All Reviews are spoiler free and the ratings are based on entertainment value. I did not go to film school, I just know what I like and what I don't. Scale is from 1-10. Also note, I leave open the right to revisit later in case the hype got to me the first time I saw it.
10 - Masterpiece
9 - Awesome movie (series, episode)
8 - Is a great movie (series, episode)
7 - good movie (series, episode)
6 - decent, enjoyable romp
5 - Solid movie, kept me entertained, but it didn't really catch me.
4 - Ehhh, this movie (series, episode) didn't do it for me, but it didn't keep me completely bored either
3 - I did not like this, this sucked
2 - Fuck this movie (series, episode)
1 - Fuck this movie (series, episode) and the people that made it. Every one of them.
Infamuz Review: Lethal Weapon (Series) Episode 1
I've been anxiously waiting for this series to debut. The trailer did give me some hope, but a trailer can be very different from the actual show. The Rush Hour series was the latest one to let me down, it had a few sparks, but was ultimately a letdown. So for Letha Weapon, I lowered my expectations, and went into the show with nothing except hope that I would at least like it just a little bit. As long as this doesn't turn into a lifeless show with a popular name, I would be satisfied... I just hoped it wasn't another Rush Hour.
Lethal Weapon Episode 1 was about as great as a debut as you can have. Yes these are new takes on the characters, but they are not complete overhauls. A lot of the personal traits that the originals had are still there. Riggs is an expert marksman and former special forces (or some equivalent). Murtaugh is a loving husband and father of 3. Riggs brings the action, Murtaugh brings the heart. The old traits don't feel forced on the characters, they really are part of the characters. And as a fan of the originals, I am anxious to see them in new situations, and to see how these actors take them there.
Mr. Clayne Crawford is great as Martin Riggs. He really sells the show for me. Some of the hokey 'heroics' Riggs pulls off would not work with many other actors. But Crawford really makes you believe that his Riggs would do those things. He helped me believe that Riggs really is that bad-ass. But what I appreciated more was that his acting helps make Riggs a well rounded character. To see him at the very beginning where he is perfectly happy to someone who has absolutely nothing to live for. In one scene, you can see Riggs trying to hide the pain his memories bring him while talking to Murtaugh's family. I've never seen Crawford before, but he looks to be a guy to keep an eye on (the man's charisma is off the charts, I think he will blow up big time).
Damon Wayans is ok as Murtaugh, but he looks a little off to me when compared to Crawford. Maybe its just because Crawford's Riggs is closer in persona to the original Riggs than Wayan's Murtaugh. Wayan's Murtaugh is more of the "funny man" than Dany Glover's was. At the beginning, I felt as if I was watching Damon Wayans playing Murtaugh than just watching Murtaugh. With Crawford, I just saw Riggs. I will say that by the end of the episode I felt more comfortable with the new Murtaugh.
The action was pretty good, not the best I've ever seen, but definitely entertaining. Car chases, bank robberies, shootouts and a murder mystery filled this first episode. I never felt as if the writing was bad, there were some moments that completely caught me by surprise and a couple you could see coming. Overall, by the time I finished the episode, I was definitely wanting more. Mainly, I want to see what else Mr. Crawford does with his Riggs. I don't care that Riggs is now from Texas, his soul is the same as Gibson's Riggs when we are first introduced him in part one, and I'm looking forward to seeing where these cops go from here.
If you're skeptical about watching a series based on a movie you love, I understand. But I implore you to give this a chance with an open mind. These guys are no Gibson and Glover, but they are Riggs and Murtaugh. Personally I am 'chomping at the bit' to see what Crawford and Wayans do with these characters.
Things I would change are that I hope Murtaugh becomes less "tell jokes" funny, its not a deal breaker for me, but right now it just feels a little off. I have nothing to say for Mr. Crawford. You do what you need to do Mr. Crawford, I'm just going to watch. Especially if they ever dig around the circumstances of his wife's death. In the second movie it becomes a bit more than what he first believes. And I would love to see how this duo deal with that. I can't rate the writing too much, because I'm not sure if some of the loose ends are for later in this series. But so far so good.
Things I would change are that I hope Murtaugh becomes less "tell jokes" funny, its not a deal breaker for me, but right now it just feels a little off. I have nothing to say for Mr. Crawford. You do what you need to do Mr. Crawford, I'm just going to watch. Especially if they ever dig around the circumstances of his wife's death. In the second movie it becomes a bit more than what he first believes. And I would love to see how this duo deal with that. I can't rate the writing too much, because I'm not sure if some of the loose ends are for later in this series. But so far so good.
The acting is there, so I hope the writing remains good. Riggs and Murtaugh generally destroy a lot of stuff, so we can count on the spectacle being there, lets hope the substance comes along for the ride.
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