lethal weapon 4
| Lethal Weapon 4 |
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| Directed by |
Richard Donner |
| Produced by |
Richard Donner
Joel Silver |
| Written by |
Shane Black
Jonathan Lemkin
Alfred Gough
Miles Millar
Channing Gibson |
| Starring |
Mel Gibson
Danny Glover
Joe Pesci
Rene Russo
Chris Rock
Jet Li |
| Music by |
Michael Kamen
Eric Clapton
David Sanborn |
| Cinematography |
Andrzej Bartkowiak |
| Editing by |
Dallas Puett
Kevin Stitt
Eric Strand
Frank J. Urioste |
| Distributed by |
Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) |
July 10, 1998 (USA) |
| Running time |
127 min. |
| Language |
English
Cantonese
Mandarin |
| Budget |
$140,000,000 (est.) |
| Preceded by |
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) |
| Followed by |
Lethal Weapon 5 (?) |
| IMDb profile |
Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 film starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li. It is a sequel to Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2 and Lethal Weapon 3.
Taglines:
- "The Gang's All Here"
- "Next summer is lethal."
- "The faces you love. The action you expect."
- "With 4 you get Kung Fu."
- "Get ready to get lethal."
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Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Reaction
- 3 Trivia
- 4 External links
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Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
In the most recent installment of the Lethal Weapon series, Lorna Cole is pregnant with Martin Riggs' baby. Rianne, who has secretly married Lee Butters, a young cop who works at the same precinct as Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs, is also pregnant. The story revolves around Riggs, Murtaugh, Butters, Cole's and Getz's investigation of a Chinese immigrant smuggling ring. The arch-nemesis is a martial arts expert named Wah Sing Ku (played by Jet Li), who is organizing the release of the four overlords, called Four Fathers and among them including his own brother, of Triads from Chinese prison from a corrupt general in exchange for counterfeit money. By exposing this plot, the cops enrage the Chinese, who retaliate by attacking the cops in a foreign trade zone, presumably down by the docks, where the monetary exchange took place. The climactic scene takes place on a pier where Sing Ku uses his martial arts expertise to his advantage, but eventually loses to the cops. The movie ends with Lorna and Martin marrying, and Lee and Rianne informing Roger of their secret marriage. Two babies are born to Rianne and Lorna, as Martin Riggs is finally settling down.
Reaction
Although the film grossed $130 million domestically, it was not considered a runaway financial success as the previous three films had been, due to the fact that its production budget was in excess of $140 million alone, not to mention any related advertising expenses that accrued. Its profit margin was saved in part due to the combined foreign box office sales making the film gross approximately $285 million in total. [1]
Trivia
- Jackie Chan was initially offered the role of Wah Sing Ku, but he declined since he doesn't like to play villain roles.
- This film is Jet Li's American film debut. It is also the first film where he plays the villain.
- Mel Gibson was reluctant to revisit the franchise. He was paid $25 million.
- After appearing in this film, Pesci announced that he was leaving acting in order to pursue his musical career and to enjoy life away from the camera.
- Was the most expensive entry of the Lethal Weapon franchise with a $140 million budget, and was not as financially successful as Lethal Weapon 2 and Lethal Weapon 3 because of that fact.
- Riggs and Murtaugh are both promoted to Captain in this film, albeit temporarily.
- The images seen during the end credits are a collage of screenshots and snapshots taken during production from all four movies in the series.
- There have been rumors about a Lethal Weapon 5, but none have been confirmed.
- The UK version is heavily edited by the BBFC, with 93 seconds of cuts to violence. Ninety shots are removed in 38 separate cuts.
- Van Halen III performed "Fire in the Hole" on the soundtrack.
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