TDA Sunday Cinema: Lethal Weapon I – BJJ on display

 

To my knowledge, Lethal Weapon was the first display of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a mainstream film (or any film that I’ve seen). This was prior to the original UFC,  which was a Gracie showcase. Be honest, had you heard of BJJ at the time? I had not, and don’t remember when I started hearing about the Gracie Challenge in Black Belt magazine. Watch this scene.

Trivia and stuff about this film (most via IMDB):

1. Why has Gary Busey been a villain so often? Per IMDB, “he was hired to play Joshua because they were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Mel Gibson. Busey also credits the film for reviving his failing movie career.”
2. And check out the ‘80s hair on Mel Gibson! I’m thinking he’s got a little of the Billy Ray Cyrus thing going on, don’t you?
3. Gunophile movie mistake: Riggs continually references a "hollow-point" bullet when talking about his suicide plan, yet he is clearly holding a bullet with a full metal jacket both times it is shown.

UPDATE: Per his site, Rorion Gracie choreographed both Lethal Weapon and Lethal Weapon 3.

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