Reviews (62)

CULT MOVIES 29
29. THE LAST STARFIGHTER (SCI-fiction, 1984) For young Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) living in a trailer park is boring. He wants to escape from his rural existence and go to the city where he hopes to go to College. Bot for his girlfriend Annie (Catherine Mary Stewart) the prospect of leaving her grandmother behind is hard. Alex's only real excitement is playing a video game called 'Last Starfighter', having played it so many times that he finally breaks the game's points record. Soon after he's visited by a friendly alien power. They want to recruit him as one of their elite 'Starfighters' in an inter-galactic war where his skills will prove the turning point. Here he finds an unexpected chance to finally break free and follow his dreams. But will Annie join him?

Critique: The Star Wars phenomenon inspired a slew of science fiction films in its heyday that, surprisingly enough, has continued to this day. Although the 80s produced its share of memorable films, this is one of the most appealing of the bunch. Capturing the youthful exuberance and innocence that made the Star Wars fantasy a worldwide smash. The 'once upon story' line works from the disillusioned, dreamy nature of those kids whose earthly existence leave much to be desired. Wishing they could be whisked away to another galaxy, and take part in some far-off adventure. An added bonus to the film is the pairing of the 2 young leads. Exacting the warmth and amazement of encountering such a journey, and taking their love to the infinite reaches of space.

Sweet, Exciting Sci-Fi Adventure!
A combination of 'Coming-of-Age', 'Small-town U.S.A.', and Science Fiction films, 'The Last Starfighter' is one of that rare breed of films that actually become more enjoyable after repeated viewings, which makes it an EXCELLENT choice for your film collection!

Famous in film history as the first film to utilize computer-generated FX for its space scenes (producing a 'big-budget' look to more modestly budgeted film), the effects today seem as creaky and out-of-date as the 'Last Starfighter' arcade game that teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is so expert at! Don't let this put you off, though, as this story is really about the youngster, and being willing to take advantage of an opportunity to 'shine', as Otis (Vernon Washington), his best friend at his trailer park home, reminds him.

The concept of the game being a secret test for fighter pilots is clever, and when game creator Robert Preston (who is magnificent, in his last screen appearance) whisks young Rogan off to fight in an interstellar war, all of the youngster's long-stated ambitions to leave home and make something of his life are tested. In a series of amusing scenes, our hero stumbles through his first encounter with alien races, meeting the affable Grig (an unrecognizable Dan O'Herlihy, who nearly steals the movie), the pilot of his fightercraft. After almost making the worst decision of his life, Rogin comes to his senses....

... director Nick Castle (who directed the sweet and equally wonderful 'The Boy Who Could Fly') understands people and small-town life, and gives the space adventure so much charm and savvy that you'll love it, nonetheless!

Guest is terrific as Alex, conveying both the humor and frustration of growing up in the trailer park; Catherine Mary Stewart, as his girlfriend, is equally good! As Alex' space-fixated younger brother, Louis, Chris Hebert has some of the film's funniest lines, and the image of him, taking his shot at the arcade game and a chance to become a Starfighter, at the conclusion of the film, is a fitting finale!

Special praise should be given to Craig Safan's rousing score, some of the most beautiful, sweeping music since 'Star Wars'!

The DVD edition IS the version to buy, with a terrific documentary on the making of the film, hosted by Lance Guest, and commentary by director Nick Castle and production designer Ron Cobb!

'The Last Starfighter' has achieved near-cult film status over the years, and is a rich experience you'll enjoy, again and again! I STRONGLY recommend it!

One of my fondest memories...
One of the fondest memories of my childhood was watching this movie while eating a Chef-Boy-Ardee sausage pizza. (remember those?) Many hot summer days were spent enjoying the adventure of Alex Rogan travelling to Rylos and realizing his dreams and his destiny as a Starfighter with his navigator, Grigg. This is one of those inexplicably optimistic films that popped up in the 80's. Despite the fact that the special effects may look dated now, the story is timeless and well written for this genre. The video presentation on this DVD is rather crisp and clear but the audio could be a "little" better. Still, this is a wonderful film for kids and nostalgic adults alike. Oh, the extras are nice as well. I hadn't seen the "Making of" documentary since it appeared on HBO when I was a kid. This is a wonderful film.

Thoroughly enjoyable
An interesting little film of how a dead-end kid is forced to become a galactic hero, because of his facility at a computer game, which is a secret recruiting station for starfighter pilots. The computer-generated graphics, advanced for their time, now look ridiculously crude, but it somehow adds to the quaintness of the whole thing, with marvellous performances from Lance Guest as the reluctant hero, Robert Preston as the likeably roguish Centauri who is prepared not so much to bend the rules as to smash them into very tiny fragments and Dan O'Herily as Grigg, the lizard co-pilot whose dream is to go down fighting against impossible odds!

Formulaic Fun.
If you're looking for a masterpiece film that rewrites the sci-fi genre with intense drama and gritty characters, this isn't the movie for you. If you're looking for a really fun film that's a great mix of Star Wars, Saturday morning cartoons, and video games then stick this in your DVD player.

