The Greatest Action Film Ever Made. An Excellent,Unforgettable Classic.

Rating: 10/10 (14 October 2014)

Die Hard is the greatest Action film ever made,an excellent and unforgettable classic that combines terrific direction,a wonderful cast,amazing Action and a fantastic score. All of those elements make Die Hard an outstanding movie that is John McTierman and Bruce Willis at their best.
Based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp and set in Los Angeles,California,Die Hard tells the story of John McClane(Bruce Willis),a New York City police officer who is visiting his estranged wife Holly Gennero(Bonnie Bedelia)at the Nakotomi Building where she works on Christmas Eve where there is a party going on. While John is at the Nakotomi building a group of terrorist led by Hans Gruber(Alan Rickman)take the building and the workers hostage and it's up to John to stop Hans and his group at all costs.
Released in 1988,Die Hard is a brilliant and thrilling movie that was not only a critical and Box Office success but is also made Bruce Willis a movie star and became one of the most influential films of the Action genre that spawned four sequels and changed the genre forever paving the way for other Action movies such as Speed(Die Hard on a Bus),Under Siege(Die Hard on a boat)and Passenger 57(Die Hard on a plane)while at the same time giving viewers a new kind of Action hero. Sure,there were plenty of other influential and amazing Action movie classics that were released before Die Hard Action movies such as Lethal Weapon,Predator,The Terminator,First Blood,Rambo:First Blood Part II,Commando,48 Hrs,The Warriors,Dirty Harry,The French Connection,Escape From New York,The Road Warrior and many more but when Die Hard came out it brought something new to the Action genre and was seen as a breath of fresh air that set the standard for Action movies that followed. From beginning to end Die Hard is a masterful Action film that is Action-packed and exciting as well as very intense and explosive with an energy and pace that is non-stop because Die Hard grabs the viewer by the throat and never lets go. With Die Hard is a movie that is a full-on spectacle where everything whether it's the gunfight or explosions is big and nothing is small with Action on every corner and suspense that is like a tightrope and is gripping. What also makes Die Hard such an incredible movie is the dialog and Humor which is clever,smart and funny with scenes that are memorable and lines that are quotable with perhaps the most iconic line that is said by John McClane which is unforgettable. And while Die Hard isn't an Action-Comedy in the truest sense the film balances Action and laughs perfectly. Die Hard is probably the best Action set right around the Christmas holiday(with Lethal Weapon being the runner up). I don't what it is about Action movies that are set during Christmas or the holidays but the mixture of intense Action and beautiful Christmas decorations is just so much fun. The Action scenes in Die Hard are dazzling,powerful and done in such a flawless way that is jaw dropping and will knock your socks off every time you watch it because each Action is like a fire ball that hits in the face. Die Hard gave birth to one of the greatest,iconic and truly unforgettable characters in the history of cinema in John McClane who is not a classic character but was a new kind of Action hero. Before Die Hard Action movie characters were muscular and had strong arms but John McClane was different and unique because he was a regular guy and average Joe who didn't come to LA to save the day or be a hero but to see his wife for Christmas. When we watch Die Hard we as the viewer relate to McClane and are with him every step of the way whether he's dealing with terrorists or trying to repair his relationship with his wife. Despite his problems John McClane is still tough and handles his problems with both his wits,guns and fists. John McClane is terrific character that set the standard for Action heroes that came after and is someone you will never forget and is one of the reasons Die Hard is a classic. The ending of Die Hard is outstanding and is filled with enough excitement and thrills that will put smiles on viewers faces. A terrific ending.
The cast is great. Bruce Willis is excellent,iconic and at his best as John McClane with Willis being tough,charismatic and likable. Alan Rickman(in his film debut)is brilliant as Hans Gruber one of the best villains in movie history with Rickman being charming and evil. Bonnie Bedelia is terrific as Holly Gennaro,John McClaine's Wife. Reginald VelJohnson is wonderful as Sgt. Al Powell,a cop that communicates with John on the outside. Paul Gleason is outstanding as Deputy Chief Dwanye Y Robinson,a Cop in way over his head. William Atherton is sensational as Richard Thornberg,a jerk News reporter. Alexander Godunav is intense as Karl,one of the terrorists. Hart Bochner(Ellis),James Shigeta(Takagi),De'Voreaux White(Argyle),Clarence Gilyard Jr.(Theo),Robert Davi(FBI Special Agent Big Johnson)and Grand L. Bush(FBI Special Agent Little Johnson)and Mary Ellen Trainor(Gail Wallens)give good performances as well.
The direction by John McTierman is fantastic and memorable,with McTierman always moving the camera while using close-ups and angles giving the movie the right tone. Great Direction,McTierman.
The score by Michael Kamen is amazing,thrilling,suspenseful and matches the Action of the movie well. Amazing score,Kamen.
In final word,if you love Action Films,Bruce Willis or John McTierman,I highly suggest you see Die Hard,the greatest Action Film Ever made and a classic that you can watch again and again. Highly Recommended.. 10/10.