hey guys, im and 18 year old student. I love everything computer related.
Having started to rate...
hey guys, im and 18 year old student. I love everything computer related.
Having started to rate a lot of reviews I've realisd how annoying badly layout reviews are (its really important).
Member since:25.11.2005
Reviews:18
Members who trust:13
Ok, I've just remade this review, as it was my first and probably my worst. My first review contained mostly irrelevant and not nearly enough information as many people told me, so here goes with attempt number 2.
--- Brief Synopsis --- John McClane is a police officer from New York who flies into LA to spend Christmas with his wife and kids. On flying in he is picked up by a limo from the Nakatomi Corporation (who his wife works for). Due to his wife getting promoted she now lives out in LA, this has put a strain on the relationship, and this is compounded when he finds out that she is now using her maiden name.
McClane arrives at Nakatomi Plaza (a 40 story skyscraper and the setting for the movie) during the Christmas party. Unfortunately for this family reunion his is quickly followed by a group of well armed European Terrorists/Bank Robbers headed by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who are determined to get the $640 million in negotiable bearer bond held in the company safe.
What ensues is mayhem with a classic (but in no way dull) cat and mouse chase. McClane slowly starts to take out the group one at a time. Not surprisingly this leads to a tremendous climax between McClane and Gruber which fortunately does not end as an anti-climax.
--- Characters and Performances
---
John McClane is the hero, he is a Lieutenant in the NYPD and simply becomes pissed off as the film goes on. Bruce plays this role really well, despite not being the first choice for the role (Schwarzenegger, Stallone Burt Reynolds and Richard Gere were all asked before him). His wife Holly, is managing director of the LA branch of the Nakatomi Corporation, and as the film progresses she is forced to speak for the hostages. A great performance by Bonnie Bedelia compliments Willis' performance leading to great reaction in the final climax.
Reginald VelJohnson plays Sgt. Al Powell how helps out McClane from the group, and acts as his friend to help him get through everything. He plays the role well acting as an effective sounding board for McClane's Ideas.
Alan Rickman plays the leader of the 'terrorist' group Hans Gruber. He seems born to play this role adding his own personal tint to this role, providing a great villain that you love to hate. This side of him is one again seen again when he plays Prof. Snape in the Harry Potter films.
The performances of the supporting cast are also very good, they don't let the main characters down and the film is not soley dependant on them for good performances. Notable performances include William Atherton who plays Richard Thornburg, an anything for the story reporter who almost ruins everything for McClane.
--- Cast List ---
Bruce Willis - John McClane (the hero) Reginald VelJohnson - Sgt. Al Powell (the unwitting sidekick and sounding board) Bonnie Bedelia - Holly McClane (the wife and eventual leader of the hostages) William Atherton - Richard Thornburg (the reporter who almost ruins everything) De'voreaux White - Argyle (the limo driver and provider of hilarity during the film Alan Rickman - Hans Gruber (leader of the terrorists, and generally a greedy guy) James Shigeta - Joseph Takagi (Holly's boss whom the terrorist use to try and get into the safe) Robert Davi - FBI Special Agent Johnson (the two agents attempt to take back the building with mixed results) Grand L. Bush - FBI Agent Johnson (as above)
--- Vital Stats ---
Discs - 2 Run Time - 126 Aspect - widescreen (16:9) Director - John McTiernan (also directed; Basic, Rollerball, Die Hard 3, The Hunt for Red October) Writers - Roderick Thorp (original novel; Nothing Lasts Forever), Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza (screenplay Languages - English (Dolby 5.1) Subtitles - Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, English. Year of Release - 1988
--- Special Features ---
Disc 1: - Digitally re-mastered main feature - Audio Commentaries from Director (McTiernan) and Production Designer (Jackson Degovia) - Scene Specific Commentary by Visual Effects Producer (Richard Edlund) - Text commentary (Cast and Crew) Special Branching Version (view the film with deleted scenes re-inserted)
Disc 2: - The Cutting Room (use different angles in scenes to remake the film differently) - Audio Mixing (manipulate the sound effects, music and dialog - Featurette; 'Why Letterbox?' - Outtakes with Deleted / Alternate scenes - Newscasts (original news reports from when the film was first released) - 3 Theatrical Trailers
This edition is packed with special features which makes the experience so much better. The re-mastered addition makes it so much better, and the audio commentaries and a whole new dimension. The cutting room is some what limited, but is has some interesting effects and is great with friends.
--- Cost and Availability ---
The standard rrp is £22.99, and is available from all big video stores (eg HMV Virgin Megasores etc.). However for the cheapest rates check out Amazon, where you can get it as low as £8.97.
--- Overall Thoughts ---
I love this film, and I would say it is one of the best films of all time. The early performance from Bruce Willis is inspired. For the price the special features are great as is the film in general. I would recommend this film to you unreservedly. I hope this is helped, and is better than the first one.
Chris
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Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
This seminal 1988 thriller made Bruce Willis a star and established a new template for ... more
action stories: "Terrorists take over a (blank) and a lone hero, unknown to the villains, is trapped with them." InDie Hard, those bad guys, led by the velvet-voiced...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
This seminal 1988 thriller made Bruce Willis a star and established a new template for ... more
action stories: "Terrorists take over a (blank) and a lone hero, unknown to the villains, is trapped with them." InDie Hard, those bad guys, led by the velvet-voiced...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
This seminal 1988 thriller made Bruce Willis a star and established a new template for ... more
action stories: "Terrorists take over a (blank) and a lone hero, unknown to the villains, is trapped with them." InDie Hard, those bad guys, led by the velvet-voiced...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
New York cop John McClane facing Christmas alone flies to Los Angeles to see his ... more
estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) and their kids in an attempt to patch things up. He arrives at his wife's high tech office building in the middle of their Christma...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Great action scenes which keep you hooked right the way through Disadvantages: Re-watching it will expose some plot holes and ideas which are fantastical
![Die Hard (Two Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1989]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78512308.jpg "Die Hard (Two Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1989]")
![Die Hard (Two Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1989]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/70950492.jpg "Die Hard (Two Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1989]")
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