The Star Wars of Action Movies: The One by Which Others are Judged

Rating: 10/10 (30 September 2007)

The original "Die Hard" is definitely worth a second look. Compared to much of the action fair being produced today, such as the Bourne films and the later "Die Hard" sequels, the first "Die Hard" stands up as probably the action movie by which all others are judged. The action sequences are tempered by good character development, an interesting heavy, a bit of humor, and a plot that sounds believable enough to take us all the way into the story. There is something to be said for a movie that restricts its scope to an office building, instead of running all over the country, or the world for that matter. The writing is tight and lean, with 0% fat.
First, it's not wall-to-wall action. An old adage in art says that sometimes less is more. Action sequences definitely fall into this category. Filmmakers today believe that piling on action sequences like pancakes and smothering them with butter and syrup makes the movie more intense. In reality, the opposite is really true. By withholding an intense sequence, and then having it occur spontaneously has much more punch, and believability. Savor the sweetness, and let there by a little wait for the next one, like the next course of a fine gourmet meal. And part of it is not just the action sequences. The baddie of the movie, Hans Gruber, played with sinister charm by Alan Rickman, is often as compelling as the action. The well-tailored but emotionless criminal is a perfect opposite to John McClane, played by Bruce Willis in the role that catapulted him from comedic TV personality to movie superstar.
The story allows for adequate character development which in turn makes the action sequences more meaningful as we are drawn to care about the characters and what happens to them. McClane is certainly a savvy copy, but he's also an uncultured hot-head who would probably prefer a Big Mac in front of an NFL game to an evening at the opera. Simultaneously, we learn he is a devoted father and wants to make his marriage work. A working class cop that wouldn't know which side the fork and knife go at a high-class dinner, but he is an honorable man. And the script gives just enough hints to allow the viewer to put two-and-two together. On the other side, Hans Gruber would know all the operas by Puccini and the important paintings by Van Gogh, not to mention who's's who in academic circles which makes him so much more terrifying. At the beginning of the film, he spews out the biography and resume of the CEO of the company in which he and his cohorts have infiltrated. Slothful big-mouthed bandits are no longer bloodcurdling. It's the cultured, well-mannered and soft-spoken assassin that gives far more goose bumps, especially because it hides evil agendas. Villains don't wear Gorgio Armani suits, or do they? Gordon Gekko, who nears Gruber in amorality, is a far more terrifying monster than the Mummy could ever hope to be.
Lastly, the plot and setting are narrow in scope which again emphasizes that less is often more. The story centers around a multinational corporation that has offices in Tokyo and Los Angeles headed by a Japanese immigrant to the US who rose to prominence through hard-work and ethics. At a Christmas Eve party to celebrate the success of the company, high-class burglars masquerading as terrorists break into the building (Gruber at one point appears insulted when it is suggested they are terrorists), take the employees hostage, and demand access to their high-security vault which is apparently lined with about 2/3rds of billion dollars. Because his wife has become a prominent executive in the company, John McClane happens to be there at the party and evades being captured by the "terrorists". The story then centers around McClane's battle to free the hostages and stop the terrorists. Simultaneously, he also has to battle the Los Angeles law enforcement bureaucracy which becomes a kind of sub-plot to the movie.
Overall, a very satisfying viewing experience, and of course highest honors go to the screenwriters, and to Bruce Willis who is the common thread that holds the entire story and movie together. Unfortunately, few movies since Die Hard have been able to capture such a blend of character, story and action into such a film.