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You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.
You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.
Die Hard Trilogy
the one line review:
classic shoot 'em up hero saves day
the overview
The role of John McClane made Bruce Willis's career. These films (Die Hard 1 at the very least) should be on the list of "all-time you must have seen this film else you're a nobody" films. It's a bit like The Matrix. A sort of film institution. Made famous by white vests, "ipykya muthafucker" and always escaping death, these films revolutionised the one man army style of film making.
the plot:
Die Hard
Lieutenant John McClane (Willis) has to save his wife from a big ass building which has been taken over by some terrorists. (More in depth: they're in LA, it's the Christmas party of his wife's office. Terrorists burst in take everyone hostage except McClane. He then runs about shooting people, saving the day.)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
McClane is waiting at the airport to pick his wife up off a plane. Some terrorists take over the airport and start causing havoc 'cos some big drug dude is being flown in to a different prison and they want to rescue him. McClane spends the next couple hours saving the day again.
Die Hard 3: Die Hard With a Vengeance
The brother of the evil dude in Die Hard 1 was a bit miffed about the death of said brother (McClane throws him off the roof of a 40 story skyscraper) and plots revenge, which involves John McClane and a random "samaritan" (Samuel Jackson) to do all sorts of random tasks around the city involving big bombs. Meanwhile, the evil terrorist is robbing a load of gold bullion from the Federal Reserve.
Die Hard 4.0
Now hang on, I said Die Hard Trilogy up there... Die Hard 4.0 is coming next year..!
the verdict:
These films are not sophisticated. The plotlines are flimsy, predictable, completely unoriginal and totally unbelievable. But that's not what these films are about. They're about big explosions, frantic chases, lots of fighting and shooting, and action heroes defeating all odds, defying death and saving the day. That's all. They don't try to be sophisticated and clever, which is why they work really well.
Certainly, the SFX of the first two films are quite dated now, and the acting is quite hammy, with a couple of really badly placed cheeseball lines, but we don't worry about them too much.
If you're an action junky, who likes their explosions big, loud and nonstop, then these films are for you.
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