The movie's special effects hold up suprisingly well, considering that they're 20 years old. When Alex Rogan is flying the gunstar, it's like you're there with him, especially if you grew up loving this film. The characters are developed enough that you care, but not so much that it's like a daytime soap opera. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In its day, V was a monumental event that for one generation remains a pop-culture touchstone. Close Encounters of the Third Kind may have reassured us that perhaps we have nothing to fear from alien visitors and E.T. introduced us to a benign extraterrestrial who only wanted to go home, but Kenneth Johnson's 1983 television miniseries knew better. Visitors who claim to come in peace are revealed to be nothing but human-looking reptilians on human conversion and conquest. As in the dark days of fascism, some collaborate with the enemy; others form the resistance.

At the time, the epic scale of this production was unprecedented. Those 50 motherships that hover over Earth's major cities anticipate Independence Day by more than a decade. The special effects and makeup are still awesome. Less so is the often-hackneyed dialogue. But thanks to their signature roles, the mostly no-star cast, most of whom would be reunited for a sequel and subsequent television series, have ensured themselves standing invitations to sci-fi conventions. Marc Singer is cameraman-turned-freedom-fighter Mike Donovan. Julie Parrish is a medical student-turned-rebel. Richard Herd is the aliens' supreme commander. Jane Bradler is Diana, the ravishing but ruthlessly ambitious alien science officer. Leonardo Cimino lends dignity to his heavy-handed allegorical role as a Holocaust survivor. Look for a pre-Freddy Krueger Robert Englund as one of the aliens.

The DVD is presented for the first time in widescreen format. Supplemental features include an amiable and enlightening director's commentary and a brief "making of" segment. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Great Movie, great disc
Like many, I was a BIG fan of both the "V" mini-series as a kid. Though even as a kid I found the dumbed-down weekly series to be sub-par, which is ironic considering I was the target demographic NBC was looking for. In rewatching the mini-series' as an adult it's apparent that "V: The Final Battle," while good, was also inferior to Ken Johnson's original. It's a shame he wasn't allowed to guide the further installments, "V" would probably still be on the air today in some form.

I wanted to clear up some of the confusion I'm seeing in these postings. First of all there is no missing footage, the mini-series is not cut in half. This DVD is exactly what it is billed as, "V - The Original Mini-Series." The original "V" was two parts which ran over two nights in 1983. It didn't have an ending, it wasn't really suppose to in order to tell its allegorical tale. The second mini-series, "V : The Final Battle" was three parts and aired over a year later. Both mini-series' were syndicated to UHF stations in the late eighties. Those stations usually ran all five parts over a week, though heavily edited. That might be what's confusing some. Considering this DVD has sold about four times better than Warner Bros. was expecting, I'd say it's a sure bet "The Final Battle" will be released on DVD before too long.

As to the Gag Reel, sadly it's not on the disc. It was supposed to be but unfortunately, Warner Bros. was unable to clear it for release. Too many of the actors wanted to be paid an additional fee for its inclusion on the disc. ... just never updated the information. Hope that helps!

''V'' is for ''Visionary''
*
"V," the NBC Television mini-series which first aired nearly two decades ago, was intended to be seen for its entertainment value though, admittedly, using some pre-mid 20th century historical elements to contribute to the overall plot and theme of the story -- specifically World War II Germany (the alien "national symbol" even resembling an incompleted 'connect-the-dots' swastika). Little did the writers, directors and producers of this mini-series realize that their sci-fi project was a late 20th century prophecy which would begin seeing fulfillment in the just few months shy of the dawning years of the 21st century.

The purchase of this DVD marked the very first time of my ever seeing this feature, and I was instantly hooked, especially by its dazzling high-octane opening sequence. The special effects were also nicely done considering the time period in which it was made, that it was a "made for television" movie, and the fact that it was made on the cheap. (It was also nice to see Robert Englund as something other than a flame-scarred tragedy figure.)

The story of "V" revolves around a race of seemingly benevolent space aliens who look, sound and act a lot like us. They convince the world that they are our friends and only wish to extend the hand of cooperation & unity and work toward a "common good" where all will benefit. But there are those who have some very gnawing suspicions about the "Visitors," that they are not quite everything they appear to be -- which is a serious understatement, for it turns out that the real agenda of the "Visitors" is to rape the planet of its most precious resources and enslave humanity.

"V's" creators obviously tried to parallel the story with National Socialist Germany, but in hindsight it becomes frighteningly obvious that "V" was as much a vision of the "historical future" as it was a view to the "historical past!" That unintentionally forseen future sneaked up on us and, just like in the mini-series, nobody took notice... until it was too late! That "future" which "V" foreshadowed occured during the "Campaign 2000" ("C2K") presidential [s]election! The similarities are too hauntingly similar:

> "V": "Visitors" came as "friends" promoting "brotherhood" and prosperity for all.
> "C2K": Republican nominee presented himself as a "compassionate uniter" who promised a strong, vibrant economy.

> "V": "Visitors" took control without being duly elected and under suspicious circumstances.
> "C2K": Republican presidential administration took control without being duly elected and under suspicious circumstances.

> "V": In order to usurp power, "Visitors" took advantage of impotent elected government officials.
> "C2K": In order to usurp power, Republicans took advantage of impotent elected Democrat government officials & politicians.

> "V": "Visitors" fabricated a non-existent energy crisis on their homeworld in order to plunder & exploit the precious natural resourses of earth.
> "C2K": Republicans fabricated a non-existent energy crisis in our homeland (in California specifically and in the whole of the United States in general) in order to plunder & exploit the precious natural resourses of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

> "V": Major news media almost unilaterally gave supportive non-critical "pro-Visitor" spin to the news and did all they could to suppress independent media outlets and put a halt to, or discredit, any serious investigative news reporting.
> "C2K": Major news media almost unilaterally gave supportive non-critical "pro-Bush" spin to the news and did all they could to suppress independent media outlets and put a halt to, or discredit, any serious investigative news reporting.

