The seminal action film

Rating: 10/10 (26 July 2008)

DIE HARD is THE action movie to end all action movies! Bare bones, lean, direct, focused, THIS is the movie by which all action movies should be judged! It's amazing, but DIE HARD really created the action movie as we know it today. There were action films before, but not like this one. It is the template for modern day action films: the humdrum introduction of the movie's hero and his boring backstory (separated from wife and family, yadda yadda yadda), the minor characters that will factor in later on, the deliberate setup of relationships before the action begins, then enter the bad guys and the fun begins! I can't believe this, but 20 years ago when DIE HARD first came out, I thought no way would this work with Bruce Willis as the 'action' hero! This was the smarmy, smug guy from the TV show MOONLIGHTING for Chr*st's sake! But Willis totally rocks! He is so effortless in his portrayal of New York cop John McClane. You really feel like he IS John McClane. It's really one of the most underrated performances that I can remember! McClane is a new breed of action hero: he uses his brains, common sense, and street smarts as much as his muscle (of which he doesn't have a whole lot!). Watching McClane outsmart the bad guys is truly entertaining!
The bad guys! Led by none other than Alan Rickman (who should have gotten a Best Supporting Actor nomination), these guys are super-cool, relentless, foreign uber-thugs the likes of which had never been put to screen. Whenever you see scary, out-of-place, larger-than-life bad guys in action movies, remember, DIE HARD did it first (and still best). Rickman plays Hans Gruber, some self-proclaimed terrorist who is really out to steal a fortune in bearer bonds from the Nakatomi building. Hans is supersmart himself and has worked out a labyrinthine plan to carry out his objective.
The Nakatomi building! Where ALL the action happens. A brilliant idea to have the action within the confines of this super-duper LA skyscraper. Easy for our hero to hide while he's outfoxing the baddies! The building is where our hero's wife, Holly Gennero, works. Holly is played exceptionally well by Bonnie Bedelia. Holly really humanizes McClane to the viewer and makes us realize he's not just some macho tough guy cop with no personal life. You just can't wait for these 2 to reconcile in the end.
The action is very well done, indeed. Ironically, with all the explosions and shootouts, it doesn't feel overdone or tiresome, even upon further viewing. The film is so meticulous in it's attention to detail that you'd be hard pressed to find fault with it. The director John McTiernan did an amazing job.
No sequels necessary (although there have been several). You can't top THIS original!