Day 43/44: Die Hard 1-3

Counting this as days 43 & 44 to make up for that day I missed and to get back on track, watching these 3 movies should make up for that (07/15)

Background
I found out about a pricing error this week. Basically the collection to the left was priced at $7.50 and it includes a free ticket to the new Die Hard movie. Yippee Ki Yay Motherfuckers.

So today I checked out the first Die Hard, and after that was in the mood to watch the rest, so that's what happened to my day. Let's hit it.

Die Hard (1988)

The one that started it all. Terrorists, led by Alan Rickman, take over a skyscraper and John McClane is there to take them down.

Random Connections

• The guy who talks to Bruce Willis over the CB radio throughout the movie is the dad from Family Matters.

• The City Worker who pops out of the sewer is none other than Henry from Blank Check. I was like "I know that voice....it's the John Candy wannabe limo driver from Blank Check!" And guess what, Die Hard has a comic relief limo driver as well, so this dude has been in two movies involving limo drivers in secondary roles. Shit I never would have expected so many Blank Check connections during this movie a day thing, but here we are.

And since I never got to put up a poster from Blank Check, here's one now:

• Oh yeah this is also Alan Rickman's feature film debut, and among other things he's Snape in the Harry Potter movies, which were talked about a few days ago.

• The deputy police chief was played by Paul Gleason who was the principal in The Breakfast Club, and he was also in a lot of other stuff.

• This last one isn't so random, but the cinematographer for this, Jan de Bont, got into directing a few years later, and his first movie was Speed.

Thoughts
I liked this a lot, I saw the ending on TV once but never the whole thing. Should have seen this sooner. Once the action starts it doesn't stop.

Rating
Aww Hell Yeah!

Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

People were right, this is like Die Hard but with airplanes. It was pretty random that it took place at Dulles of all places. Who knew Centreville could be the center of so much action. Oh yeah and since when did it snow so much during Christmastime in this area anyway?

So John McClane is back, and this time there is trouble at the airport. This movie isn't as good as the first movie, but it's still pretty good. It had some cool moments and surprises.

Rating
Oh hell yeah.

Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)

This time we add Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons. I saw this on video a while back, and now it's time to see it again.

Okay so in this one, Jeremy Irons plays Simon, the brother of Alan Rickman's character from the first movie. He's pissed, and as a part of his big plan, makes John McClane and Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) play a high stakes game of Simon Says. I always liked the puzzles that Simon made them do.

So this is the first movie that gives John McClane a 'partner' but it's a good addition. It takes the series in a different direction which is pretty cool. And as with the other Die Hards, this one has a good amount of shit getting blown up.

Rating
Oh Hell Yeah.