> "V": Scientists were demonized by "Visitors" as unwholesome, unpatriotic, and even dangerous elements of society.
> "C2K": Environmentalists, corporate regulation advocates, and civil rights advocacy groups were demonized by Republicans as unwholesome, unpatriotic, and even dangerous elements of society.

> "V": "Visitors" preached peace and tolerance while instigating a very one-sided "endless war on terrorism," resulting in the repeal of certain rights guaranteed under Constitution-- including and especially 'free speech' --and labelling anyone critical of their unconstitutional actions as having sided with terrorists.
> "C2K": The Bush Administration preached peace and tolerance while instigating a very one-sided "endless war on terrorism," resulting in the repeal of certain rights guaranteed under Constitution-- including and especially 'free speech' --and labelling anyone critical of their unconstitutional actions as having sided with terrorists.

> "V": "Visitors" operated a 'secret government' from a base on their homeworld.
> "C2K": The Bush Administration established a secret government in an undisclosed location here in our homeland.

Where does one stop with all of the comparisons? The similarities are virtually endless! The only thing missing is a distinctive insignia to rally behind (that is, of course, if one doesn't already consider the American Flag to be it), designer costumes for the "Youth Brigades," and entire sweeps of towns and mass imprisonments.

In "V" the violators of our basic and most cherished rights were lizard-creatures wearing human-looking skin; In 21st century America they are human through-and-through, though they often speak with the 'forked tongue' of a reptile!

The makers of this mini-series probably had no idea they were developing a story with an eye on a direct future outcome, which makes this series even more enjoyable and even more disturbing to watch. Everyone should watch this video, not only for the entertainment value, but also as a warning and a wake-up call!

[Dialogue from the film]:
(Mike Donovan): "How did someone like that get to be your leader anyway?"
("Martin"): "Charisma. Circumstances, promises. Not enough of us spoke out to question him until it was too late."

* * *

"Do it Right.....V.......For Victory"
Sure the hair, Ferrari Sunglasses, and fashion scream 80's! The opening montage of the movie's stars pictured with thier names is straight out of any cheesy "movie-of-the-week" opening. But that is where "V"'s comparison to other made for TV movies ends. Look beyond all of that and you will find an engrossing story. A true underdog story that everyone will enjoy. Sure, "V" is basically a science fiction retelling of the Nazi takeover of Europe, but it is also much more. When I was a kid and this Mini-series first aired, me and my buddies couldn't get enough. Now watching it 20 years later, I wasn't sure how it would hold up. My wife who had never seen "V" figured I had just doomed her to another evening of "rubber" alien suited actors chasing half clothed women who are stupid enough to seperate themselves from the hero/heroine. But after about half an hour, "V" captured her imagination and attention as well. If you have never seen "V", then try not to find out too much of the story, and get this disk. Let if unfold for you the way it did for me back in 1983, and for my wife just the other night. You will be swept along on a journey that will not disappoint. The special effects hold up well, considering this was done before computer animation (which usually ends up looking worse than a guy in a rubber suit). The acting is okay too (I mean let's face it, "V" stars the Beastmaster guy and one of the students from The Greatest American Hero, plus a few scenes with Freddy Krueger), but it really is just the basic story that is so gripping. And now that this DVD is around $10 you just can't go wrong.

Not a complete piece
V is a rarity - a seminal achievment of classic sci-fi in a made-for-TV movie. This mini-series provides the groundwork, primarily the expository "these are the aliens, these people are the good guys, who's right and who's wrong" setup of the larger story. I remembered V very fondly from my youth, and was a bit dismayed to discover how seemingly incomplete this first mini-series was. When viewed with the now-available "V - The Final Battle" it's quite a satisfying ride. I would highly recommend buying "V" with "V - The Final Battle" and watching them as one. If you just buy this one, you'll be left wanting more.

Soon to be available? V - The Complete Series. A worthy continuation of the TV epic. At the time of its production, it was the most expensive per-episode TV series ever made. Now, a single cast member from "Friends" makes more per episode than an episode of "V" cost to make.

This mini-series is still awesome after 21 years!
After seeing this again, after 20 or so years, I still love it. Truly it is one of my favorite pieces of film of all time. It was way ahead of it's time in 1983. The storyline, special effects, and acting were all excellent, and the ending is climatic. Although it is 10 hours long, I didn't want to stop watching it, then or now. It really parrallels life, and hopefully will continue to open people's minds. I've now showed it to my children and pointed out how it is reminiscent of the holocaust in many ways. I definitely recommend that if you have never seen this, you do, and if it's been awhile, check it out again. It's fun the second time around. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though followers of current science fiction television series may dismiss V: The Final Battle as a quaint relic from the pre-computer animation days, the six-hour miniseries about an alien invasion of Earth was a ratings juggernaut for NBC in 1984 and should still provide some entertainment for hard-bitten devotees and fans of '50s-style sci-fi. The Final Battle picks up four months after the shock conclusion of the 1983 prequel miniseries, with a small group of humans known as the Resistance struggling to convince their fellow humans that a fleet of seemingly friendly visitors from space are in fact bent on world domination.

