Another hard day's night

Rating: 5/10 (13 October 2012)

Hot on the burning heels of its blockbuster predecessor, "Die Hard 2" is a remake of the original, plotting the action in an airborne 747 on which both wife (Bedelia) and nemesis (Atherton) are aboard. A terrorist transfer orchestrated by covert operatives on the ground ensures Willis has his hands full keeping the bad guys at bay, while both Dennis Franz and Reginald Vel Johnson (via phone) chip in as the reinforcements, with Franz essentially playing the Vel Johnson character from the original.
Willis galvanises his heroic persona with this second outing, firmly entrenching the 'tough guy' image that would guarantee him box office success for ever more, while Franco Nero has a minor role (not the head villain like Alan Rickman in the first) as a terrorist prisoner being swapped to ostensibly avoid the destruction of the hijacked plane. There are other villains in the midst, but their identities are somewhat disguised, so I won't reveal them here, suffice to say that William Sadler toils for his tyranny, and could well be Robert Patrick's twin (who perchance also has a small role pre T2). I also recognised Stafford Morgan, Robert Sacchi ("The Man with Bogart's Face"), Colm Meaney and Bill Smillie in small supporting roles.
While not as witty or suspenseful as the original, there's still enough residual from the original to be worth a look; the stunts are more explosive (and equally unbelievable), and the comic-book villains get what's coming which is all that really matters. Each of the actors is either a direct or close descendant of the first picture, no surprises or formula twists, merely a straightforward cash-in you should find just passable.