Die Hard

Ask a bunch of reasonably-educated film-fans what the best action movie of all time is and chances are a few of them will say Die Hard. Go on. Bet they will. Now, while many cinephiles might disagree and offer up the likes of Terminator 2, Raiders Of The Lost Ark or director John McTiernan’s earlier effort Predator, this high-rise thrill-ride is certainly up there. Sure it’s not as creative as T2, doesn’t have the globe-trotting scope of Raiders and just can’t come close to the latter for sheer sweltering tension, but as far as pure action flicks go, you’ll be hard pushed to find better.

It's Christmas Eve and New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) heads to Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife Holly for her work’s party on the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Plaza. However, shortly after he arrives, German terrorists led by the intelligent Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) take over the building and hold the remaining employees hostage while they attempt a lucrative robbery. With only a pistol and his bare feet, it's up to McClane to save the day.

Although undoubtedly dated in some respects (De'voreaux White's jive-talkin' limo driver, the horrendous office-chic fashions), as a pulse-pounding actioner Die Hard remains largely timeless. Blending the always-moving camerawork of cinematographer Jan De Bont (who'd helm the equally effective Speed) with his own muscular direction, McTiernan both re-ignited Hollywood's interest in the disaster flick while setting the benchmark for modern action flicks.

We start off with five minutes of set-up and character intros, but from then on the pace is largely relentless. A vertigo-inducing fall down an air shaft, a toe-curling crawl across broken glass, just doing anything in that vest... its all adrenaline-fuelled stuff. Unlike the countless imitators though, we're saved from a brainless explosion-fest by nice material in between the testosterone-packed set-pieces. McClane forming a quick-friendship with Reginald Veljohnson's on-the-outside cop over walkie-talkie gives us the heart, but its the moment where our hero breaks down in tears that really renders him as an everyman and not an - ahem - unbreakable superman.

Of course, Willis is superb in the role he'll always be associated with - thank the maker Richard Gere passed on the script! - simultaneously launching his action man career and giving a career-defining turn as the average Joe in extraordinary circumstances. Crucially he's also given a more than worthy foe in Hans Gruber, Alan Rickman providing a deliciously eloquent-yet-evil villain leagues ahead of the usual scenery-chewers. Yes, he was more entertaining as the Sheriff Of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but for eschewing the normal lily-livered monologuers, Rickman deserves infinite praise.

The best action movie ever? Perhaps. An awesome cat-and-mouse style actioner that re-defined the genre? Definitely.