Executive producer Kenneth Johnson (who oversaw most aspects of the first series) only supervised the sequel's script (which underwent several changes before its airing), and the writing occasionally suffers due to the lack of his attention. But the series still delivers its share of action and intrigue, as well as one showstopping gruesome moment involving the birth of interspecies twins. Acting is again a stumbling block, with leads Marc Singer and Faye Grant as bland as any performers from the American International Pictures stable; character actor Michael Ironside makes the strongest impression as a tough Resistance member, and a pre-Freddy Krueger Robert Englund is amusing as a kind-hearted alien. The miniseries was followed by an inevitable weekly series featuring most of the same cast, which was demolished in the ratings by Dallas, but a faithful Resistance-like following remains to this day. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (70)

A nice continuation of a great miniseries.
This is the second miniseries of the sci-fi phenomenon known simply as "V." This movie tells us more about the interesting characters from the first series and brings up some more problems for these freedom-fighters to solve. I won't give anything away, but one of the charcters ordeals is unbelievable! As with the original series, this is a sci-fi series that relies more on storytelling than on flashy, repetitive special effects, which makes this series appealing to a larger audience than most sci-fi. There are some funny and touching moments, but the whole story is focused around the humans struggles to defeat the fascist "visitors" who oppress them (similar to Hitler's fascist regime and the Holocaust of that time). The whole series goes by very smoothly until the end, where the ending is a little weak (which is why I gave it four stars instead of the five I gave the original series), but other than that, this is a great series and stands up well with anything else produced at the time. With a cool story and believable acting, this is a true classic that should be in any sci-fi fan's collection!

Come back Kenneth Johnson --all is forgiven
1984's 3-part miniseries "V: The Final Battle" more or less picks up where Kenneth Johnson's imaginative "V" left off. As with all network-mandated sequels, this installment is a far weaker story and lacks the "you are there" realism of the original. Johnson's absence from the project is the single greatest loss. The first miniseries was a brilliant homage to freedom fighters throughout history. Unfortunately the sequel has lost sight of its own origins: the allegories to the rise of Nazi fascism are only briefly touched upon in throwaway lines in part 1, and are completely abandoned by part 3. By then, even though the element of a Visitor "ultimate weapon" is injected into the plot, the story has become less about saving humanity than it is about a grudge match between Diana and Mike Donovan. A clue to the weaker storyline might be in the opening credits: this installment lists seven different writers!

To synopsize: several months have now passed since the conclusion of the original series, and the Visitors are now firmly in control of human society, rounding up humans under various pretexts for "processing" into food shipments to the mother ships. The underground resistance hasn't had much success opposing them --far from the triumphant ending of the last chapter, the L.A.-based rebels are being rebuffed at almost every turn by superior alien firepower and body armor. The resistance comes up with a daring plan to "expose" John on international television. Most of Part 1 revolves around the staging of this plan, which is carried off brilliantly but ends with Julie's capture. In Part 2 the Visitors discover resistance headquarters and stage a counterattack, but the rebels are able to flee thanks to the timely help of an old adversary of Donovan's. Julie is rescued, but she has been through the conversion process and the resistance is wary. Part 3 revolves around the birth of Robin's alien babies and an unexpected dividend from that birth.

The strongest element to this sequel is the return of virtually the entire original cast, further developing the wide array of characters that have been thrown together by extraordinary circumstance. Besides Donovan (Marc Singer), Julie Parrish (Faye Grant), the Maxwells (Michael Durrell, Blair Tefkin, Viveka Davis, Marin May), Elias Taylor (Michael Wright), Sancho (Rafael Campos), Willie (Robert Englund), and Harmony (Diane Civita), a few new faces have joined the resistance, my favorites being ex-CIA operative Ham Tyler (Michael Ironside) and demolitions expert Chris Faber (Mickey Jones). Tyler and Faber are supposed to represent the "world network;" reminding the viewer that the goings-on in L.A. are not the center of the universe. Tyler is especially compelling to watch; he has a cold, take-no-prisoners exterior that puts him at odds with Donovan the boy scout, although we do get a brief glimpse of his surprisingly affectionate side later on in the second chapter. Most of "V's" original villains are back as well, including fleet commander John (Richard Herd), collaborator Daniel Bernstein (David Packer), and of course the vengeful Diana (Jane Badler). Also back in a greatly expanded role is alien "Fifth Columnist" Martin (Frank Ashmore).

Aside from superior character development (proof that a truly gifted actor really can make something out of any script), "The Final Battle" just has too many flaws. There is little emphasis on allegory and too much emphasis on chase scenes, makeup effects, and laser battles. The resolution of many of the story arcs from the first chapter are the saving grace of this miniseries, but enjoyment of it really requires the viewer's familiarity with the original. Replacement director Richard T. Heffron has done a heroic job of salvaging Kenneth Johnson's ideas, but in the end it just doesn't measure up. The greatest disappointment is in the final hour of the story --the much-hyped "Final Battle" comes down to a tired old shootout with a handful of troops in the corridors of the mothership. Plotwise, the sudden addition of a brand new character in the final segment is an outright cop-out, and the final scenes --including the way-too-upbeat soundtrack-- are among the cheesiest moments in the entire series.

If you absolutely must know "what happened next" to the cast of the original "V," then go ahead and obtain "The Final Battle." But if you're expecting a second helping of allegorical brilliance, prepare to be disappointed.

