Still one of the most clever action films of recent years!

Rating: 9/10 (13 October 2007)

Yes, believe it or not, I have always digged DIE HARD the original. The 1990 sequel wasn't too bad, but the '88 original is the very best. Just so you know, I have never hated Bruce Willis, past or present. I just think that several of his more recent films have been turkeys.
This is the film that made him a superstar, being that mostly he was known for MOONLIGHTING at this time. With striking green eyes and a memorable personality, Willis was indeed "leading man" material even in these early days. What makes this film a good one for Willis is that he played not a macho grunting void like what Arnie had been playing, but a real guy, a guy who ended up exhausted, battered and probably in need of several pints of blood by the time this ordeal was over for everyone.
NYPD cop is invited by his old boss to come out to the West Coast for Christmas, which is also where his recently estranged wife lives. An uneasy reunion at the wife's company's Christmas bash is trying to take place when a group of mostly German terrorists (or are they???) invades the towering high-rise where Willis' cop and the ex-wife are. This renegade group is lead by one of my very favorite actors, the always delightful and amazing Alan Rickman.
To make a long story short, the obviously focused and experienced group of criminals takes Willis' wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and her co-workers hostage. Willis manages to be in a position where he was undetected by the group and therefore able to separate himself from the other civilians who are know being terrorized. Being a cop, he tries his best to undermine the efforts of Rickman and company.
A truly lovable ally for Willis is Sargeant Al Powell (Reginald ValJohnson), one of the few LA cop characters who has the intuition to help Willis rather than persecute him for his contributions to the battle being waged. The FBI, as per usual, is made to look like a bunch of buffoons, but Robert Davi is hilarious and I couldn't help but love all characters, even the jerks, like Dwayne T. Robinson (RIP Paul Gleason!) Even the terrorists themselves are brilliant, and there are countless moments of subtle hilarity and comedy coming from everyone.
The only flaws I have ever noticed are bits of bad editing here and there, but so what? This is an action-packed, engaging, memorably written and acted, touching and often times funny film that is perfect every year at Christmas. After 20 years, it is more of a classic than ever before.