 | | Additional Information about Die Hard
Portions of this page Copyright 1981 - 2008 Muze Inc.  All rights reserved.
| Movie description | One of the greatest action movies of the late 1980s, DIE HARD ushered in a new standard for the genre. With the dissolution of the Cold War, both the stereotypical Russian threat (represented in movies such as TOP GUN and RED DAWN) and the destructive egoist (as seen in OCTOPUSSY) became less fearful. With DIE HARD, director John McTiernan introduced Hollywood to a new type of villain: the terrorist entrepreneur. Alan Rickman stars as Hans Gruber, a relentless businessman whose lethal tactics achieve his goals. Unlike most '80s film villains who committed globally dangerous acts for liberty, genocide, or megalomania, DIE HARD's Gruber uses guns, explosives, and cunning to storm the Takagi Corporation's Christmas party and heist millions of dollars from the company. In addition, DIE HARD also saw the development of the clumsy or bad luck hero with John McClane (Bruce Willis), a man in the wrong place at the wrong time who chooses to intervene. Action fans would see this misfit hero archetype again in UNDER SIEGE (Steven Segal) and THE PHANTOM MENACE (Jar Jar Binks). Although DIE HARD contains many action movie cliches (one-liners, pyrotechnics), it also broke new ground in its genre.
| | Credits | | Producer: | Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon | | Cast: | Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Bruce Willis, Clarence Gilyard, De'voreaux White, Hart Bochner, Mary Ellen Trainor, Paul Gleason, Reginald VelJohnson, Robert Davi |
| | Details | | Edition: | Widescreen | | Sound: | HiFi Sound, Stereo Sound, THX Sound |
| | Notes | Color by DeLuxe; shot in Panavision.
Estimated budget $28 million. Bruce Willis was reportedly paid $5 million to appear in the film.
Began shooting November 2, 1987; shot on location in Los Angeles, California.
Released theatrically in the USA July 20, 1988.
Shown at the London Film Festival November 27, 1988.
Film debut for British stage actor Alan Rickman.
Rated BBFC 18 by the British Board of Film Classification.
| | Editorial reviews | Rating: A-
Entertainment Weekly - Robin F. Schwartz
"...It works....Relentless energy and smashing special-effects extravagance..."
New York Times - Caryn James
"...A triumph of well-oiled mechanical precision that performs miracles of destruction. As a grand flourish of cinematic technique, it is awesome..."
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas (07/15/1988)
"...DIE HARD is still the definitive action thriller. Alan Rickman delivers a deliciously ruthless Hollywood debut at the eloquent villain..."
Total Film - Nev Pierce (06/01/2000)
"A seductive mix of machismo and humility, Willis reinvented the reluctant hero for the action age."
Premiere - Premiere Staff (04/01/2004)
|
| | The seller, audio8577, assumes full responsibility for the content of this listing and the item offered.
|
|
| |
Track up to 10 items on this computer in 
)
