Danny Glover

‘Lethal Weapon’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

Hollywood has long been a fan of buddy cop movies, as people love to see big action, memorable villains and witty repartee between the polar opposite main characters.  “Lethal Weapon” is a film I’ve heard about ever since I started watching movies, especially the famous line, “I’m too old for this shit,” delivered perfectly by Danny Glover. Now, thanks to the 4K release of this film from Warner Brothers, I’ve finally had a chance to sit down and watch it in its entirety.  It is certainly one of the better buddy cop movies to have ever been released in Hollywood, thanks to the tremendous on-screen chemistry shared between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.  They make it look effortless. I’m happy to report I’m not too old to sit down and watch “Lethal Weapon” for the first time. 

The film opens with a naked young woman snorting a line of cocaine and jumping off her balcony to her impending death.  This occurs on the day of Roger Murtaugh’s (Danny Glover) 50th birthday, as we see him trying to navigate through his happy yet chaotic homelife. He’s been assigned a new partner, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), an unhinged and wildly unpredictable cop who has unconventional methods, but you can’t argue with his success. It’s been 11 years since the death of his wife, and he struggles every day with thoughts of suicide. Indeed, it’s easy to see why Murtaugh feels like he is too old for this shit, as the two of them are as opposite as fire and ice.

Murtaugh and Riggs must put their heads together and find out the real reason why this young woman, Amanda Hunsaker (Jackie Swanson) committed suicide. Murtaugh gets a call from an old war buddy Michael (Tom Atkins), Amanda’s father, and Michael reminds Murtaugh that he saved his life when they were in battle. There are definitely some nefarious individuals behind this, and Riggs sees the complexity of these cases and isn’t afraid to dig deeper or get his hands dirty. Murtaugh, on the other hand, looks for the simplest and easiest solution to these cases. He has too much at stake because he’s married and has children at home. Riggs, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and doesn’t care if he dies, so he will do what needs to be done, consequences be damned.

“Lethal Weapon” was directed by the legendary Richard Donner (“Superman,” “The Goonies,” and “The Omen”), and was written by Shane Black (“The Nice Guys” and “The Monster Squad”). They collaborated with Gibson and Glover to create a memorable piece of cinema.  I do think the first hour of the film is absolutely perfect as it moves quickly, introduces the main characters and the villains, including a memorable performance by Gary Busey, and it’s a lot of fun.  It’s clear they are comfortable taking their time in allowing these characters to grow on screen, as we get to know them, inside and out. Because of this, the stakes matter that much more when the shit hits the fan.  The comedy is also effortless and never forced.

I did feel like the second half hit a bit of a lull when the good guys met up with the bad guys.  Of course, it was the 1980’s, so there needed to be big action (in addition to big hair and big outfits) and special effects, but they could have done probably half of what they did and it would have been even more effective.  There is also a wild karate battle between Busey and Gibson, which made me laugh but for all the wrong reasons. It seemed odd to go in that direction at the very end. The film starts out by letting the audience know it’s going to be a different type of action comedy, and I enjoyed the balance of seriousness and comedy. I was hoping the film would have kept that tone a little bit more in the second half, but it turns into a bit of a silly action movie. Still, “Lethal Weapon” has a good script, a top-notch cast, and skilled direction. It’s a good movie, but I don’t think it’s a great movie because of the issues I’ve mentioned.

It should be noted that I watched the director’s cut of “Lethal Weapon,” so I’m not sure how much of a difference there is between it and the theatrical cut, as this was my first time watching the film. The director’s cut is 117 minutes, and the theatrical cut is 110 minutes. I’d be curious to hear from those who have seen both cuts as to how much of a difference there is between them. I think the film should have been around 100 minutes, and it would have been just about perfect. I can’t speak for the sequels, but I can see why audiences wanted to see more of these two, as they had some of the best onscreen chemistry I’ve seen in a buddy cop comedy. Glover is smart, tough, and vulnerable while Gibson is crazed and determined, but there’s also a method to his madness. I loved these two characters.

* * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “Lethal Weapon” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment in either a 4K slipcover or a 4K steelbook. As mentioned in my review, the 4K comes with both the theatrical cut and the director’s cut. The film is rated R for strong violence, strong language, brief drug use, and some nudity. There is also a digital copy included.

