BIG SCREEN
SMALL SCREEN
LETHAL WEAPON
Premise: Suicidal cop teams up with level-headed veteran
Then: Action-y
Mustache and mullet
Wife killed in car accident
“I’m too old for this sh-t.”
Now:
Comedy-y
Mustache and goatee
Pregnant wife killed in car accident
“I’m too old for this …”
TRAINING DAY
Premise: Rookie cop trains under corrupt graybeard
Then:
Black mentor, white mentee
Dramatic dialogue
Takes place over 24 hours
Now:
White mentor, black mentee
Pithy banter
Takes place over however many hours CBS will allow
TAKEN
Premise: Family tragedy turns man into a revenge machine
Then:
Kidnapped daughter
Retired CIA
Clean-shaven
He will find them, and he will kill them
Now:
Murdered sister
CIA recruit
Scruffy
He will find them, and he will kill them
SNATCH
Premise: Crazed London criminals chase priceless prize
Then:
Completely fictional
Going after a diamond
Incomprehensible dialogue
Stars a former Fight Club–er
Now:
Based on a real heist
Going after gold
Comprehensible dialogue
Stars a former wizard
This appears in the February 06, 2017 issue of TIME.
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