Re-Visiting a classic mini-series.....
Back in the 80s, V and V: The Final Battle were huge hits on television. The story of mankind uniting and fighting back against an intergalatic menace is still an appealing storyline and a welcome addition to my dvd collection. Though you will notice (after seeing movies such as Attack of the Clones, for example) that the special effects are a bit cheesy, it is the story that pulls you in and delivers a good sci-fi treat. The reason I didn't give this dvd 5 stars is that it has no extras. I was hoping to see some TV commercials, maybe some commentaries by the director and actors, deleted scenes---any of these would have been welcome. That being said, if you were a fan of this 80's hit or if you are a sci-fi fan, you'll enjoy this dvd. I have to add that Jane Badler is an excellent villain. She was my favorite character in the series.

i really love this
This second V mini series wasn't quite up to the standards of the first V and yet it was still a helluva lotta fun. Loved it. Popping it into the DVD player is always a blast! Sure I know it's not highbrow but hell it's FUN. Just have fun watchin' space lizards get their butts kicked by Marc Singer. Works for me!

This is Dallas in sci-fi form
Both these TV movies and the short lived series that followed were cheesy soap opera plots put into a science fiction form. It was pretty much a case of stories where someone was trying to stab someone else in the back, someone was sleeping with someone elses girlfriend and the rest of that daytime soap genre. In this second movie, two characters played by Sarah Douglas and Jane Badler struggle for the leadership of the alien ships that have conquered earth and it leads to one killing the other and that's it. Oh yeah, and there is a silly romance that goes on between the charecters played by Faye Grant and Marc Singer (but I won't go there). End result, you are better off watching One Live to Live then this phooney balooney series. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Suprisingly Weak
The first, and worst, sequel to Die Hard, is terrorised by the same plot as the original. While waiting for his wife's plane to arrive at Dulles Airport (on Xmas Eve), McClane notices a few suspicious exchanges between a group of men amidst the busy yuletide passengers.

Before you know he is neck deep in trouble with an army of mercenaries, led by Colonel Stewart (William Sadler), who are hell-bent on setting free a corrupt South American General/Drug Baron (Franco Nero). There are more bad guys than before. And more suspension of disbelief is required.

There are so many plot holes and illogical moments that the film almost drowns in its own absurdity. But there is enough action and stunts to cancel it out and distract our attention. Though they not presented in a breathtaking or memorable way. It's all too generic and a bit mean-spirited. No audience nowadays would be satisfied with it so prepare yourself for 80's violence.

William Sadler and Franco Nero lack the callous efficiency of Alan Rickman. And a hero can only be measured by his nemesis. But most of the time McClane is just capping off nameless mercs. How boring. Tho this should not be blamed on Sadler, he has a threatening and intense presence and as he has proved himself in movies like Trespass and Demon Knight. Too bad his character here is so badly written and underdeveloped. I'm sorry but blowing up 250 people off-screen to show how evil you are just won't cut it.

This was Renny Harlin's second movie of 1990 (the other was Ford Fairlain) and it is without a doubt the movie that made him a certified action director. It was a tough, and huge, movie to pull off. He just pulled it off with no particular charm. Though he does a wonderful job of capturing the look and feel of an East Coast winter. The wide-open snowfields and ice-covered runways will definitely make you feel chilly.

Although this is another problem. The first Die Hard worked entirely within the space of Nakatomi Plaza. It was claustrophobic and almost plausible. The scale and scope of Die Hard 2 is too big for its own good. Similar to the problems of ID4, the staples of reality are ripped out with ignorance and over-confidence. The bulk of the film is nothing but one dumb action scene after another. It doesn't make for coherent viewing.

Die Hard 2 is a definite lag in between both of McTiernan's very strong outings. By today's standards it seems dated and very 90's. Which is a shame considering the original and 'With A Vengeance' are, in a way, 'timeless'. It's movies like this that inspired 'Last Action Hero'.

Filmed in Panavision, the 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is superb looking with true blacks (a lot of this film is set at night) and nice fleshtones. Fire effects and colors look beautifully orange and overall the quality is top notch aside from a few instances of minor pixelation.

The gunshots are loud and ferocious in both the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks. All explosions and every punch and kick are rendered with amazing clarity. Some of the surrounds tend to stick to mono but the plane crash in the middle of the movie will convince it is actually happening in your living room. Dialogue scenes tend to stick to the front speaker and the musical score by Michael Kamen is well recorded and is sure to excite.

Renny Harlin's commentary is much more interesting that John McTiernan's fatigued and labored effort on the first movie. Harlin talks about the characters more and how he prefers his movies to be in terms of motivation and why characters should smoke only if it is necessary. Among other things. Such as how many of the effects he did then, in many different ways, would be so much quicker and easier to do today in Digital CGI.

The Featurette was made for Fox TV back in 1990 and it is a bit better than the usual, self-congratulatory nonsense that bogs down most featurettes. But it still can't resist talking about how 'great' the movie is. Tho thanks to this extra we now know that most of the snow in the movie is shredded soap. A second, 4-minute, Featurette is basically an extended trailer.

There are a few deleted scenes that are not that interesting and it's easy to see why they were cut from the film. Although the alternate scene on how McClane gets to the Annex Skywalk (The Boiler Room) is quite cool.

The interview with Renny Harlin and the Villain's Profile are promotional titbits in which they discuss how to direct a high-concept sequel and how to be an evil bad guy.