4K Video/Audio Info: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound, and wow, this is quite a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The film is LOUD, and I do mean LOUD. At times, I found it to be a little too loud, which must mean I’m too old, but in all seriousness, if you enjoy your action flicks loud and in-your-face, you won’t be disappointed with the audio here. I did enjoy the 1980’s saxophone that was present throughout the movie. It’s a jaunty soundtrack that stayed in my head. As far as the video here, the HDR is splendid on this release, and it makes the film look sharp, vivid, and lively without losing its 80’s aesthetic. Hey, I was born in the 80’s, and I appreciate that decade very much, especially the music that was released then!

Special Features:

·   A Legacy of Inspiration: Remembering Richard Donner

· “I’m Too Old for This…”

Should You Buy It?

Yes! Personally speaking, I’m a big fan of a crisp 4K slipcover, and the slipcover release of Lethal Weapon is a thing of beauty. I really enjoyed the home theater experience of watching this movie, as it left me drained in the best possible way. The film presents a multitude of elements to the viewer, and while not all of them resonated with me, they were more effective than not. The film is memorable and stands out because of the performances of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. In some ways, they look at one another and they see what they are missing in themselves. Murtaugh sees Riggs as someone who is not afraid to think outside the box, take risks, and find his man. Riggs sees Murtaugh as having the family life he wishes he could have had if his wife hadn’t died. The film is, at times, heartfelt, without trying too hard or being sugary sweet. Gary Busey is a kick-ass bad guy because he’s as cold as ice and doesn’t flinch. I wish the film was about 10-15 minutes shorter, depending on the release you watch, but it’s still a good flick. Warner Brothers also includes two new special features on this release, and they are one of the only studios that is releasing classic Hollywood films with new special features. I think physical media collectors will be VERY happy with the 4K release of “Lethal Weapon.”

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

All-Time Favorite Trailers: ‘Lethal Weapon’ (1987)

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

To be honest, my first introduction to Richard Donner’s “Lethal Weapon” came when I saw a television trailer for it during the world television premiere of “The Karate Kid.” I was immediately hooked, thanks in large part to the unforgettable and adrenaline-pumping music composed by John Eric Alexander. I keep waiting for him to release physical copies and/or downloads of his theme, let alone the music he did for the trailers for “Die Hard” and “Die Hard 2” among others, but the best I can hope for is the track which ended up on the “Hot Fuzz” soundtrack. The only thing, however, is that it features dialogue from the Edgar Wright directed film which is fine, but I would love to listen to it without the dialogue as well.

And now let’s get to “Lethal Weapon’s” original theatrical trailer, which also sold me on this film which has long since become a bonafide action classic. While the font used for its title reeks of a retro 1980’s style, I love how it illustrates the strong chemistry between the two stars, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. There was also something about the way its key action scenes were presented which made it seem unique among others of its kind. While the 80’s was a decade full of larger-than-life action heroes who would look at a bullet wound as if it were a minor inconvenience, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh were not quick to do the same as they were more down to earth.

Other than that, this trailer made me believe this would be an action flick like few others released back in the 1980’s. It took me a few more years to realize this as I was only 12 years old when “Lethal Weapon” was released, and I had to wait until it was released on VHS to finally check it out. Of course, once I tried to rent it from Take One Video in Danville, California, I was reminded of how my parents issued a no R-rated movie mandate for me. But when an employee of this long since defunct video store offered to call my parents to see if it would be okay to rent “Lethal Weapon,” they agreed to let me take it home, but they also refused to claim any responsibility for the crazy shit I might do after watching it. To this I can only say the following: if only I was that interesting.

Not sure what else I can say about this “Lethal Weapon” trailer other than I never get sick of watching it, and I have yet to grow tired of watching the film it was designed for. You can never grow too old for this shit!

‘The Color Purple’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

This was my first time having the pleasure of sitting down to watch “The Color Purple,” directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. This is a director who has never been afraid to tackle any type of film project.  When watching this film, his trademark heart is clearly on display.  What makes it stand out and be as memorable as it is, though, is the terrific acting, especially from Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.  “The Color Purple” is based on the novel by Alice Walker, which I have not read, so my film review will be solely based on the film itself. I have no frame of reference to compare it to, and I think that is more than OK. Too often, people get caught up in comparing films to books, and in the end, they are two totally different mediums.  You will never be able to cover everything from the book because you are limited by the running time of the film.

