Die Hard

A classic of the action genre. It’s brilliant, but it’s undeniable it was the first. Even Bruce Willis as the main hero was something new at that time and basically defined a new era of modern action heroes. From that moment on, there was no longer a 100-ton machine with machine guns in both hands eliminating hundreds of villains without a scratch. Now he had to be a cool likeable character who often paid for his recklessness with a drop of blood. John McTiernan, the director, was probably under the influence of some drugs because later (especially now), he would make one trash after another and he will probably never be able to return to the quality of his first films, neither in terms of form nor content (a genre pioneer). (20/04/2007)

What is the best thing about Die Hard? Bruce Willis! If anyone from the anonymous line of action characters appeared in the main role, it would be completely forgotten and no one could enjoy John McClane as the archetypal example of a reluctant hero. McTiernan also manages to present the action in a completely uncolored way and fearlessly builds the atmosphere of a several-story skyscraper with bloodied feet and a flood of black humor. It's just a shame about a few unforgivable and 80s humorous gaps, the rest is undeniable classic. (16/06/2007)

The film has an ingenious script, whose basic storyline axis has been done a thousand times, but which has never quite lived up to its quality. Then there’s McTiernan's inventive direction that has drive that is so uncompromising that he actually set the bar so high that no one (including himself) has ever surpassed it. There’s also the Christmas Eve atmosphere when it all went to shit, and Bruce Willis in the role of a lifetime as a tired and determined cop who spouts plenty of catchphrases. All of the aforementioned are the cornerstones of not only this film but of the action genre as a whole, which has never been better on screen since Die Hard. Two hours of ecstasy in the most luxurious packaging that only a dull ignoramus can't love! (24/09/2006)

The best action movie ever. An avalanche of catchphrases, inventive set-pieces and witty interactions between the characters that we immediately find our way to. Compared to John Woo's equally crammed shakes, Die Hard has the benefit of being more physically painful, more motivationally compelling and, despite the necessary overkill, more believable. Bruce Willis in the role of a lifetime to which he has devoted his soul. A delight. (27/04/2011)

I didn't think I could enjoy it so much after all these years, but the opposite is true. This is simply an excellent movie, and I couldn't even believe that my girlfriend and I decided to watch it instead of something romantic, and we both had a great time. We simply have to do this again sometime. And then the second part. And if there is no second part, then we'll watch the first one again, and it will be "Die Hard 2". (14/04/2014)