DH1

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2004)

The first of its kind that created a genre of its own. The direction of John McTiernan packs a wallop. What's interesting to see is how McClane conquers his internal conflict in the bathroom, so he may defeat his external conflict and finally decides to get outta there to find out what the fck Hans was doing upstairs. And from the start it wasn't a rescue mission, he was having a conversation with his wife... something that started 6 months earlier, only to get cut off. Also interesting to see the antag from being passive to becoming reactive when McClane steals his detonators.
Very interesting to see Powell's trauma being resolved --- he swore to never draw his revolver ever.
Michael Kamen's upbeat and tense score is unforgettable, in my book. I especially like the track -- during the scene where Hans hands Ellis the walky-talky. Listen closely and see if you get reminded of "Singing in the Rain" or Beethoven's "Symphony no. 9" as the movie goes on.
Some of the best lines ever... e.g. "After all you speeches, you're nothing but a common thief"... "I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane and since I'm moving into kidnapping, you should be more polite"
Grade A+
10/10