CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'Die Hard' (1988)

Bruce Willis in 'Die Hard'“Die Hard” (1988)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: John McTiernen
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson and Robert Davi

The Gist: John McClane is easy to like — but hard to kill."

The Story: John and his wife, Holly, have hit a rough patch. Holly (Bedelia) moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career with the Nakatomi Corp., while John (Willis) stayed in New York City, unwilling to leave his job as a cop. John flies to L.A. to celebrate Christmas with Holly and patch things up. She invites him to the company Christmas party, but a few uninvited guests show up. A dozen terrorists, led by criminal mastermind Hans Gruber (Rickman), take everyone hostage. Everyone but John, of course, who wages a one-man war against the bad guys with funny accents.

The Review: In many ways, “Die Hard” is a quaint relic from another era. Back in ’88, Willis still had hair and the idea of terrorists toppling a skyscraper belonged in the realm of fantasy. But even after the tragedy of 9/11, “Die Hard” is still a satisfying piece of entertainment. Willis plays an all-American everyman. He’s not trying to be a hero, but when the time comes to act, he makes the terrorists pay while keeping his sense of humor. Along the way, all kinds of creeps-you-love-to-hate get their comeuppance: cocky bureaucrats, self-serving yuppies and — best of all — sleazy reporters. The plot doesn’t always make sense, but who cares? It’s all about sustaining a roller-coaster vibe. Note: The hummable main theme is based on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

The Classic Quote: Hans: “Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?” John: “Yippee-ki-yay … ”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)