Great writing by Bruce and Rickman makes this action flick!!

Rating: Null/10 (28 May 1999)

Why would anyone see yet ANOTHER action film, when reality puts anything on film to shame? Because real killers aren't witty, they're dumb. Alan Rickman, as Hans Gruber, has great lines that somewhat mitigate the blood that gets splattered all over. At least Hans Gruber (Rickman) has imagination and dash. The woman here has some great lines as well, as the separated wife of Bruce Willis, who gleefully displays his sexism but somewhat abashedly. He makes up for it. Rickman's face is a masterpiece of acting. The directing of all these stupendous blowups is a technical masterpiece in itself. Bruce, walking on broken glass, did a good acting job himself, better than in most of his films. (And far better than his ex-wife). As usual, the original is better than all the originals. But see them back to back, if you dare, for a study in why sequels shouldn't be made without a lot of study and superior writing. The mark of a good movie is, when you see it again, did you get another slant or more out of it? I do, every time my grandson puts it on.