Behind the scenes and storyboards focuses on 2 scenes. The first is 'Breaking the Ice' and the second is 'Chaos on the Conveyor Belt'. The storyboard and film comparison is for the 'Skywalk Ambush' sequence.

Visual effects breakdowns explore, in great length and tedious, repetitive slo-mo, the Ejector seat scene and the Airport Runway. These are basically green-screen evolutions. The other model effects scenes broken down are 'Chopper', 'Airplane Models' and 'Wing Fight'.

Fast-paced follow-up fueled by thrills...
While not as original or inspired as the first, "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" is still an action-packed, slick movie with twists and turns fit for a roller-coaster ride of pure mayhem! Bruce Willis reprises his role as John McClane, this time in trouble at a Washington D.C. airport, where terrorists have taken the air traffic control captive. With McClane's wife on one of the stranded planes, our hero races to kick the butts of the bad guys once again! This is a worthy follow-up to the 80s hit film, with some cool action sequences and some pretty decent scripting.

Almost as good as the original
Count me among the few, it seems, who believe DIE HARD 2 to be almost as good as the original DIE HARD. I personally don't understand why this sequel always seems to be undervalued in favor of the jaggedly uneven, incoherent DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE.

Certainly DIE HARD 2 is not as good as the original. It lacks the first film's grittiness and claustrophobic atmosphere (but of course a loss of the latter was expected when the scriptwriters expanded the playing field to an entire airport as opposed to one floor of a highrise); its villain is no match for DIE HARD's subtly chilling Hans Gruber; and director Renny Harlin disappointingly favors action over those little human touches that so distinguished the original, insteading favoring more action. (Besides, couldn't the screenwriters have come up with a more creative plot than simply recycling the general structure of the original? But hey, this is a Hollywood product, where it's best not to take too many chances in the quest to cash-in on a big success, which DIE HARD certainly was.)

All that being said, the action sequences are undeniably thrilling---the action of the second half, particularly, moves so quickly from one great setpiece to another that the momentum never lets up 'til the very end---and Bruce Willis is just as good as he was in the original, proving that he will always be John McClane in my mind. All in all, DIE HARD 2 is arguably even MORE entertaining viscerally than DIE HARD.

In short, DIE HARD will forever be a genre classic, but DIE HARD 2 is a worthy sequel when it comes to pure action---and when you are talking about action movies, isn't the action what's really important anyway?

A fan's review
I would like to start by pointing out that this movie gets a lot of crap. A LOT. This is in no way as bad as the reviews may make you think, and in fact this is my favorite Die Hard film.

I'm a huge fan of the series. I've seen them all plenty of times, and this one stands out for me. I'm not the only one, either; Ebert also claims this to be the greatest Die Hard. You've heard the same complaints about this movie a thousand times, I'm sure of it. But what tends to be left out is the amazing special effects, the truely die hard enemies, and the perfectly directed action scenes. This was directed by a different director than the other two blockbusters. Die Hard 2 also made the most money at the box offices. It really is the best!

Overreaches but still exciting
While this installment is the weakest of the three, it still has some exciting moments. All in all, I think the film tried so hard to top the first (best) Die Hard film, that the failure is that much more evident.

The characterizations are not as well fleshed-out as in the others. The action scenes become predictable and less exciting as the movie progresses.

I had to laugh at one of the BIGGEST continuity flaws I've ever witnessed in a big-budget movie: the plane that crashes is forced to the ground by lack of fuel. Why, then, does it explode in a HUGE fireball if it's out of gas? Somebody screwed up. ... Read more

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Having based so much of his career on the films from the region, Jean Claude Van Damme heads to Hong Kong itself for Knock Off. Set in the 72 hours running up to the British handover to China (and released a mere year after the actual event), the film's action centers around the colony's thriving bootleg business, tied in with a rather convoluted plot concerning the CIA, Russian Mafia, and an attempt to hold the United States ransom through covert attacks. The opening section unwisely tries Van Damme's hand at knockabout humor with partner Rob Schneider but merely proves that the star is severely lacking the sort of humorous touch that Arnold Schwarzenegger has so successfully utilized. Once Knock Off descends into more familiar Van Damme territory, the film--and its leading man--are on surer ground. There are a good deal of spectacular fight sequences, some amazing stunts, and a feisty female sparring partner in the form of Lela Rochen. Even the always-reliable Paul Sorvino pops up. Director Tsui Hark hits upon some interesting and initially invigorating visual effects but soon overdoes them, actually highlighting the lack of decent story rather than enhancing it. There is an incredible film to be made about this period in history but this isn't it. Knock Off is merely another undemanding, high-kicking, high-octane vehicle for Van Damme. --Phil Udell

... Read more

Reviews (40)

How did this movie flop?
This was a really cool movie with great stunts, great comedy, and great camera views. This was plain and simply one of the best JCVD movies ever. I find amazing how this film, Leigonaire, and Universal Soldier:The Return all did not revive his career. It is a total mind F*** to figure this out. The plot was a little confusing at first but if you really pay attention you will get the idea of the movie.

