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Number of Times Seen – Seriously too many to count (Video, Cable, DVD, 4 May 2000, Jan 2012, 24 Nov 2013, 30 Nov 2014, 4 Nov 2015, 11 Nov 2015, 13 Jul 2017, 3 Dec 2017, 30 Jul 2018 and 2 Apr 2019)
Link to original review – Here Here Here Here Here, Here and Here
Brief Synopsis – A NYC detective visiting his family in LA gets trapped in an office building after it is taken over by terrorists.
My Take on it – When Darren first told me about this month’s theme, I didn’t hesitate for even a second before choosing this film as one of my picks.
Darren claims that I would use any excuse to rewatch this film and he’s partially right; since I never need an excuse to see this movie, cause I love watching it so much.
This is an amazing action film that actually changed the way people looked and perceived what action movies are ever since it came out.
They were able to create a sub genre of action films that is still in high demand even after 30 years; the idea of an every-man facing off against a group of terrorists in a perceived unwinnable situation.
Bruce Willis was superbly cast in the lead and with this performance, he showed everyone that even without the physique of Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, it’s still possible to play the role of action hero and in some ways even make things seem more plausible and realistic.
Alan Rickman also is excellent here because he was able to create a villain who doesn’t feel like a stereotype or caricature and yet still holds an amazing screen presence without the need to over do things while still staying devious, cunning and even soft spoken throughout.
The story has a great mixture of action and suspense while giving us vulnerable characters who are able to even pepper in a bit of humorous lines of dialogue along the way.
This is truly an iconic action film that despite the hundreds (???) of doppelgangers created over the years, has yet to be surpassed in the way it presents thing so near perfectly.
Bottom Line – Amazing film that was able to change the way action films are perceived especially since it’s able to create a sub genre dealing with an every-man against terrorists. Willis is superb in this film and was able to show that he can play the role of action hero despite not having the physique normally associated with these kind of films. Rickman also helped create a new archetype of villain who is soft spoken and devious and doesn’t feel like a caricature or stereotype at all. The story is able to mix action, suspense and vulnerability of the hero while also peppering in some humorous lines along the way. Such an iconic action film that has yet to be surpassed by any of its doppelgangers over the 3 decades plus since it came out. Highly Highly Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Director John McTiernan found it necessary to smash cut away from Hans Gruber’s face whenever he fired a gun, because of Alan Rickman’s uncontrollable habit of flinching from the noise and muzzle flash. If you look at Rickman’s face when he shoots Takagi, you can see him wincing. (From IMDB)
Rating – Oscar Worthy (10/10) (no change from original review)
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