The film takes place from 1909 to 1943 in Georgia where we are introduced to Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg), a young teenager who already has two children, a boy and a girl, because she was raped by her father. Her father took the children from her and has essentially sold them off for profit.  Celie wonders where her children are and worries about them constantly, as any mother would when they are abruptly taken.  She was also married off, thanks to her father, to Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), an abusive man who makes her do anything and everything for him.  He beats her, forces her to have sex with him, and controls every aspect of her life. In his eyes, this woman serves one purpose and one purpose only, which is to take care of him. She even has to call him “Mister.”

During this time, she was separated from her sister, Nettie, played by Akosua Busia. When Albert came looking for a wife, he was initially interested in Nettie, but their father would not part with her and insisted on Celie going with Albert.  Celie is often told she is too skinny and ugly.  She sees inspiration in the strong-willed Sofia, played by Oprah Winfrey.  Sofia is not one to take guff from anyone in her life, but you wonder how long this will last before she is beaten down by the rampant racism she experiences.  We get to know another woman named Shug Avery, played by Margaret Avery, a flamboyant performer who has Albert Johnson’s full attention. Even though Shug comes with some baggage, she seems to know how to hold her own and capture the attention of men while remaining independent and tough. Celie is hoping to receive some letters from her sister Nettie, but she starts to wonder why they never show up and if her sister is even alive after they were separated.

“The Color Purple” covers a great deal of time and because of the amount of time it covers, four decades, it makes sense that the film is 153 minutes. This was one of those films where I rarely noticed the running time because it was a prime example of good old-fashioned Hollywood craftsmanship. When film critics and fans say things like, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” in my eyes, they are talking about films like this one, which was released in 1985.  It’s a drama made by adults for adults.  This is a serious subject matter, but it’s handled with Spielberg’s trademark warmth, tenderness and care. Because we spend so much time with Celie on her journey, we can’t help but root for her to overcome her circumstances.  We get to know her and the women close to her as they have made an impact on her life.

The film is incredibly patient in allowing things to slowly build up to its climax without ever feeling like it’s taking too long to get there. Goldberg is tremendous here.  She expresses a plethora of emotions on her face without ever overacting or doing too much. You can look in her eyes and see the pain and heartache of her character.  It’s a terrific performance, and I think people forget what a great actress she is when given the chance to show off her range of emotions. Of course, she won an Oscar for “Ghost” in 1991.  However, this is clearly the film she should have won an Oscar for, with all due respect to Geraldine Page.

“The Color Purple” does sometimes go off the beaten path with its narrative plot and, at times, it can spend too much time with one character in a specific time and place instead of sticking with Goldberg and her character’s story.  I was very, very close to giving this film four stars, especially because of the emotional weight which was incredibly powerful.  It earns the tears of the audience here by allowing things to build up and develop.  Winfrey is also really, really good here and earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in this film along with Avery.

One of the biggest criticisms of this film is that it was directed by a white director in Steven Spielberg. This is a film populated with a cast which is 95% Black.  I can see why audiences would take issue with that, but Spielberg is wise to stay out of the way of the material and the actors.  Even though some of his familiar touches are here, as mentioned earlier, it doesn’t feel like a typical Spielberg film.  He is sensitive to the story, and he does a terrific job of allowing the performances of his cast and the story itself to take center stage.  He’s more in the background here and, for once, it isn’t a bad thing.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Color Purple” is released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It also comes with a digital copy of the film.  The film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 153 minutes.

4K Video/Audio Info:  This is another top-notch transfer from the folks over at Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The HDR here really shines in some of the outdoor scenes which are lively and colorful.  It has a cinematic feel to it while also cleaning up the picture as well.  The audio track is also really solid, as this is a dialogue heavy film, and it’s easy to understand everything that is being said with a clean and crisp audio track here. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

Conversations with the Ancestors: The Color Purple from Book to Screen

A Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting The Color Purple

Cultivating a Classic: The Making of The Color Purple

The Color Purple: The Musical

Teaser #1

Teaser #2

Trailer

Should You Buy It?

If you read my 4K reviews (and thank you if you do), you know what a big proponent I am of film history and preservation. In the year 2023, Warner Brothers has done their job in going through their extensive catalogue of films and bringing them to 4K and making them look bigger and better than ever.  There are a ton of important films in the Warner Brothers library that have received their day in court this year. In order for them to continue doing their job, we need to support their restorations of classic cinema, especially when they are done in such a magnificent manner, leaving no stone unturned. “The Color Purple” pops off the TV here and looks better than it ever has, thanks to this 4K transfer.  It sounds great as well. The film itself is an important piece of cinematic history that shows off great acting and tells a vital story with a great cast of actors and one of the best directors of all-time. At its current price point, which is around $23, this is a day one purchase on its December 5th release date.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

Beyond The Lights is Not Your Average Showbiz Movie

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

I walked into “Beyond the Lights” expecting it to be some sort of manipulative soap opera which aimed to be “The Bodyguard” for a new generation. What I got instead was a showbiz story which felt surprisingly genuine in its emotions and intentions. It does have that familiar ring of two people from opposite walks of life coming together, but the way their relationship evolves throughout proves to be very entertaining to watch.

