MovieChat Forums > Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) Discussion > A 6.6 I really don't get it

A 6.6 I really don't get it

posted 10 years ago by Digital_Data
12 replies | jump to latest

I think this is the ONE Action movie ever and a 6.6 is ridiculous.

It is a perfect rollercoaster between unbelievable action and comedy. Sometimes both at the same moment. Okay possibly there is not every joke good for everyone, but that's normal. But that movie has no pause, no delay, no time to rest. Absolute new ideas like the table stunt on the highway or the drive through building. Never seen something similar before and never after. And the fight scenes with Jet Li are spectacular in every possible way. Even the scene when Jet Li has Mel on his throat, you can watch ten times and it gets you again and the tension will be there. That's outstanding I only know, three or four similar scenes in all movies I have seen (for example opening scene of Cliffhanger).

And people here are discussing because Rene Russo is not that freaky like in LW3 or Mel has no long hairs or other BS. Hey, the characters has developed. Or the fight style of Mel is different. The story of Mel in LW is "When I was 19 I shot a guy in Laos ..." This means the character was 19 in about 1973 (or earlier) and he is minimum 44 in LW4. Mel was 42 at that time. What do you expect ? A die hard pensioner who acts like 25.

The script is really clever. All the aspects of the movies continues. Mel's life before, the fun with Leo, the one-two-three-gags, the psychologists, Mel's shoulder, crashing all belongings of Roger, the problems with their captain, the problems with Roger's daughter etc. And NOTHING is a copy, all is new or varies in a very smart way. And the end with the photo on three. How great is that.

Possibly I think you only can get this, when you grow with these movies. The first one was a big surprise, because it was at this time the best buddy movie and brings Mel, after Max and two years without a movie, back to the big screen, but first one was very dark. The second was an action and comedy festival, shortest start to action at this time (Warner Brothers presents action) and with that again a big surprise and a big step forward, the third was a good continuation (possibly the least one, but clearly not the end) but the fourth one is in this row still a masterpiece. But it has the lowest rating, this shows me, that most people really don't get it.

It's a little bit like with Serenity, it also has lower rates than the show, but it is of course much better. But if you don't take the whole story, you will not get it and miss so much.

Digital_Data
http://www.youtube.com/LiebensteinMovies

[–] Brigante1803 10 years ago

Yes, I think the whole Lethal Weapon franchise is underrated at imdb.
I also think that Part 2 is the best one and Part 3 & 4 are not worse than the first one.
Ok, the first one started it all and Mel ist crazy, but in 2 he is also crazy and 2, 3 & 4 have more suspense and action in it....plus Joe Pesci.
I like Gary Busey, but for a villain I think he wasn't such a guy you really like to hate, like the bad guys in 2 and 3.
And Jet Li was also more brutal.

[–] Doc110894 10 years ago

I haven't seen this one in years, but I remember very much enjoying it.

[–] buddyboy28 9 years ago

It's underrated and much better than the third IMO. Although I don't think any of them are bad.

My life fades... the vision dims... all that remains are memories

[–] zee944 9 years ago

It is the fate of these action comedies. 'Action' and 'comedy' is not considered art, not even when done masterfully. So few dare to rate these movies as high as much they enjoyed it. It's not considered 'intelligent'. And I'm not claiming it is masterpiece. It isn't, far from that. But it is good in its genre.

[–] frankzappayay 9 years ago

It is a perfect rollercoaster between unbelievable action and comedy

I think 6.6 is too high and that quote more or less explains why I didn't like it. I loved the first movie, and seem to remember liking the second one too. But they were not comedies, and the action wasn't unbelievable. They were typical 80's cop/action movies and the action was sort of believable, and the comedy was only in a few places as comic relief from all the violence.

I started watching the 4th movie at the cinema and walked out because it was just too dumb. The action was too unbelievable and it tried to be funny but wasn't.

[–] Digital_Data 8 years ago

I can explain it to you. Even in the darkest moments, people will have fun. In my life there is no time without fun, humor, laughing. And I think, every movie, every series without fun is far from reality, because life is fun. I know, there are people out there, who never laugh. But they are not the important ones, but in the movies we see the important ones.

I know, people want dark movies about crime without fun. But that's not how it works. As more as people under pressure as more they try to solve it with humor. Real good movies get the balancing act between fun and tension and darkness. The dumb ones can only show one side of the life. And even when the tension relieves, than it often vanishes with fun. Thin about it. And if your life is different, I am sorry about you.

And what was unbelievable.

Digital_Data
http://www.youtube.com/LiebensteinMovies

[–] shopgirl1293 8 years ago

If you say so. I didn't really like the movie. The first will always be the best to me. Rene Russo, who, for some reason everyone likes, ruined the last movie for me. She irritated the hell out of me, I don't care if her character was pregnant, she was just annoying and made me really hate the movie. Though some of the movie was funny, that is without Rene Russo aka Lorna.

[–] chinaskee-418-613225 8 years ago

I think it's a bit underrated here too. I gave it an 8. And I'm very picky.

[–] doubl3 8 years ago

IMO it's slightly OVERrated. It's by far the worst of the lethal weapon movies. In all honesty I think it's almost rated exactly right, but if not, then it's overrated. The most UNDERrated one is Lethal Waapon 3.

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