Akshay Shah Reviews Action Classics: DIE HARD ( 1988) and PREDATOR ( 1987)

Akshay Shah Reviews Action Classics: DIE HARD ( 1988) and PREDATOR ( 1987)

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DIE HARD:

There is something very special about this movie, there is something about it that compels me to re-visit it every year, there is something about it which ensures that I cheer for John McClane every single time I watch the movie even though I know exactly what going to happen next, there is something about it which makes me crack up with a huge grin on my face and let out a little “wohoooo” every time McClane gets a one-up on a baddie, and theres definetly something about it which forces me to let out a loud wolf whistle every time McClane delivers the line “Yipppeeee Ki Yi Yay Muther Fucker”, so what is it about DIE HARD? Well, quiet frankly, the movie is without a doubt one of the best action films ever made in Hollywood. DIE HARD isa lean mean fighting machine, and doesn’t contain a single second of wasted screen time. The direction, the action, the story, the acting . . . every aspect of this film comes close to big-budget action movie perfection. Since DIE HARD was first released in 1988, it’s difficult to think of a blockbuster action film that doesn’t follow the basic structure and format of DIE HARD . . . or, for that matter, is better than DIE HARD.

DIE HARD is about John McClane (Bruce Willis, in his all-time best film performance), a good, honest New York cop with a penchant for annoying authority figures. Traveling to Los Angeles in a last ditch attempt to patch things up with his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), John McClane suddenly finds himself involved in a hostage situation. Terrorists, led by the enigmatic Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), have taken over the office building in which Holly is working, and with Gruber holding the upper hand over the LAPD and FBI forces in Los Angeles, it’s up to John McClane to save the day . . . .

Kudos should be given to both director John McTiernan and screenwriters Jeb Stuart and Steven DeSouza — the film is tight, electrifying, and clever, which is something few action films can ever claim. The story isn’t completely believable, but it’s believable enough, and it manages to move along at a quick enough pace to where the most glaring plotholes can easily be glossed over. There’s also enough twists and wrinkles thrown into the story to keep the audience guessing as to what’s going to happen next . . . and the surprises don’t come out of left field, but are actually clever and well thought-out. (The fact that McClane often relies on his brains instead of his bullets to get out of his predicaments is also a big plus.) Simply put, DIE HARD is one of the smartest and savviest action screenplays ever written. McTiernan holds up his end of the film admirably as well — he uses the claustrophobic nature of the office building to great effect (particularly in any scene involving an elevator shaft), and he keeps the film rolling at a rollercoaster pace, building up the anticipation of the audience before unleashing the action. A lot of recent action films just fly along at a mindless, breakneck pace, without ever allowing the story to breathe or the suspense to build . . . unlike those filmsDIE HARD knows how to maximize the impact of each and every scene, and that’s why it stands out so clearly from them all. With DIE HARD, John McTiernan puts on a perfect clinic as to how to pace an action movie.

As for the acting, it’s close to perfect. Bruce Willis is awesome as John McClane. As played by Willis, McClane’s a smartass with a distinct disdain for being given orders . . . but McClane’s also clever, and knows how to keep cool under pressure. There’s more to McClane than the stereotypical tough guy hero. Fortunately, the role was given to Bruce Willis, who infuses McClane with the perfect mix of cocky arrogance and stone-cold heroism. The fact that Willis plays McClane as a man often in disbelief of his own situation, and who struggles in his fight against bad guys instead of just killing bad guys with ease, like most stereotypical action heroes — well, not only does it make the character much more believable, it’s darn brilliant. (The fact that Willis also knows how to deliver a deadpan one-liner better than anybody else in Hollywood makes the character all the better.) There’s only a handful of movies where both character and actor are a completely perfect match; Bruce Willis as John McClane is one such perfect match. In turn John McClane remains the prototype of the ideal “masala”action hero. The combination of raw, white-knuckle brawn mixed with sharp-witted brainpower ensures John McClane a cult-status of a action hero icon.

Also worthy of mention is Alan Rickman’s performance as the villain Hans Gruber. The Machiavellian Gruber would’ve been an easy villain to turn into little more than a scenery-chewing Bond villain . . . fortunately, Rickman doesn’t travel the easy route. Gruber, as played by Rickman, is cold and calculating, and actually acts smart, instead of merely claiming to be smart and then being thoroughly outwitted by the hero. He always appears to have an ace hidden up his sleeve, and is so convincing at giving this impression, it’s hard to tell throughout the film whether he or McClane truly have the upper hand. Other actors probably could’ve played Gruber fairly well, but Rickman makes Gruber one of the all-time great villains. As for the rest of the cast, they’re all pretty good. Bonnie Bedelia does a nice job as John’s soon-to-be-ex-wife Holly — she plays her with enough smarts and feistiness to break the usual “damsel in distress” mold. It’s also worth mentioning that Paul Gleason, who plays the obstinate police chief Robinson, pretty much sets up the modern action movie stereotype of the authority figure who refuses to heed the advice of the maverick hero. The character is stupid to a fault, and he’s wonderful because of it.

