Why is 'Die Hard' so perfect?

[ultimatefan]

yeah, I agree...it was just artistic license I was using to make my argument a little more coherent. What I meant, or was implying, is that it was made in a time before the super-blockbuster...and like you say when there was a demand for r-rated movies like predator, lethal weapon, commando etc...and most of these movies were very pro-gun

Oh yeah, before a studio would spend Ibiza´s PNB on a movie and hype up the hell out of it before release and pray for breaking opening weekend records...

 

[Electro UK]

This thread is making me want to buy the collectors edition DVD.

You KNOW you want to. Die Hard is not just a perfect movie, its perfect full stop. Wars have been waged over it, because its worth fighting for. The funny thing is, I can remember EVERY time I watched Die Hard... which on total (no joke) amounts to... 49... and I'm only 16.

I just watch it ALL the time, it is my favorite thing in the universe. Bigger than Jesus, better than sex. Its just incredible. Die Hard. Die. Hard. DIE. HARD! No two words have ever fitted so beautifully together. When the film was finished, the makers said to themselves "Truly, we are kings amoung mere mortals."

DIE HARD!
Muera Duramente!
Mourir Fort!
Sterben Sie Hart! (Germany have 3 words for it )
Morire Duro!
Sterf Hard!
Умрите Трудно!
ダイ・ハード!
很難改變!

It sounds good in whatever language you say it (2nd to last is Japanese, last is Chinese and 3rd to last is Russian).

 

[Lord Valumart]

LMAO t: t: t:
This seriously made me laugh out loud

it may be funny, but it's true

 

[jimmylace]

^ in russian, the title of die hard translates as "a tough nut to crack" wouldnt have quite the same ring to it in english.

Okay so the spidey-3 board is pretty much dead due to the lack of the news and I'm at that kind of point where I've had my fill of spidey scoops, so I think we should try and keep this thread alive t:


Live Free or Die Hard- great AICN script review-end of the world stuff sounds promising.....director Len Wiseman...not so good. What are your thoughts about the next Die Hard movie????? Excited?

 

[Dr. Fate]

Watching it now, first time in like a year and a half maybe? Jesus H. Christ, what a movie...

* Cool hero? Check.

* Cool bad guy? Check.

* Cool sidekick, and great bond of friendship between the hero and him? Check

* A female character that not only is not annoying, but actually helps the plot and is very believable? Check.

* Awesome script, that apart from being tight, it's actually witty and funny (not forced and/or annoying like most action movies today)? Check

* Amazing, and I mean AMAZING action? Check.

* Argyle? Check. (Yes, he's a category unto himself....because he's a cool motherf***er.)

Such a rewatchable movie.

No annoying prettyboy models that try to pass as action stars, no "plucky" female characters, no precocious kids, no horrible pop soundtrack (except what Argyle listens to, but he can because he rocks).

In my humple opinion, THE perfect American action movie.

Often imitated, never equaled.

Yep. Die Hard forever.

 

[Electro UK]

^ in russian, the title of die hard translates as "a tough nut to crack" wouldnt have quite the same ring to it in english.

Okay so the spidey-3 board is pretty much dead due to the lack of the news and I'm at that kind of point where I've had my fill of spidey scoops, so I think we should try and keep this thread alive t:


Live Free or Die Hard- great AICN script review-end of the world stuff sounds promising.....director Len Wiseman...not so good. What are your thoughts about the next Die Hard movie????? Excited?

I'm scared to DEATH that its gonna suck, I really really am. If it does, I'm gonna pretend it doesn't exist and isn't a part of the Die Hard Masterworks.

 

[ultimatefan]

You KNOW you want to. Die Hard is not just a perfect movie, its perfect full stop. Wars have been waged over it, because its worth fighting for. The funny thing is, I can remember EVERY time I watched Die Hard... which on total (no joke) amounts to... 49... and I'm only 16.

I just watch it ALL the time, it is my favorite thing in the universe. Bigger than Jesus, better than sex. Its just incredible. Die Hard. Die. Hard. DIE. HARD! No two words have ever fitted so beautifully together. When the film was finished, the makers said to themselves "Truly, we are kings amoung mere mortals."

DIE HARD!
Muera Duramente!
Mourir Fort!
Sterben Sie Hart! (Germany have 3 words for it )
Morire Duro!
Sterf Hard!
Умрите Трудно!
ダイ・ハード!
很難改變!

It sounds good in whatever language you say it (2nd to last is Japanese, last is Chinese and 3rd to last is Russian).

