Die Hard Review

Some time over the holidays, I had the inkling to check out some good Christmas films. Then I thought, "Forget that!" and went for something with a slight holiday theme to it, but mostly something out of the ordinary. When I returned home, I popped into my DVD Player...

...along with its first two sequels. I'd already seen Live Free Die Hard and was intent on observing the glory of the originals I had heard so much about.

Barely a minute of this movie left me without entertainment. From the hilarity of the protagonist's barking attitude to the continuous excitement the film never ceased to show off, my eyes were glued to the TV practically from start to finish.

When police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) visits his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) in Los Angeles for her company's Christmas Party, the entire building is suddenly taken hostage by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his gang of thugs. Desperate to reach the authorities for help, save his wife, and of course, survive, McClane goes through the fight of his life to make it through the building and protect the people in danger.

Action is pushed to the limit everywhere in this film. In the duration of the movie, McClane is put through hell on practically every inch of his body, rendered bleeding, limping and breathless by the end. He doesn't walk any of these injuries off, he takes them, pauses to recover, takes on another bad guy and repeats the process.

It's this sense of realism that truly brings out the true colours of McClane, a cut-the-bull character, with the manners of a sewer rat and yet a charm that draws the audience in. Put against the classy, always on top of things Gruber and McClane breaks out as a man who's ready to jump through the fire no matter what's on the other side. Both characters are calculating in their own actions and yet always act as if they're the ones in control.

Die Hard is a relatively simple plot, mostly in comparison to its sequels, but it has layers and does not disappoint in delivery. The stunts leave an explosive finish, the music is at times an odd but yet impressive choice and the film only continues to astound every time you think it's mark is deep enough.

I personally name Die Hard one of the greatest action films of all time.