1988
Directed by John McTiernan
Finally, a Christmas movie I can get behind. I think I generally find action films rather dull, but I always pause before I write off the genre with the thought "what about Die Hard?" Or Die Hard 3? I am pretending the other three didn't happen.
Who hasn't seen this? With the passing of Alan Rickman, it is downright disrespectful to have not seen this film. On Christmas Eve, John McClane, a New York City cop arrives in Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife Holly. He takes a limo (he's classy like that) to the new Nakatomi building where Holly is attending a work party. The party is disrupted by a group of heavily armed robbers, led by Hans Gruber. John manages to stay out of the sight and does his best to take them down one by one.
Prepare for some serious gushing. I adore everything about this film. Bruce Willis is cocky, but likable, and Alan Rickman makes for one the greatest movie villains of all time. I love stories that take place in closed time, closed place. We end up feeling as tense as the hostages. Although you have to wonder how many lives could have been saved if John had just butted out. Still, you can't help cheering for him.
On top of all of that, this is one of the most quotable movies of all time. Clearly, I have to stop before my enthusiasm starts to turn people off.
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
Al Pacino turned down the role of John McClane.