Duro de Matar! (Portuguese)

 

[블라스]

Duro de Matar! (Portuguese)

LOL!
Exact same title in Spanish

 

[Chris Wallace]

Watching it now, first time in like a year and a half maybe? Jesus H. Christ, what a movie...

* Cool hero? Check.

* Cool bad guy? Check.

* Cool sidekick, and great bond of friendship between the hero and him? Check

* A female character that not only is not annoying, but actually helps the plot and is very believable? Check.

* Awesome script, that apart from being tight, it's actually witty and funny (not forced and/or annoying like most action movies today)? Check

* Amazing, and I mean AMAZING action? Check.

* Argyle? Check. (Yes, he's a category unto himself....because he's a cool motherf***er.)

Such a rewatchable movie.

No annoying prettyboy models that try to pass as action stars, no "plucky" female characters, no precocious kids, no horrible pop soundtrack (except what Argyle listens to, but he can because he rocks).

In my humple opinion, THE perfect American action movie.

Often imitated, never equaled.

Why is Die Hard so perfect? Because John McClain isn't. He's an ordinary man fighting seemingly impossible odds & when he succeeds, he does not come out of it smelling like a rose. As outlandish as this movie was, it still maintains a believability factor.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Why is Die Hard so perfect? Because John McClain isn't. He's an ordinary man fighting seemingly impossible odds & when he succeeds, he does not come out of it smelling like a rose. As outlandish as this movie was, it still maintains a believability factor.

Exactly, that's why the movie is great, John McClane is Arh-nold or Stallone, he's an everyman, not overly muscular or even in shape. He's not a karate expert, he's a street fighter, always playing against the rules and authority. One of my favorite movies.

 

[Armand Z Trip]

Exactly, that's why the movie is great, John McClane is Arh-nold or Stallone, he's an everyman, not overly muscular or even in shape. He's not a karate expert, he's a street fighter, always playing against the rules and authority. One of my favorite movies.

Agreed. McClane is a working guy who swears, argues, fights and smokes like a working guy. There is no briefcase full of money, magical powers or bimbos for him. And like a working guy, when reaches out to the authorities for help, not only is there no help, he is insulted for daring to ask.

 

[Chris Wallace]

And had his wife not been endangered, he might not have even gotten involved.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

And like a working guy, when reaches out to the authorities for help, not only is there no help, he is insulted for daring to ask.

Oh yeah, one of the best part's of the movie, "What does it sound like I'm ordering an f'ing pizza?!?!"

 

[JackBauer]

VERY summed up version of what was the best.

1) the characters. John is the badass we all wished we were. Al is that friend you wish you had. Hans is the ultimate "love to hate" villain.

2) the dialogue. all over. specially between John/Hans and John/Al. not to mention some classic action movie one-liners.

3) the chemistry. it was simply un-f***in-believable. they managed to have this amazing chemistry between characters who didn't even know each, who didn't even meet. when John notices he's talking to Hans, you almost expect him to say "We meet again." when John meets Al, it's like they've been friends since forever.

4) the action. nothing TOO over the top, and they always make sure to make it as tense as possible.

5) the actors. Willis is irrepleaceable. no one has ever managed to make this kind of character quite like him. and Reginald Veljohnson makes one of the most likeable cops in film history, who can still be tough as nails when he has to.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Would that all action movies could follow such a formula. You end up liking everybody. Was it just me, or did a small part of you want Hans to get away?

 

[PyroChamber]

I see this movie at least 3 or 4 times a month, they show it all the time on Fox Movie Channel, this and Die Hard with a Vengence. And I watch it every change I get. Was I the only who liked Al the cop?

 

[Chris Wallace]

Was I the only who liked Al the cop?

Hell, no. The posters on this thread give him almost as much credit for their enjoyment of the movie as they give John.

 

[블라스]

Hell no!
Al rocks!
I don't think I've ever known someone who didn't LOVE Sgt. Al Powell

 

[Chris Wallace]

So you see, PC, you can't have Al all to yourself. Hell, let's just throw out reasons why we like him.
At times, he gave John very much-needed mopral support.

 

[블라스]

He stood up for John when that dumbass Police Chief came to mess everything up

 

[Carmine Falcone]

He bought a ****load of doughnuts.

 

[블라스]

He knew the Twinkie ingredients

 

[Chris Wallace]

"They're shooting at the lights..."
I swear I thought he was gonna tag "Dumb@$$" on the end of that sentence.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Oh, and he had no problem getting in his idiot boss's face.
And he & John were on the same page throughout the movie.
"LAPD's not calling the shots anymore."
"Feds?"
"Yup."

 

[블라스]

Plus their kids were going to play together