DIE HARD Is Probably The Best Action Movie Ever

Time to celebrate the season by analyzing my favorite Christmas movie, Die Hard. It counts, it counts!

Released in 1988, John McTiernan's masterpiece Die Hard is actually loosely based off the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp (Die Hard should be viewed instead of reading the novel, believe me). Bruce Willis plays New York cop John McClane, visiting his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at her job's Christmas party in L.A. However, during the festivities, the building is seized by twelve armed men led by the sinister Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). McClane sneaked by, and now armed with only his wits and his service pistol he needs to take back the building and save his wife.

Die Hard is probably the best action movie ever. And I'm not alone in saying this so this is more than just my opinion. Everything about this movie is perfect. Willis is likable and bad-ass as McClane, spouting quotable profane lines ("Yippeekiyay mother....") and pushing himself to the limit to save himself and the hostages. Alan Rickman's Gruber is one of the best movie villains ever. His character just oozes charm and slime, making you love to hate him. Also, Reginald Veljohnson as a cop down in the streets is a fantastic partner to McClane, aiding him with reports and company via Walkie Talkie. The cinematography is fantastic and Michael Kamen's score just racks up the tension.

"Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

But the reason why Die Hard is so fantastic is the premise. Here we have one man, out of his jurisdiction, jet-lagged, and bare foot running through a 40 story building because the LAPD is too bumbling to know what will help and what won't. In this way you automatically start rooting for McClane, not only to get his wife back, but because the actual authorities are far from aiding the situation, and usually make it worse. Also, McClane isn't like Rambo or any Schwarzenegger role. McClane gets shot, his feet get mutilated, and his bones are probably saw dust by the end of the film. McClane is a vulnerable man, and we can relate to and sympathize with him all the more.

And even though there is some Hollywood ridiculousness, Die Hard is believable. The action sequences are intense, and you realize that something like this could actually happen. Hostile takeovers happen all the time, and frankly, this is what we want to happen every time we read about one. And even the stuff that isn't believable, you have to admit....it's pretty friggin' awesome.

Dat firehouse scene...

Die Hard had four sequels, and they were all good (the fifth not so much...), but in each film following they pushed the envelope on realism until it fell out of the mailbox and into the road. So if you haven't seen Die Hard, stop reading this and go watch it. I guarantee you won't regret it. It's probably the best action film ever made, after all.