A non-stop thrill ride.

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2012)

"Die Hard 2" is a good example of the "bigger is better" philosophy when it comes to making Hollywood sequels. Superhero cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) once again proves to be a pain in the ass to terrorists everywhere, kicking ass all over the place in his usual gruff, tough style. He's way ahead of every other character here, realizing something is about to go down while waiting for his wifes' plane to land at Washington, D.C.s' Dulles Airport. He doesn't get too much for his trouble other than a lot of grief (most of it from an airport security chief (Dennis Franz) who's a carbon copy of the incompetent moron played by Paul Gleason in the first film). The villain is a powerful dictator / drug dealer played by international icon Franco Nero, who's helped by traitorous American lowlifes led by William Sadlers' crazed Colonel Stuart.
Director Renny Harlin had already proved his worth directing such horror movies as the effective "Prison" and the financially successful fourth "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie and shows here how well he can handle large scale action. There's plenty of thrills, plenty of violence, and plenty of tension. The only real issue with the movie is credibility; however, while it requires much suspension of disbelief, it does pay the viewer back by delivering testosterone-laden entertainment and never really letting up. The special effects and stunts are spectacular, and the interplay between Willis and his supporting cast is fun stuff.
Some veterans of the first "Die Hard" return, namely Bonnie Bedelia as McClanes' wife Holly, William Atherton as self serving arrogant s.o.b. reporter Dick Thornberg and Reginald VelJohnson (who has little more than a cameo) as McClanes' friend and fellow cop Al Powell. New faces include John Amos, Art Evans, Fred Dalton Thompson, Tom Bower, Sheila McCarthy, and Don Harvey. Sadler has got to be the most fun; he's a cold blooded monster and also a bad ass who can definitely handle McClane in a fight. The lineup of familiar actors in small roles is amazing; among them: Robert Patrick, John Leguizamo, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Mark Boone Junior, Tom Everett, Colm Meaney, and Robert Costanzo.
As before, Michael Kamens' music is quite rousing, and the reprise of the Vaughan Monroe rendition of "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" provides another pleasant reminder of "Die Hard" 1. The script by Steven E. de Souza and Doug Richardson (based on the novel "58 Minutes" by Walter Wager) contains a fair bit of humour and that deliciously profane dialogue that we all love so much.
Overall, this is agreeable escapism, and a fine follow up to one of the modern action classics.
Eight out of 10.