“A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.“
Director: John McTiernan
Writers: Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Cast: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, Alan Rickman
Release Date: July 20, 1988
IMDB
Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Fucker!!!
Die Hard had some large road bumps in its production, but McTiernan managed to steer this blockbuster 18-wheeler and keep it on track. Bruce Willis was nothing more than a TV Star before his iconic John McClane portrayal. Alan Rickman was known by NO ONE but created one of the all-time villains with Hans Gruber. McTiernan makes these two stars into icons while adjusting the script with the writers to make it more amenable to a larger audience.
The story floating around Die Hard and McTienrnan’s 100% buy-in highlights the importance of John McClane’s character. Jeb Stuart and Steven D. de Souza took Roderick Thorp’s novel and added some flare, including when Argyle picks McClane up from the airport in a limo. Rather than our hero going into the back of the limo, we cut to him shooting the shit sitting next to Argyle in the passenger sheet. When McTiernan read this, he knew the character was on the right track.
Die Hard has everything an action movie lover adores: a charismatic hero, a phenomenal villain, a plot that is simple but with a slight twist, side characters that bring the energy, and explosions and gunfire out of the wazoo.
In Predator, the men appear more like action figures, but Die Hard flips the script, making it a relatable average Joe. The formula that makes this legendary action flick so good has been replicated time in and time out, but rarely do any attempts reach this combustible level.
STANKO RATING: A
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