Great Performance by Van Damne
I rented this movie on video like 4 years ago,my whole family watched it and we were all pleased.And like a year ago i saw it on DVD and i loved watching it again.I think this movie will go in the top 10 of Van Damnes best movie but not the top 5. Im gonna name the top 5 Van Damnes best movies. Kickboxer, Bloodsport,Lionheart,Desert Heat,Hard Target.Im like the biggest Van Damne fan,and this one is worth watching.It deserves****A very good movie.

his funniest of roles!
this is one of my favourite van-damme movies and its definatly his funniest!, his opening scene was classic!. This movie is pure fan martial arts action with plenty of comedy along the way. Van-damme should do more comedy, it suits him excellently.

still awaiting his return to theaters, go van-damme!!

another Van Damme flop
purely for fans of crappy Van Damme movies again like I says. really corny from beginning to end. Paul Sorvino is totally and utterly fat and moronic in this one. Rob Schnider is wasted and WHY THE HELL WAS HE IN THIS I will have no clue. Van Damme kicks more butt and does more corny things then he did in Double Team. with horrible dialouge and a plot that seems like it came from some guy wiping his ass with a piece of toilet paper and then saw it on the piece of paper and said HEY!!!! damnit, lets make a movie about this piece of crap right here.

Fun Van Damme action...
Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of those actors you either are a fan of or you despise. Me? I'm a big fan, so that makes me a little less qualified to rate this film, but I'll review it nonetheless. It takes place in Hong Kong, where the market for "knock offs," or imitations of an original product, is blossoming. Van Damme and Rob Schneider play two business partners who are caught up in a nasty circle with the Chinese mafia, renegade CIA agents, and big bad guys. The action and direction from Tsui Hark is awesome, especially a scene where Van Damme slides around on a boat while beating up bad guys. Rob Schneider is not too annoying in this film, which is a good thing. The bad guy, however, was a bit underwhelming, but his demise works. Van Damme films are never any cinematic accomplishment by any means, but they can be, and usually are, plenty of fun. This is no exception. ... Read more

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Director Renny Harlin (Cutthroat Island) took the reins of this 1990 sequel, which places Bruce Willis's New York City cop character in harm's way again with a gaggle of terrorists. This time, Willis awaits his wife's arrival at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., when he gets wind of a plot to blow up the facility. Noisy, overbearing, and forgettable, the film has none of the purity of its predecessor's simple story; and it makes a huge miscalculation in allowing a terrible tragedy to occur rather than stretch out the tension. Where Die Hard set new precedents in action movies, Die Hard 2 is just an anything-goes spectacle. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Enjoyable but Rather Dumb
Think about it folks. You are running Washington's Dulles airport. Some evil baddie terrorists cut out your radio communications to incoming planes so they have nothing to do except circle around for the next couple of hours until they start running out of fuel. By then you are told, they will be allowed to land if and only if you cooperate with the baddies. The baddies have not, however, cut your capacity for ordinary telephone communications. You can still call the government and ask them to, e.g. send along a bunch of special forces. What do you do? Easy really. You call the Pentagon where they have all the technical resources of the world's biggest ever military superpower. Somewhere in there is a little man with very very thick glasses who knows lots and lots and lots about radios. In about two minutes he's speaking to the pilots of all affected airlines and quietly rerouting them to unaffected neighbouring airports. Then you tell the terrorists to get stuffed and quietly get on with your job.

Consequently I'm afraid this whole movie is premised on a supposed crisis that it is completely impossible to take remotely seriously. It's a huge plot hole and not the only thing that's silly about the plot of this movie. The climactic fight scenes on the wing of a jumbo jet about to take off are ludicrous in the extreme. And why the devil did the baddies ask for a jumbo jet when there are only a handful of them - so there would be room for the fight scene obviously! Really we have to say of the Die Hard franchise the same thing sensible people say about the Alien series. One is terrific; three is pretty good; two is by miles the weakest of the three.

There are other reasons aplenty. Notably the baddie. Rickman and Irons and 1 and 3 gave us splendid classic mad genius villains. William Sadler's evil Colonel Stuart is pretty pale in comparison. We first meet him stark naked practicing his tai chi moves and then zapping his TV remote control in the manner of a small boy playing at shoot outs. I think this is meant to make him look tough and scary. It just makes him look ridiculous and ridiculous he stays. Then we get William Atherton reprising his unscrupulous journalist role from the first movie as he shares an aeroplane with Mrs McClane but here it's badly overdone and with a misjudged attempt at humour. Dumb nonsense really none of which is to say it's not a reasonably enjoyable crash bang wallop popcorn action movie if, as even the best of us occasionally are, you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

Die Hard I; II; and III - Great 5.1 sound
Recently, I picked up each single disc version of Die Hard I; II; and III at bargain prices.Since there are plenty of reviews, I will keep this short.All three of the movies are great, with plenty of action.I like the second movie best.

The best part is the transfer to DVD.The video transfer is wonderful and the 5.1 sound is superior.There is excellent usage of the low bass and the surround speakers.All three movies are a definite purchase.

There are rumors of a Die Hard IV.....

Another Christmas, another terrorist crisis for John McClane
"Die Hard" has become the standard by which every action film made since 1988 has been judged and almost invariably found wanting. Films were sold in Hollywood on the basis of being reduced to such ideas as "'Die Hard' in a bus" (i.e, "Speed"). Of course another Hollywood tradition is to make a sequel of any successful film, so in 1990 Bruce Willis went back in front of the camera, this time with director Renny Harlin ("The Long Kiss Goodnight"), to do a sequel. "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" is not as good as the original, but it does have a self-reflexivity that (for the most part) makes this film work. Ultimately I would rate this at 4.5 stars, but by the standard of sequels that is an exceptional accomplishment, so I round up.

