If you're looking for a classic action movie, this is it.

Rating: 9/10 (1 June 2019)

A cop's visit to his ex-wife in another city turns into a terrorist takeover of a hotel building. Armed with only a handgun, what will he do to save his wife taken hostage?
True to its' genre, the premise is simple. yet there are entertaining and peaceful twists to it. The film is a ride. The great direction really gets you involved. The developed and varying characters give depth to the plot, a depth that most action flicks miss.
The action is well timed and the effects are spectacular, especially when given that this was filmed back in 1988. The way this film pulls off realism and suspension of disbelief is noteworthy. The hero is not just some bullet-proof goof that never gets shot but actually makes mistakes and gets hurts. The action is messy and people get grimy and dirty. The violence and blood is just enough to avoid turning the film into a child-friendly flick, nor a unreal gore-fest.
One might be put off by Bruce Willis being the star of the film but he pulled off the role rather well. Well enough that that shot him to stardom. I'm glad they didn't star their first choice, Sylvester Stallone. The other notable acting is by Alan Rickman who played the villain Hans. The performance turned Hans into a very believable character who is not prone to over-the-top dramatics that are increasingly common in the action genre.
Despite all the praise however, the film lacks some of the seriousness that a hostage situation should entail. The presence of some easily noticeable mistakes doesn't help either. I won't call it the best action flick ever but don't let that overshadow the fact that it has a quintessential quality to it. Enough to call it a milestone in this cinema genre. Whether you enjoy action flicks or not, this is something that deserves a watch.