The Best Action Movie in History?

Rating: 9/10 (28 April 2008)

Brute force, sheer determination and a vaguely plausible plot line. This is all that is needed to enable a good film in the 'action' genre, but where and how does Die Hard assert itself as potentially the greatest action movie in history? Is it through the new found talent of Bruce Willis, whose rugged looks and obvious 'action' physique enable him to leap down elevator shafts? Or is it the introduction of a new supercharged yet surprisingly normal New York City police officer-John Mclean? Whatever it is Die Hard seems to have captured the essence of an action movie to win it a definite place as one of the best 'action' movies in history.
Alan Rickman's soft German accent seems to add a menace to the film, with the obvious double-crossing no nonsense villain. Again though, Die Hard appears to have some sort of edge over other action movies as it evokes an odd sense of what a true 'mad' villain would behave. However, is this intentional or is this the acting of Alan Rickman? I don't know, but what I do know is that the director stopped just before the line of 'believable' to change the film from a boringly 'moral' action movie, to a fun yet gripping movie. The explosions and fight scenes leave nothing to be desired, and Bruce Willis helps the introduction of a non-superhero, but thoroughly super-human character. Die Hard would top my list as one of the greatest aesthetically pleasing films I have ever seen. The action never bores me and is the sort of film I could watch over and over again.