The 1980s were a phenomenal time for movies, with The Terminator (1984) and Back to the Future (1985) just two of the major hits releasing in the decade. However, one action film came out in 1988 that not only helped to redefine the action genre, but sparked a debate that still occurs today, over 30 years later...
Bruce Willis as John McClane in Die Hard (1988) / Picture Credit: 20th Century Studios
Die Hard is one of the greatest action movies of all time; it is an iconic feature that not only has some incredible scenes and cast members, but an exceptional main character who embodies both anger and raw passion.
Cop John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, is a wonderfully simple character, in the sense that he is easy to get to know and understand, which makes him the perfect protagonist.
Die Hard sees McClane travel to LA to see his kids and estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), who moved to the city for work without her husband, as he simply did not want to go with her...
Once he arrives, he is taken to Nakatomi Plaza, where Holly works, and makes an appearance at her work’s Christmas Eve party; however, despite McClane and his wife trying to make amends, their dispute is about to be the least of their concerns.
While the party continues, terrorists quietly enter the Plaza and take over the whole building. Led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), the terrorists plan to steal money from the safe and escape, but the one thing they didn’t bank on happening, was McClane's refusal to let them win.
Once the terrorists establish themselves as being in charge, McClane begins his plan to take them down. Die Hard has a simplistic story and main character, and that’s what allows the action and brilliant dialogue to shine, as it isn’t hidden by an overly-complex narrative.
McClane is a wonderful character, to say the least. He has everything an action hero should have; gall, knowledge and passion, but he also has a softer side, a side that propels him to fight even harder to see his wife again.
He shows the perfect amount of emotion, as too much would take away from the excitement of the movie as a whole. However, McClane also exhibits sadness and regret at the perfect times; clearly kicking himself for not moving to LA with his family.
His conviction is admirable, and never falters throughout the whole ordeal. His dialogue is written perfectly, as he is someone you can get to know quickly and immediately root for.
Even his one-liners are iconic, with lines such as “Welcome to the party, pal!” and of course, “Yippie Ki-ay Motherf***er!” taking the movie to another level of incredible.
Not only is McClane one of the best action heroes we have, but the film itself is packed full of action, and has a perfectly-crafted story that paves the way for some incredible dialogue between characters and scenes that still hold up today.
The action within Die Hard is spread out beautifully; it doesn’t dominate every single scene, which works so well as it allows for McClane to shine in scenes he is on his own, and for the story to slow down for audiences to get to know the other characters within the movie, like Hans.
When the shooting begins, McClane holds his own for sure, but the movie does well to show that while he has the confidence and know-how to take the terrorists on, he isn’t bulletproof.
He gets hurt, and showing this also proves that he is human, which grounds the entire film. Die Hard shows how strong its characters are, both villain and hero, and gives them time to shine and show who they really are.
Audiences also see a wonderful friendship blossom, between McClane and LA cop Sergent Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson). McClane gets the cop’s attention by throwing a dead body onto the hood of his police car, and from then on, Powell does his best to help the hero, despite his colleagues and superiors not trusting McClane.
The film has also sparked a debate every single year that fans love to argue about: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Many argue for both sides, and while it seems definitive that it is a festive feature, next year’s (2022) holiday season will no doubt be home to the hilarious debate once again.
Essentially, Die Hard is the perfect action movie. McClane, Hans and other characters have the perfect opportunity to stand tall, the action sequences are perfectly created and shot, the dialogue is crafted with genuine care and thought, and the annual debate makes it a movie that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Watch the trailer for Die Hard below:
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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Tagged in Alan Rickman Bruce Willis Die Hard