff Wadlow; based on Bloodshot by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin, Bob Layton

Stars: Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Toby Kebbell, Talulah Riley, Lamorne Morris, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson,
David Dukas, Charlie Bouguenon, Alex Anlos and Guy Pearce.

Tagline: Being a hero is in his blood.

The Plot…

Ray Garrison (Diesel) is an elite US Marine.  Shortly after a successful mission, Garrison and his wife go on vacation.  In short order they are kidnapped by a terrorists led by Martin Axe (Kebbell).  Garrison refuses or is unable to provide the information Axe wants.  Axe then executes Garrison’s wife and kills Garrison.

Or so he thinks.

Garrison wakes up in a laboratory.  Although Garrison was dead, he’s been resurrected by Dr. Emil Harting (Pearce). Experimental nanorobotics have replaced Garrison’s blood.  He’s now super strong and almost instant healing powers.  Harting thinks he has created a super soldier to do his bidding.

Garrison has plans of his own…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Based on the popular Valiant comic series.

Lamorne Morris, an American, plays a Brit. Toby Kebbell is British plays an Australian. Guy Pearce is Australian plays an American.

I thought I would like Bloodshot more.

Bloodshot (2020) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Lethal Weapon (1987) directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson & Danny Glover / Z-View

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Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Screenplay:  Shane Black; Jeffrey Boam (uncredited)

Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Ebonie Smith, Bill Kalmenson, Lycia Naff, Don Gordon, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Jason Ronard, Blackie Dammett,  Mary Ellen Trainor, Jack Thibeau, Ed O’Ross, Joan Severance and Al Leong.

Tagline: After 20 years on the force, police detective Roger Murtaugh has come face-to-face with the most dangerous killing machine in Los Angeles… his new partner.

The Plot…

Martin Riggs (Gibson) was a Special Forces Ranger.  Now he’s a Los Angeles police Sergeant.  Since the unexpected death of his wife, Riggs’ behavior has become erratic.  Riggs’ Captain thinks Riggs is faking it to get early retirement.  The police psychologist isn’t so sure.  So the Captain teams Riggs with 20 year veteran Homicide Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Glover). The Captain figures Murtaugh will keep Riggs in line.

Murtaugh quickly discovers Riggs ain’t faking it.

An old friend of Murtaugh contacts him for help.  The friend’s daughter is into drugs, prostitution and pornography.  When Murtaugh and Riggs investigate, they discover a high level para-military organization acting as a drug cartel.

Now Murtaugh and Riggs are marked for death.  If the cartel doesn’t kill them, Riggs’ death wish might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Richard Donner dedicated the film to legendary stuntman, Dar Robinson, who died shortly after filming was completed.

Gibson was 30 playing a character that is 38.  Glover was 40 playing a 50 year old.

Blackie Dammett whose real name is John Kiedis plays a drug dealer that gets The Three Stooges treatment from Gibson.  Dammett is the father of Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Richard Donner brought in Jeffrey Boam for an uncredited rewrite of Shane Black’s script.  Donner thought Black’s take was too dark.  Boam was brought in again for a clean-up on Lethal Weapon 2.  Boam then wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 3.

Traci Wolfe played Murtaugh’s teenage daughter that had a crush on Riggs.  At the time of filming Wolfe was 26 and Gibson was 30.

Lethal Weapon is one of my all-time favorite films.  Notice I didn’t just say “action films”.  Everything about this one is right.

Lethal Weapon (1987) rates 5 of 5 stars.