The First and the Best

Rating: 9/10 (8 July 1999)

What more can be said about what many call the best action picture ever? Well, it is a must-see and is the best of the Die Hard trilogy, although the other two are also very good and as funny as the first. Willis set the foundation for a new breed of action heroes as a more human, wisecracking hero who is thrust unwillingly into life-and-death situations and makes as much of an impact with a handgun as most other action stars do with an M-60. Willis, as New York detective John McClane, has a great time outwitting Gruber and his cronies until the explosive, unforgettable climax.
As far as plot, there are some solid surprises and co-stars Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman, and Reginald Veljohnson make sure this is not a one-man show. The only problem I have is that the movie makes the chief of police, played by Paul Gleason, look like a self-centered idiot who gets off on seeing McClane suffer. This is merely a small detail in an other wise excellent must-see thrill ride.
P.S. The novel which Die Hard is based on, Nothing Lasts Forever, is also worth a read.