DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
US, 1995, 128 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Graham Greene, Colleen Camp.
Directed by John Mc Tiernan.
Die Hard with a Vengeance - you know what you are going to get. This time it is more - and louder. Terrorism is rampant. The parallels with bombings in the United States in the mid-'90s is very clear. There are also enemies from Iran and the Middle East, terrorists from the police from former Eastern European countries, especially East Germany. The special effects are everything. But, by this stage, Bruce Willis has become such a well-known hero that the film relies on this laconic (except for the incessant swearing) style. He is much more credible at this than Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jeremy Irons relishes his villainous role. Samuel L. Jackson appears as Willis's unwilling partner, a kind of Defiant Ones for the '90s.
1. Audience expectations of the series? The success of the first two films? The third film with its characters, action, repeat of the basic overview of the earlier films? Expectations of actions, chases, violence and effects? Die Hard into the '90s?
2. The use of New York settings, the wide-ranging use of the city itself: Harlem, Central Park, the streets, the rivers, Wall Street, the buildings? The range of special effects and stunts? The musical score - and `When Johnny Comes Marching Home'?
3. The title? The red herrings? John Mc Clane and Bruce Willis's embodying him? The continuity of the three films and the Mc Clane character?
4. The opening, New York City, the streets, the subway, the trains, the explosion and its disruption? The response of the police? The villain and his playing Simple Simon? His wanting to confront McClane?
5. Bruce Willis and his style as John McClane? Audience memories of his background, his marriage - and now, the break-up? His being on a binge? Going to his job, offhand behaviour, smart cracks? The reaction of the other police, pro and con? His being involved in the case? His reaction to the Simple Simon game? His going to Harlem, with the placard and the word `niggers'? The phone calls? His encounter with Carver and Carver saving him from the angry crowd? In the shop, Carver becoming involved? Simon and the communication of instructions, giving the seemingly impossible deadlines? Driving through the park? The explosions? Running, the elephant? Finding the information in the park? The set up?
6. The screenplay and the development of the clues, the background to the robbery, the realisation of the robbery? The Reserve Bank? Simon and his group, their ruthlessness, the killings? Carver and his becoming involved with McClane?, sharing the anxiety, the chase, the tunnel, the drives? The various chases - in cars, water, Carver and the shooting, the final boat, the leap from the bridge, Simon and the bomb? McClane? and his final escape? Plausibility/implausibility? And the final decision to phone his wife?
7. The character of Carver, Samuel L. Jackson and his style? A kind of variation on The Defiant Ones as black and white are bonded together in danger? His shop, work, attitudes? The boys and the robbery? His attitudes towards racism and his antagonism towards McClane? The placard, saving him, the phone calls, the rude comments, his involvement? His abilities - and enjoying the action?
8. Jeremy Irons as Simon? His English style, the East German background? The revelation that he was the brother of the initial film's villain - and the glimpse of Alan Rickman falling to his death? His manner, dress, treatment of his group? The verses, playing games, antagonism towards McClane? The timing, the explosion in the subway, the bomb on the train? His sending McClane? on wild goose chases? The plan for the robbery, strategies, tactics? The trucks, the taking of the gold? The murders? The escape, the chase, the personal confrontation? His relationship with the girl? On the boat, caught, motivation?
9. The villains of the '90s? Iran and the Middle Eastern connections with terrorism? The recruiting of East German and Eastern European ex-military and ex-spies?
10. The picture of the police characters, their styles, the search? The build-up to the bomb in the school? The evacuating of the school? The various agencies?
11. Simon's Squad, their appearance, manner, cruelty? The woman and her sadistic approach?
12. The school - bringing a touch more of the human element into the slam-bang action?
13. The build-up to the climax, the chase, the tunnel, the water, the boat, the bridge, the action on the boat? The two action heroes saving the day?
14. Treatment and tone? The depiction of violence, language? The crass touches? The action touches for the '90s action audience? A warning about the potential of terrorism?
