‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Novocaine’: Old school action delivered in a modern 4K format

Here’s a look at a pair of action films — one classic and one nearly unforgettable — now available in the 4k disc format.

Lethal Weapon (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, not rated, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 117 minutes, $24.99) — Director Richard Donner’s 1987 buddy cop thriller gets a welcomed upgrade to the ultra-high definition disc format for home theater viewers to really appreciate some of the extreme action and even a couple of new extras.

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star as Los Angeles Police Detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, respectively, mismatched partners on a case that appears to be a prostitute’s drug-induced suicide but leads them to a much more sinister and larger criminal organization tied to a group of former CIA paramilitaries.

Set around the Christmas holidays, the drama and occasional comedy revolves around former Green Beret Riggs, on a suicidal bender after the sudden death of his wife. Mr. Riggs is now working with older veteran officer and family man, Mr. Murtaugh, who is getting very close to retirement and not in the mood for any of Mr. Riggs’ risky shenanigans.

Both actors embrace a meaty character study, especially the crazy-eyed Mr. Gibson, and get help from a supporting cast that includes Mitchell Ryan as Gen. Peter McAllister, Gary Busey as his hard-core bodyguard and singing legend Darlene Love as Murtaugh’s wife.

Viewers get the theatrical cut as well as the director’s cut, which adds about seven minutes to the movie, focused on further defining the differences between Mr. Riggs and Mr. Murtaugh.

The 4K restoration delivers a clean and subdued color scheme in a screen-bursting presentation highlighting the textured and gritty urban landscapes of Los Angeles and the undulating heat of a desert canyon. The visuals occasionally pop to admire blue skies and ocean, explosions as well as the flora and fauna on the rocky shoreline and wealthy homes.

Warner Bros. continues to find gems in its catalog worthy of visual upgrades, and “Lethal Weapon” is one of the better examples of the action thriller genre of films now necessary for inclusion in a modern home theater library.

Best extras: Two new featurettes start with a much-too-short, seven-minute appreciation of Donner with words from associate producer Jennie Lew Tugend, Mr. Glover, Lauren Shuler Donner, writer Shane Black, Traci Wolfe (Murtaugh’s daughter Rianne), Jackie Swanson (the prostitute), but sorely missing Mr. Gibson.

Much of the same cast and crew return to offer a six-minute retrospective of film focused on the chemistry between the two main stars.

Also sorely missing is an optional commentary track with a cantankerous Donner included in the 2012 “Lethal Weapon” Blu-ray collection.

Novocaine (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 110 minutes, $35.99) — It took a pair of directors, Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, to deliver a bizarre action thriller sprinkled with extreme violence and humor and now busting onto the ultra-high definition disc format.

Meet Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid known for “The Boys”), a man with a genetic neurological disorder that makes him unresponsive to extreme temperatures or feeling any pain.

Working as an assistant manager at a credit union allows him to manage his genetic disability, and falling in love with fellow employee Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder known for “Prey”) allows him to begin to have a more normal life.

That is, until he gets caught in the middle of a robbery at his bank and when Sherry is kidnapped by the thugs, life takes a dangerous wrong turn. However, his liability turns into a heroic asset to save his new girlfriend.

Mr. Quaid delivers a harrowing and hilarious performance as chorographers put him and a team of talented stunt men through some intense moments, such as a brawl in a kitchen and a fight in a booby-trapped house

The stellar 4K presentation, originally shot on 8K high end digital cameras, should be examined when watching the excess of close-quarter combat just for the raw skill of the performers and damage Mr. Caine does to his body (removing a bullet from his arm, for example), all in way-too-much gory detail.

Best extras: The disc offers a trio of promotional featurettes starting with a standard 12-minute overview of the movie as explained by the key cast and crew, including both directors and leads (Mr. Quaid and Ms. Midthunder).

It covers the odd story concept tied to a medical condition, the new take on a superhero-style movie, and touching on the “telepathic” directors, the actors and characters.

Next, viewers get another 16 minutes on the production now tackling shooting in Cape Town, South Africa (doubling as San Diego), the gritty fight choreography in scenes such as the tattoo parlor and kitchen, stunt sequences and production design.

And, and often most crucial to the film’s action, the featurettes offer 10 minutes on the creation of some of the gory visual make-up prosthetic effects, including simulating tearing fingernails off, resetting a broken thumb, dealing with a deep-fried hand and an arm snapped to the bone.