DIE HARD is one action packed movie that offers thrills, excitement, and plenty of fast paced humor and wisecracks from Willis. The action is fast and furious, and the film pulls enough punches to keep the energy flowing constantly without letting the viewer go for a second! DIE HARD is simply one of the most cinematic action masterpieces ever. It is often a rarity to see such a white knuckle adventure that keeps you on the edge of the seat throughout the entire film. Bravo!

Overall Rating: 10.0/10.0

PREDATOR:

The year before John McTiernan delivered the pulse-pounding masterpiece DIE HARD, he delivered another action classic PREDATOR, this time starring action king Arnold Schwarznegger. Consider that so many of the roles that Arnold Schwarzenegger takes on are so similar, including PREDATOR, and yet this film is so much better than most of the others. I enjoy watching his movies just because he’s such a watch-able guy, even in his bad movies (which are many), but I think the thing that really makes PREDATOR stand out is its simplicity. The movie starts, the guys get dropped in the jungle, lots of blood and carnage flies across the screen, and the movie simply ends. No romance, no complex back story, no soldier struggling with problems in his past or even trauma caused by the horrible things he experiences during the movie. This is one of the things that made FIRST BLOOD so good. It may turn out to be a movie about a lot of muscle-bound meatheads in the woods, but it doesn’t insult the audience or try to apply complexity to a story that can’t support it.

PREDATOR is a fairly simple story; it’s essentially a sci-fi version of `THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME.’ A group of American soldiers, led by Dutch (Schwarzenegger) and his rival Dillon (Carl Weathers), lead a full-blown assault on a group of South American revolutionaries. Carnage ensues. After wiping out said revolutionaries, an alien creature armed to the teeth with high-powered weaponry – the Predator – assaults the American soldiers. More carnage ensues.Hey, it’s not exactly Shakespeare, but thoughtful, well-written action movies aren’t exactly common PREDATOR works as an action movie – and as a darn good one – because it’s kept simple (thus minimizing the plot holes and the head-scratching moments), it maintains a high level of excitement, action, and tension, and it’s cool. Schwarzenegger is larger than life as Dutch, pure swaggering testosterone at its best. Jesse `The Body’ rules as Blaine, Carl Weathers is icily cool as Dillon. . . and so on and so on. Enough sarcastic, macho one-liners and brutal firepower fill the movie to make it a male adolescent snapshot of tough-guy heaven. The Predator looks wicked as well – Stan Winston outdid himself, as the Predator does look and move like a vicious being from another world, and not just some stunt guy in a rubber suit.

McTiernan is without a doubt a master of his craft! In 3 years alone he directed three action films which were all diametrically different from one another from PREDATOR which is an alien based action thriller, DIE HARD which is an claustrophobic, white-knuckle action blockbuster to HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER (1990) which is a submarine based political thriller, and all three have stood the test of time. Where DIE HARD and HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER present the viewer with situations which aren’t completely within the grasp of reality, PREDATOR remains his most imaginative piece of work to date in the sense there is a element of sci-fi and fantasy to the action which he handles to perfection.

The jungle makes for a great setting for an action sci-fi flick such as this. These sorts of films tend to be set in space, so seeing the action down here on earth is different; and the fact that it’s set in the jungle, with it’s dense foliage, ensures that director McTiernan is able to bump up the suspense, as just like in the Vietnam war; the soldiers are dealing with an unknown enemy. The atmosphere really is excellent, and the special effects help to create a futuristic tone, while the suspense builds and makes sure that the audience are on the edge of their seats at all times. Predator was released hot on the heels of the success of James Cameron’s amazing ‘Aliens’ – but don’t be thinking this film is merely a rip off following a trend, Predator has more than enough up it’s sleeve to ensure that isn’t the case. The action is great, and director McTiernan clearly knows what he’s doing. It’s fast and furious, and the amount of weapons on display ensures that the film is sure to delight fans of macho action films. The fact that the lead actor is a monster of a man himself doesn’t exactly hurt the film either.

This brings me to Arnie. Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger may well be a terrible actor; but it doesn’t matter because it’s his screen presence, not his acting ability, that makes his performances what they are. At times he’s cringe-worthy, but it’s hard to deny his prowess when it comes to the action sequences, and that is all a film of this nature needs. Arnie isn’t the only big man in the film either, as an assortment of muscle men, including ex-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and Carl Weathers; ROCKY’s Apollo Creed, among other B-movie actors, join him. Arnold Schwarznegger became the benchmark for the “perfect 80’s action bonanza hero”, and where PREDATOR differs is that it pits Arnie up against a enemy which is alien, and undeniably more powerful than Arnie himself. The man himself also finds himself a very worthy ally, in the form of the movie’s central alien. The Predator may not be as beautiful as the creature from ALIEN, but it’s just as inventive. Here we have an extra terrestrial that isn’t merely trying to breed, or to ‘phone home’ – but one that is actually there to hunt humans for sport! Aside from being ingenious, the idea also borders on frightening. The gore here is gratuitous, but never goes over the top and on the whole, PREDATOR is a film that never really got the credit it deserves. It’s mindless fun – but its damn good mindless fun!

Overall Rating=8.0/10.0

A.Shah

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