"Now I have a machine gun. Ho! Ho! Ho!..."

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2020)

Die Hard is one of those movies that is an enigma. An anomaly. At the time of filming, Bruno wasn't a major hollywood player and seemed an odd casting choice for a rough action hero role. He had been in a few films and was well known for his time on the TV show Moonlighting (which he was still filming at the time back in 88 during the day, and shooting Die Hard at night and weekends) which was rather guerilla-filmmaking of sorts. But boy, didn't he do well. John McClane is Willis' perfect role. I cannot imagine anyone else in this part (and a handful of big stars turned the part down). Alan Rickman (as the villain) shines in every scene he's in, and was the real reason the movie works as it does. The chemistry between Willis and Rickman as hero and villain (respectively) is electric, and you cannot help but hope the villain gets away with it (of course, he can't. The hero has to win). Die Hard gives us a claustrophobic, tension-filled rollercoaster ride which leaves you breathless by the end. No other action movie has been able to match it for its quality. It has a heart. And a soul. Something that action movies seem to lack, as a rule (not nodding or pointing at anybody called Bay, of course) for no real reason. Action movies don't have to be just explosions every 5 minutes, or car chases that destroy highways, or muscle-bound one-man-army types gunning down thousands of extras (all without breaking a sweat... or reloading). They can be tense. And engaging. And actually have a proper story and plot. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Two thumbs way up. Yippee-ki-yay...