Yippie-ki-yay again....

Rating: Null/10 (24 August 1999)

The element of surprise isn't there, but the excitement sure is!
"Die Hard 2: Die Harder" is a perfect example of what can be right (and sometimes wrong) with the sequel to a blockbuster.
Sending McClane (Willis) head-first into a plot to virtually destroy every flight coming into Dulles Airport and avert the crash of his wife Holly's (Bedelia's) flight, he overcomes as many, if not more, obstacles in trying to save the day, in spite of everyone else exercizing bad judgement and blocking him off at the absolute wrong moments.
Again, Willis finds the right note as an everyday man thrown into the fiery jaws of death and fighting for his life around every corner. And some of the scenes will make you hold your breath (the conveyor belt walkway, the grenades in the military plane, the airplane wing fight) and drop your jaw right into your popcorn.
But the villains here just aren't as diabolical as in the first; they have more military goals as compared to the greed-driven kidnappers they are aping. William Sadler may have a mean karate kick, but that's about it.

Still, Willis and the stunts save it. Maybe not as good as the original (few sequels are), but "Die Hard 2" at least tries "Harder".
Eight stars. And always keep your lighter handy.