When we first meet Noni Jean, she’s a little girl performing in a talent competition and singing Nina Simone’s “Blackbird” which leaves the audience in a state of awe. However, when the judges award her a runner up prize, her mother Macy (Minnie Driver) angrily takes her out of the auditorium and orders her to “chuck” her trophy in defiance. The way Macy sees it, being second best counts for nothing in a world where you need to be number one.

We then move to years later when Noni, now played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is on the verge of stardom after having won a Billboard Award even though she hasn’t released an album yet. But after retreating to her hotel room, we come to see how much the pressures of fame are bearing down on Noni as she sits on a balcony ready to jump. Coming to her rescue is police officer Kaz Nicols (Nate Parker) who pulls her back from the edge, literally and figuratively speaking, and two quickly get lost in each other’s eyes. What happens from there is easy to guess.

Initially, Kaz feels somewhat betrayed when Macy pays him off to publicly say Noni did not try to commit suicide, but Noni warms up to him quickly as she can tell he sees something in her others do not.

While they may come from different worlds, Kaz and Noni are going through similar issues. Her mother Macy has been grooming her for stardom ever since she was little, and she has helped turn Noni into the kind of woman every man wants or at least fantasizes about. As for Kaz, his police captain father David (Danny Glover) is grooming him for public office, something he does in fact have ambitions for. However, when you look into Kaz’s eyes, you wonder just how serious he is about politics or if he really wants a different path in life.

Basically, Kaz and Noni are trying to fulfill the desires of their parents, and we have caught up with them as they have long since played a role they feel society wants them to play. In the process, they have lost touch with what they really want out of life, and we follow them as they go through a much-needed period of self-discovery. Watching these two evolve and change from start to finish is deeply involving and, even if the conclusion is never in doubt, we revel in their personal triumphs.

I am not at all familiar with Mbatha-Raw or her work as an actress, and she gives an extraordinary performance here. She is mesmerizing to watch as Noni begins to shed the public persona which has been foisted upon her, and it allows the frightened child inside of her to come out into the open. Also, she has a show stopping moment where she sings “Blackbird” by herself onstage, and you cannot take your eyes off of her for a single second.

Parker also puts in a strong performance as a well-meaning man who respects the law, wants to help people and who has, as his shirtless scenes will attest, spent a lot of time in the gym like any cop should. Looking at the actor’s past which had him involved in political activism, charitable work and working as a wrestling coach, you get the sense he was born to play Kaz. As he wades deeper into Noni’s world of fame, Parker shows Kaz to be someone who keeps his head above water and is not easily seduced by the closed-off world of show business. But there’s also no doubt that the chemistry between him and Mbatha-Raw is very palpable.

Kudos also goes out to Minnie Driver who takes what could have been a one-dimensional stage mother from hell and turns her into a complex character who is far more vulnerable than she lets on. We come to see how Macy has never had it easy, and she is eager for Noni to have everything she never had. But as much as she cares for her daughter, Macy also comes to realize her determination to make Noni a star speaks more about her ambitions than anyone else’s. Driver is a powerhouse as she lets us see how Macy has been wounded by others who had no faith in her when she was young, and it becomes understandable why Macy wants to beat everyone at their own game.

“Beyond the Lights” was written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood whose previous films include “Love & Basketball,” “Disappearing Acts” and “The Secret Life of Bees.” I regret to say I haven’t seen those films, but I am certainly willing to see them now based on the work she has done here. Prince-Bythewood succeeds in giving us a showbiz tale which actually feels grounded in reality. The atmosphere at the award shows and parties Noni attends feel authentic, and they never seem like a spectacle to be easily laughed at. She also gives us a number of complex characters who struggle to survive the high pressure world of fame and fortune where people have everything and nothing at the same time.

