Genre-defining, macho madness with a rarity in action films - some semblance of realism!

Rating: 9/10 (8 May 2011)

This movie is as great now as it was when it came out - filled with snappy one-liners, awesome explosions, terrorists to stop and only one guy who can do it.
Alan Rickman makes for a slimy, believable villain which ultimately gives us more reason to like the hero. Nothing ruins an action film like some stupid, pushover villain... or one of those meathead buffoons whose muscle mass impairs proper brain function.
The everyday hero John McClane is made believable by Bruce Willis. It works so well because the situation is plausible, McClane has skill and knowledge (as a police officer) and he gets beat up, shot, cut, bruised, burned and more. He doesn't do a Rambo, but hides in the shadows just mucking with the bad guys plans often enough to really tick 'em off! You know a movie is special when the title becomes a useful summary in describing other films: "Die Hard on a plane", "Die Hard on a bus", "Die Hard with a Femal Lead", etc. But it's the rare movie that balances the necessary elements so well: pacing, believability, acting, dialogue, ingenuity, and fun.
See it again!