Action Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (15 June 2000)

Nowadays, it seems that all the action pictures that are released are larger than life ("Godzilla") or ultra super-slick heroe vehicles (Mission: Impossible II). Last time I felt excited about an action film was when Lethal Weapon 4 was released or when Die Hard With A Vengeance came out in 1995. It makes me yearn for the days of great stunts, great humor, great villains and of course, real action. I am talking about Die Hard.
The story is pretty simple. John McClane is a New York detective flying to Los Angeles to meet with his estranged wife at a party. She has taken a high-profile job with the Nakatomi Corporation and the party is being held at the unfinished new tower for the company. Things seem to be going alright when disaster strikes. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and a team of professional German terrorists have hijacked the building. All entrances are sealed, the tower is patroled by well-armed guards and they are planning to get away with millions of dollars in bonds stored in the building's high-security vault. They have complete control, except for one unforseen factor........John McClane.
As the film progresses, McClane finds himself the unlikely hero (with no shoes on) who must single handedly overpower Hans' team with only his stealth, wits and a little bit of ingenuity. He is not a machine: he is just a cop who won't quit. And the movie is a thrill machine that won't quit.
Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman and the entire cast are terrific. The screenplay gives plenty of humor to lighten up the proceedings too. The stunts and direction are superb. This movie is everything one would want in a summer flick.
Trust me: if you haven't seen this movie, run out and rent it now. If you haven't seen it or it's two sequels, pick them up too. Die Hard is the ultimate action film: real people, real characters, real humor, real excitement and suspense and real fun.
Now why dont they make movies like this anymore.........??