Die Hard

I forget how old I was but the first time I saw "Die Hard" was thanks to my babysitter. That may have been the last time she was employed by my parents now that I think about it. Back then, I didn't know what movie it was but years later when I saw it again, I made the connection. The best quality of this show is that it is fun. There is also originality. It would have been an awesome show if it had not been for all the swearing.

One reason from the start of "Die Hard" as to why it is fun has to do with the passage of time since the movie's release. The film was fun when it first came out but it is enjoyable on a different level in recent years because of how outdated technology is in the movie. Features of the limo just make us laugh nowadays. I bet John wishes he could punch that guy on the plane for suggesting that he take off his shoes and socks. The story showcases a lot of stupid cops and FBI agents and this makes the film less realistic but for good reason. Because the film seems less realistic, we are able to accept the action and violence we see. After reading up on the making of this movie, it is amazing that "Die Hard" did as well as it did because the story was being rewritten during filming. For example, Alan Rickman's ability to pull off an American accent resulted in the creation of the scene where Hans and John meet for the first time. Even during postproduction, changes were made. When John fails to grab the ledge he is reaching for in the ventilation shaft, it was an actual mistake by the stuntman but the shot was used anyways. Another reason why this show is fun is the musical score. Michael Kamen uses classical songs and music in the score such as the 9th Symphony to great effect from an entertainment standpoint. One fun fact I enjoy concerning production has to do with the slow motion shot of Hans' death. Alan Rickman was dropped 70 feet on a green screen set but Hans' look of fear is real because Rickman fell sooner than he was expecting, a trick which he did not like. I wanted Dwayne Robinson to get some comeuppance so that was a bit of a let down at the end of the movie. I enjoy the fact that the corporate headquarters of Fox (then unfinished) was used as a set. One scene was shot on a floor that was actually under construction.

Frank Sinatra was first offered the role of John McClane having already portrayed on the big screen one of author Roderick Thorp's characters but Sinatra said no. Then Schwarzenegger was approached but he declined as did Stallone, Richard Gere, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and Harrison Ford until finally the role landed in the hands of a TV comedy actor: Bruce Willis. I don't think these other action stars lost out because the movie would have been an average summer hit if any of them took on the role thanks to their star power. "Die Hard" became what it was because the casting of Willis gave the story originality. If Clint Eastwood had played John McClane for instance, then "Die Hard" would have been an Eastwood movie. The same goes for any of those star actors. "Die Hard" would have become just another film in a long filmography. We instead get to cheer for a guy who was then an unknown. We focus more on the story as a result. This film was Alan Rickman's first big Hollywood role and it had a large impact. The American Film Institute on its list of the top 50 villains has Hans Gruber as #46. I believe that Rickman's vocal performance is his best characteristic in any movie he does. While "Die Hard" technically first exposed me to Willis and Rickman, it wasn't until later movies that they became cemented in my mind ("Armageddon" and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" respectably). "Die Hard" has fun supporting characters as well. My favorite characters in this show happen to be African American. As a young boy, I immediately recognized Reginald VelJohnson from TV's "Family Matters". He is probably the reason why I stayed up to watch this movie with my babysitter. Clarence Gilyard's performance as Theo stands out. Having an American as one of the bad guys stirs up the pot nicely. Another great supporting actor is De'voreaux White. I love how Argyle is able to listen in on the action and root for John from below the building in his limo. Cinematographer Jan De Bont would later in his career direct hit movies such as "Speed" and "Twister". He adds a great moment in "Die Hard" when Karl is killed. It is a great send off for the action portion of the movie as we slowly see who fires the shots to save John's life.

If I seemingly enjoyed this movie, why did I not give it a higher rating? I am not a huge fan of extremely action violence anyways but the biggest problem I have with "Die Hard" was the amount of swearing. My personal viewpoint is that high amounts of vulgar words demonstrate a lack of creativity because there are a limited number of swear words in English when compared to the rest of the dictionary. Instead of limiting the amount of swearing, the screenwriters instead use the same words over and over. Am I to understand that it is acceptable from a creative standpoint to reuse a word more than fifty times because it is the F-word? Seriously? If there had been fifty uses of the word "monkey" for example, critics would have deemed that as unimaginative. Evidence of my point includes the fact that even the sequels cut back on the F-word so as to appeal to broader audiences. You don't need swearing to make a hit movie. Some may say that large amounts of swearing are an accurate portrayal of every day language. Speak for yourself potty mouth. Actually, they have a point and it is shows how society has a lack of self control.

On a more positive note, "Die Hard" received four Oscar nominations and initiated the Die Hard franchise, which has a total of five films to date. The undershirt Bruce Willis wears in the first film is now in the Smithsonian as part of American history. The plot has become a staple by which other similar film stories are compared to. Unintentionally, "Die Hard" has even become a Christmas tradition. I saw it on the big screen in December as part of a special screening as a matter of fact. This is one of the few Christmas movies where you don't see any snow. AFI has this movie on another list for thrilling movies at #39. I do enjoy myself as I watch "Die Hard" but not because of the swearing. Other cinematic aspects make this show fun.

3.5 Stars