Die Hard DVD > Reviews > Happy Trails!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
Soundtrack	Good

Advantages:	Good acting, easy to buy on video and DVD
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"Die Hard" was released as a very un-traditional Christmas film in 1988 but I didn't see it until 1997. It is rather a lot more than a typical action film.

On Christmas Eve John McClaine, a New York cop goes to LA to visit his estranged wife at her company's Christmas party, which is being held on the top floor of a huge skyscraper. The building is invaded by apparent terrorists and John has to save himself and everyone else. Of course, even this nasty situation isn't what it seems. With the help of a police officer, many fights later, McClaine finds out what is going on and there's an explosive ending.

The main cast are Bruce Willis (John), Bonnie Bedelia, (Holly McClaine), Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber), Reginald Velijohnson (Al) and William Atherton, as a stereotypical, nasty tabloid TV journalist (are there no nice reporters?!). The acting from all concerned is really quite good.

"Die Hard" may now seem OTT in places. Alan Rickman's villain in particular seems to fit into the section of "acceptable" criminal stereotypes - Germans or Brits - but let's remember that this film based on a novel was the forerunner for many similar action films we see today.

What makes "Die Hard" stand out is that it is quite intelligent. Apart from the witty one-liners and the fact that the hero is shown literally, as flesh and blood, we also have implicit criticism of other violent films and macho behaviour. In fact, it's hard not to agree with Gruber when he is making acidic comments about US gun culture and people acting like "cowboys". Also, McClaine himself complains that the police are being all "macho" when they go in, literally guns blazing. He's very much a reluctant hero.

McClaine is also not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. He is not too different to Gruber in some ways. Gruber may be holding people to ransom, but McClaine has also held his wife to ransom, basically. He has split up with her because he didn't like her having her own mind and career. If Holly (a good name for a Christmas film!), didn't do as he wanted, he was going to leave. He only comes round when he almost dies. He's very stubborn.

Also, he criticises the police for not being able to handle a bit of glass falling down on them, but later in the film, when he gets covered in glass he has a very painful wake-up call to the realities of such injuries.

Following on from this look at masculinity, the role of women is interesting - there really aren't many women in this film at all. The women aren't involved in commiting the crimes, the women aren't in the police or the FBI and of course, the star is a man. We have Holly but she gets into a pickle about changing her surname; she's almost just McClaine's extension. Of course, the name changing business has plot ramifications but it's also significant to her role as a person.

One woman works for the TV news company but she's just in a supporting role. Another woman is pregnant and that's the only reason she's even mentioned and a 4th woman is also working in a domestic role. There is very little that is revolutionary here. So, no matter how often and in which ways the film looks at ideas surrounding gender and challenges them, we still basically have a film with a tasty man running around with a gun and being a big hero. We also have violence and huge explosions which is of course what we like to see from time to time. Action films are just that - full of action! Whereas some hostages think that talking will get them through and pay the ultimate price for it , McClaine knows action - the right kind of action - will work.

Another thing I like about this film is McClaine's hatred of bureaucracy. He is a Maverick cop to a large extent. Ok, it's not exactly original but it's fun. Compare him to the rest of the police and in particular the FBI. The two FBI agents have the same surname - Johnson - and while this provides some much needed comedy, it's also a good point. They are almost faceless and have no individual identity. They also, like most of the LAPD, insist on doing everything by the book. I can only assume the FBI often get a bad press in the USA.

The film is confusing in some places, especially when McClaine is wandering around in the dark a lot but the pace doesn't really slow down until the end credits roll. It's interesting most of the way through and of course, the bad guys don't win!

This brings me to the soundtrack. The use of "Let It Snow" is not only seasonal but also rather perverse, as the remains of the skyscraper, money and paper are literally dropping to the ground like snow.

Director John McTiernan and the cast of "Die Hard" have given us a modern action classic. Apart from the big hair and some clothes, it doesn't seem to have dated much. There is very little in it which suggests that this film was made in 1988. Maybe nowadays, we would be wondering why McClaine didn't just use his mobile phone to call the police, but other than that, it stands the test of time.

Two sequels followed, as well as various bits of merchandise including videos, DVDs and computer games. "Die Hard 4" should be out soon but it will reportedly be the last instalment. Maybe Willis - who became famous in his late 20s - is getting too old to run around with guns in a vest!