Die Hard (1988)

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In case you didn’t know, the original Die Hard is my favorite movie of all time. John McTiernan is, in my opinion, one of the best action directors of all time. See Predator and Last Action Hero as examples of this. This is the movie that managed to make Bruce Willis an action movie superstar, as well as introducing the world to the great Alan Rickman playing the great villain that is Hans Gruber. Prior to this, Willis was known mainly for television and comedy. Alan Rickman was a stage actor. These are gambles that are far less likely to be taken today. Die Hard has a great claustrophobic feel, as the movie takes place almost entirely in a building, where everyman John McClane suddenly becomes the only man qualified to eliminate the terrorists that have taken the building hostage. This is one of the movies to help redefine the action genre in the late 80s and early 90s. Die Hard suddenly became the formula, and the everyman was the hero that got the most attention as opposed to the muscle-bound one-man-armies of the 80s. When McClane is fighting the terrorists, you believe that he is fighting for his life, as well as fighting to kill. Nowhere do I think that this is more apparent than in his fist fight with Karl. The supporting cast should be commended as well, whether it’s Reginald VelJohnson as Al Powell, Paul Gleason as Dwayne Robinson, or William Atherton as Richard Thornburg. These characters aren’t stereotypes. They are fleshed out, often relatable. McClane is one of my favorite characters because I understand his dilemma. He’s not there to stop terrorists. He’s there to hopefully reconnect with his estranged wife. The action sequences are crisp, brutal, and comprehensible. Die Hard didn’t rely on shaky cam. It wanted you to experience the action. I love everything about this movie. I don’t feel that there is a moment wasted.

10 / 10