Movies: A look back at Die Hard

With the impending release of "Live Free or Die Hard" in a few weeks, I thought it as good a time as any to take a look back at "Die Hard." Like most kids who grew up in the '90s, I saw the film on TV quite a number of times. I can see why it was so popular - while the actual plot was no great shakes, Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman own their roles (enough so that both will be typecast forever as hero and villain, respectively).

Most people view "Die Hard" as the prototypical summer action movie blockbuster, but a lot of them forget it's also a Christmas movie. My strongest impressions from the movie are the parts where Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" is busting out full blast. Sadly enough, the Christmas-themed action movie has never reached the same level of competence as was shown here (see Dean Cain's woeful Christmas TV movie "Christmas Rush" for an example).

The new "Die Hard" movie looks okay, but I'm not really looking forward to seeing it. I heard they were shooting for a PG-13 rating, which means we might not get to hear "Yippie-ki yay, motherf*****!" anytime soon. Generally I disapprove of the recent spate of "dumbed-down" action, horror, and comedy movies. If you're going to do a genre film, do it right.

Coming to theatres eventually - Die Hard 12: Die Hungry



This next parody's a bit rough around the edges, but it makes a good point. How would life for Mr. McClane be the day after?

Friend: Hey John, long time no see. What's up with you?
John: Oh...well. Did you hear about that Nakatomi thing?
Friend: That thing on the news? Don't really know much about it.
John: Well, last night I was trapped in a skyscraper fighting a team of German terrorists.
Friend: Whoa...really? Man...wow.
John: What's going on with you?
Friend: Oh. I bought a condo.