I also have to applaud Prince-Bythewood for sticking by Mbatha-Raw when studios were insistent on getting a bigger name cast in the role of Noni. Perhaps a music star would have done a good job here, but they also would have brought an enormous amount of baggage with them which would have had an unintentionally negative effect on this movie. Mbatha-Raw has the advantage right now of not having this baggage, and that makes her performance all the more enthralling as a result.

Sure, there are some soap opera dramatics here and there and certain moments do not ring true, but “Beyond the Lights” really did prove to be one of the big cinematic surprises of 2014. It is also another film to add to the list of worthwhile romantic movies. Just as this particular genre looked to be burning out, the movies coming from it are getting so much better. I’m starting to like these kinds of movies again. What’s wrong with me anyway?

* * * ½ out of * * * *

Click here to check out the video interviews I did with Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker which I did for the website We Got This Covered.

Soundtrack Review: ‘Grand Canyon’ Extended Edition

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Grand Canyon soundtrack cover

Anybody who knows me best knows I am a huge fan of film scores and soundtracks, and James Newton Howard’s score to “Grand Canyon” is one of my all-time favorites. I knew at some point this score would get an expanded and remastered soundtrack, and La La Land Records finally came through with this limited-edition release. While he is better known for his music to “The Prince of Tides,” “The Fugitive,” “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” which he worked with Hans Zimmer on, “Grand Canyon” remains my favorite work of his as the music provides a soothing heartbeat to this movie.

The movie “Grand Canyon” came out in 1991 and was directed by Lawrence Kasdan and written by him and his wife Meg. Its story revolves around six different Los Angeles residents whose lives intertwine with one another over the course of a few days. It all starts when Mac (Kevin Kline), while driving home from a Lakers game, drives into a bad neighborhood where his car breaks down. Just when it looks like he’s about to be killed by a gang, tow truck driver Simon (Danny Glover) rescues him and the two end up becoming unlikely friends. Many called it “The Big Chill” of the 1990’s, but “Grand Canyon” more than stands on its own as it observes the lives of Los Angeles residents who are dealing with personal issues which are tearing them apart.

What I love about Howard’s score is how it combines so many different kinds of music, be it orchestra, electronics, rock, jazz or percussion, to create a film score so unique to where I have a hard time comparing it to any other. It captures the coldness of big city life while giving the characters stuck in it a sympathetic voice which understands how they feel. The “Main Titles” hooked me right away and made me feel so at ease even though I knew this movie was not going to be a fairy tale.

La La Land Records limited edition release of “Grand Canyon” includes twenty-five minutes of music not included on its original release. Soundtracks, back in the 1990’s, were limited to having only forty to fifty minutes of music on a compact disc, so a lot of great stuff got left out as a result. It’s been over twenty years since this movie came out, but the music remains as powerful as ever. In addition, there are some bonus tracks which are alternate takes on certain themes as well as some source music for a violent film which Davis (Steve Martin) has produced with an unrestrained glee.

As usual, La La Land Records has provided an informative booklet on the making of “Grand Canyon” and its music which is entitled “Scoring the City of Angels” written by Daniel Schweiger, soundtrack editor of AssignmentX.com and Filmmusicmag.com. Schweiger writes extensively about the making of the movie and of how Howard came up with the music for it, and I’m not sure we have had as much detailed information on the creation of this score previously. Each track on this disc gets an individual write up, and it’s nice to see someone, let alone anyone, give this soundtrack the attention it deserves.

If there’s any downside to this edition of the “Grand Canyon” soundtrack, it’s that it doesn’t include the song “Searching for a Heart” by the late Warren Zevon. Usually La La Land Records is able to get all the songs from a movie’s original soundtrack, but I guess there was an issue with the rights this time around. It would have also been great to have the other Zevon song featured in this movie, “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” included as well. Mac plays it while he’s driving home from the Lakers game, and the lyrics turn out to be quite prophetic for him.

“Grand Canyon” is truly one of the unsung cinematic masterpieces of the 1990’s, and what’s sad is most people don’t know about this movie today. This proved to be my introduction to the work of James Newton Howard, and it is one of the main reasons why this movie is so great. I am thrilled to see La La Land Records has taken the time to make Howard’s score sound better than ever before. While he didn’t get an Oscar nomination for his work here (he was instead nominated that same year for “The Prince of Tides”), there’s no doubt in my mind this remains his most memorable film score to date.

This limited edition has only 2000 units available, so be sure to order yours before it goes out of print.

