Page 118 - ThePhoenix1986-87

Page 8IWestern Maryland College/April ]6,1987 -Craig Cecil Gibson, Glover explosive in Lethal Weapon This year Hollywood's suicide. heard in a Schwarzenegger body- formula for a successful movie Mel Gibson (of Mad Max count film. Just as the onscreen appears to be a storyline that fame) plays Murtaugh's new acuon passes a climactic scene, centers around two distinctly partner, Riggs, a cop on the edge, eithcr Riggs or Murtaugh expel! a different characters. OuJrageous labelled as having suicidal witty remark that relaxes Fortune was the first of this tendencies. Viewers quickly audiences from the blood and year's crop to cash in on the idea. realize this last fact as they watch bullet barrage. Then it's back to The film starred two stylistically Riggs stick the nose of a loaded work. " different actresses, Shelley Long gun into his mouth and come a Unfortunately, the origin- and Belle Midler, portraying two fraction of an inch from squeezing ality of the opening scenes docs very conflicting characters that the trigger. To Murtaugh, his not now throughout the film. embark on a comical manhunt. new partner is a lethal weapon. Eventually, not even the fast pace Now it's the guys' tum in Together, this clashing pair soon can save some of the scenes from Warner Brothers' recent release find there's more to the apparent becoming predictable, cookie- Lethal Weapon, an action-thriller suicide than meets the eye. What culler action sequences. The most with a dash of comedy. When Lhe they uncover is so big. so notable example is the fight scene film opens playing the title track sinister, that it soon puts them near the end which is predictable, Jingle Bell Rock, audiences will and their loved ones in danger, boring, and unnesscsary, slowing realize that Lethal WeaJXln is firing this dynamic duo and the the film toa halt. going to be a little different than film into high-speed action. Producer/Director Richard the average shoot-em-up. Lethal Weapon continues madness, and fear are all strongly typecasting. The revolution of Donner has successfully loaded The film stars Danny Glover Hollywood's love affair with expressed in Gibson's electrifying Murtaugh's life around his family action, excitement. and humor as Los Angeles police detective guns. Somehow it seems ironic eyes. It takes a skillful actor to is quickly developed in the into Lethal Weapon. producing a Roger Murtaugh. Some may that Gibson's character always express internal feelings non- opening scenes, a foreshadowing sure-lire box-office hit. Glover remember Glover as the dirty cop carries the biggest hardware. The verbally. of things to come. This family and Gibson are two distinct, who tried to ventilate Harrison scene where Riggs runs down a Glover's acting skills are bonding offers an cxcclleru charismatic personalities that arc Ford in Witness. Here, Glover street carrying an automatic rifle displayed by his readily contrast to the loneliness sure to remain imbedded in represents the middle-age family is ominously familiar to convincing image of a caring, surrounding Riggs. viewer's minds long after the man concerned with his health and Sylvestor Stallone pcrfonning the sensitive. family-man after If this were all Lethal movie ends. increasing age, a man who likes same act with a M-60 in First playing a cop-killer in his WeaJXln had to offer it would still And, certainly, we can expect to scule into the daily routine of Blood. But unlike John Rambo, previous movie. Going from rate as. an above-average action Lethal Weapon 10 be re-loaded for his job. But his routine and his Riggs shows his pain, fear, and killer to caring father in two film. But the movie goes one a sequel. heart-rate are jolted when he is vulnerability, making the major films is a notable acting further by introducing dry wit and assigned a new partner to aid in character human and believable. accomplishment considering humor between Riggs and Raring out of 10: ******* the investigation of a drug-induced That suicidal pain, Hollywood's tendency for Murtaugh, humor usually only CAPBoard Presents ... The Ladies of April! "'~>,>~ SIGOURNEY WEAVER ~~ HELEN THOMAS ~ ~r4j"" ~'\.~