The Five Greatest Movies of All Time - #5
Critical acclaim be damned, and great acting means nothing if you're not remembered. I make this list based solely on their cultural impact, their endurance, and just because I think they're so damned cool. Argue all you want, you know I'm right. Deep down, you know.
Number 5: Die Hard
Directed by: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman
The greatest action movie of all time, that all action movies that followed were desperately trying to copy. John McClane redefined the action hero, which before was trapped in the uber-macho, confident and indestructible mold of Rambo or Commando, infusing self-doubt, fear, and pain (running on broken glass, barefoot?) and allowing the hero to be more heroic just by overcoming these frailties.
The good guy has to match up with the villain, and Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber is quite possibly the best action villain of all time. He's not stupid, and he even manages to trick McClane for a while, saving his own skin. But as shrewd as he is, he's so sleazy and greedy, that you never find yourself liking him.
The best scene in the film? After killing the first of the theives, McClane sends his body to the rest of the gang via the elevator, but not before painting a message on the dead guy's shirt. "Ho ho ho. Now I have a Machine Gun." Message sent.
Number 5: Die Hard
Directed by: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman
The greatest action movie of all time, that all action movies that followed were desperately trying to copy. John McClane redefined the action hero, which before was trapped in the uber-macho, confident and indestructible mold of Rambo or Commando, infusing self-doubt, fear, and pain (running on broken glass, barefoot?) and allowing the hero to be more heroic just by overcoming these frailties.
The good guy has to match up with the villain, and Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber is quite possibly the best action villain of all time. He's not stupid, and he even manages to trick McClane for a while, saving his own skin. But as shrewd as he is, he's so sleazy and greedy, that you never find yourself liking him.
The best scene in the film? After killing the first of the theives, McClane sends his body to the rest of the gang via the elevator, but not before painting a message on the dead guy's shirt. "Ho ho ho. Now I have a Machine Gun." Message sent.