Soundtrack Review: ‘Lethal Weapon 3’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Lethal Weapon 3 soundtrack

We are now at the 25th anniversary of the release of “Lethal Weapon 3” in theaters, something I have a hard time accepting as I still remember seeing it for the first time like it was yesterday.

With it being the third movie in a highly successful franchise, “Lethal Weapon 3” settles into a familiar formula which, as this sequel proves, still works. Director Richard Donner and stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover were interested in making this film more of a comedy, and we get the usual gunfights, explosions and car chases which are all expertly filmed. In addition, we also get another thrilling music score from the composers who worked on the previous “Lethal Weapon” movies: Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton, and David Sanborn.

I still remember the first time I saw “Lethal Weapon 3” and how gleefully entertained I was while watching it. I also loved the score for it as well even if it sounded recycled from the previous two films. After seeing this sequel twice in one week, I couldn’t wait to buy the soundtrack in the hopes it would have more of the music I expected to hear on the soundtracks to “Lethal Weapon” and “Lethal Weapon 2.” But yet again, the commercial release of the “Lethal Weapon 3” soundtrack left me disappointed despite some good tracks (“Armour Piercing Bullets” was the standout) included on it. Furthermore, it only had a portion of Kamen’s, Clapton’s and Sanborn’s music score on it.

But now we have a brand-new expanded and remastered soundtrack for “Lethal Weapon 3” which includes two compact discs containing all of the music cues I prayed would be on the 1992 commercial soundtrack release. It is being released as part of La La Land Records’ “Lethal Weapon Soundtrack Collection” box set, and it is gratifying to listen to this score in its entirety.

This film score starts off with a whimsical feel as Riggs and Murtaugh try to disarm a bomb and end up failing to do so quite explosively. Busted down from detectives to beat cops, they are at the scene of an armored car robbery and immediately jump into action. This leads to one of my favorite tracks on the first disc entitled “Armoured Car Chase.” Hearing the three composers come together to create such a thrilling piece of music made watching this sequence all the more exciting.

My other favorite tracks on this expanded soundtrack are “Gun Battle” which is the same piece of music as “Armour Piercing Bullets,” and it always succeeds in getting me super excited to where I can see myself in appearing in an action movie. Another is “Fire/Fire Battle/A Quiet Evening by the Fire” which gives the movie’s action climax an equally thrilling and highly emotionally effect which reminds you of how the “Lethal Weapon” movies are as big on character as they are on unforgettable action set pieces.

The second disc of “Lethal Weapon 3” features the commercial release of the soundtrack which includes the songs “It’s Probably Me” by Sting and Clapton, and “Runaway Train” performed by Clapton and Elton John. The rest are pieces of the score by Kamen, Clapton and Sanborn, and there are some additional tracks featuring alternate versions of music cues. I have to give credit to La La Land Records for including the original album on this special release instead of just trying to bury it under a rug or something.

Jeff Bond, whose booklet “Some Movies Don’t Invent Genres: They Just Perfect Them” accompanies the “Lethal Weapon Soundtrack Collection,” writes about how Donner decided to put more of an emphasis on comedy and family with this sequel. Still, there were some new additions like renegade ex-cop Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson) and Internal Affairs officer Lorna Cole (Rene Russo) to give “Lethal Weapon 3” the dark edge it needed. It also was revealed Lorna was originally written as a male character. For those who have seen the movie, I think we can all agree the change in gender was a very welcome one. Who else but Russo could have inhabited this role so memorably?

In regards to the score, Bond makes it clear Kamen, Clapton, and Sanborn did not phone this one in at all. Unlike the previous “Lethal Weapon” movies, this one starts out with a song performed by Sting. The song was “It’s Probably Me,” and Bond quotes Sting as saying his idea behind it was that Riggs and Murtaugh are such macho guys to where they wouldn’t express their love for one another right away.

Bond also points out Kamen did intentionally stick with the formula which made the scores to the previous movies work so well. But at the same time, this score shows how talented Kamen and company are in scoring the most humorous scenes as well. In “Lethal Weapon” and “Lethal Weapon 2,” Kamen succeeded at balancing action spectacles with character driven moments. But in “Lethal Weapon 3,” he also proves to be a master at adding to the endless laughs which were to be had in this sequel.

Once again, La La Land Records has given us another great special edition of a soundtrack long overdue for an expanded release. Here’s hoping they release more remastered and expanded soundtracks I have spent decades waiting for in the future. Can an expanded release of Harold Faltemeyer’s film score for “Fletch” be far behind?

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