The plot for "Die Hard 2," which is more unsettling today than it was at the time, has a group of terrorists taking control of Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C in order to secure the release of a South American drug lord (Franco Nero) on his way to the United States for trial. If their demands are not met, they are going to start crashing the circling airplanes. Once again, John McClane (Willis) is in the wrong place at the wrong time, at the airport to pick up his wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), who is on one of those circling airliners. McClane picks up on something wrong and when the airport cops refuse to take it seriously he starts pursuing it on his own, getting in deeper and deeper into the situation. Soon it is clear that what we have here is "Die Hard" in an airport.

As I indicated above, the self-reflexivity of the film works in its favor for the most part. The exception to this idea is when McClane repeats the "Yippie-kay-yay" line from the first film, albeit in a large context this time around, put the best example is when a bewildered Holly turns to her husband and asks "Why do these things keep happening to us?" Otherwise, throughout the film what McClane did at the Nakatomi Building comes into play as various characters either dismiss him out of hand or take him seriously because of his reputation. The first time around it was his anonimity that was one of his biggest weapons; this time his "fame" is a double-edged sword.

In many ways this sequel follows the original. But the scope has been enlarged as other parties besides the terrorists become much more problematic for our hero than they were the first time around. Plus, this time McClane gets to keep his shoes on, which is good because there is a blizzard going on in addition to the all the terrorist fun. Actually, there is probably too much going on, because "Die Hard 2" lacks the driving focus of the original. It also lacks as strong of a villain, with William Sadler's Colonel Stewart being restrained to the point of inertness. Granted, it would be hard to top Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber, but they certainly could have found something and someone that would have worked a lot better.

They could not work Reginald Veljohnson in for anything more than a cameo in this one, but the cinematic law of convenient coincidences finds William Atherton's slimy reporter stuck on the plane with Holly. Of the new members of the supporting cast Art Evans as Chief Engineer Leslie Barnes, who can come up with creative problem solving in an emergency, Dennis Franz as Capt. Carmine Lorenzo, the airport chief of security who has no use for McClane, Tom Bower as Marvin, who lives in the bowels of the airport with all of the maps, John Amos as the major from special forces who taught the bad guy everything he knows, and future senator Fred Dalton Thomas as the man in charge of the airport control tower.

In the final analysis despite the problems with this movie, especially in comparison to the original, it is Bruce Willis as John McClane who makes this work because he manages to keep his character as more or less a real person in extraordinary circumstances. He is not as strong as Stallone or Swarzenegger and he is not as smart as Harrison Ford or whoever is playing James Bond in any given year. But he has enough to get the job done. More importantly, I did not have the sense of disappointment that so often comes at the end of movies with this one, which is a pretty good bottom line for anything coming out of Hollywood. We will have to see what happens with the upcoming "Die Hard 4.0" next year.

ahhhh, the memories.
I recommend this title to those who saw it way back in the day back in '90 and want to revisit (like me). Make no mistake that the genre has been done to death some time before and definitely afterwards. There are so many cliches in the sequences. However, this movie that 'launched a thousand careers' should not have that held against it. It was a joy going back and reliving all the action, no matter that it was predictable at times. Listening to director Renny Harlin's commentary was enlightening because he had no illusions of the limitations the genre has to adhere to, especially at that time. And gladly, he had a lot to talk about during the course of the film. Hardly any silence once he got going.
This, being the Special Edition, is the preferrable version of the DVD. Thank goodness the menus are not drawn out too long and I can access the options. Sometimes 20th Century Fox gets carried away with the menu effects and I have to wait too long to exercise my options (X-Men, anyone?). Two discs come in the package. And you can probably guess that the first disc is the main feature along with commentary and obligatory language, subtitle and audio options. And you might have guessed that the second disc is all the production and behind-the-scene documentaries (which, in total, is a little more generous than I expected).
But to reiterate, The movie is a little dated and the dialog is stuff you've heard before. Newer cinema buffs may not find much here if they haven't seen it. Rent first and decide. But fans of the series should not pass up the chance on this Special Edition. Yippee ki yay. Four stars, not quite five.

Good action flick that perpetuates a myth
I enjoy all of the Die Hard movies.They are great action flicks, and this one is no exception.

While McClane is at Dulles Airport in D.C. waiting for his wife to arrive, terrorists take over the airport's air traffic control system.

There are numerous "shootouts" with the terrorists and McClane, as in the other movies, is the reluctant hero.

Early in the movie, McClane is trying to explain to the airport's security director (Carmine) about the terrorist, and says: "That punk pulled a Glock 7 on me. You know what that is? It's a porcelain gun made in Germany. It dosen't show up on your airport X-ray machines, and it cost more than you make here in a month."

There is no such thing as a "Glock 7".This is a perpetuation of the "plastic gun" myth that was started in the mid 80's by an erroneous newspaper article about the Glock 17.This myth is still being hyped by many, including Kerry & Edwards during their recent unsuccessful presidential campaign.

It's always fun to see "facts" in movies (fantasy) get used in the real world.I guess some people can't tell the difference. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Realistic portrait of war
Well-made Vietnam war movie with "Dallas" star Steve Kanaly as a an unconventional but honest major betrayed by his superiors and his firebase left with a unexperienced leader. Written by Outdoors magazine writer Dan Gagliasso and critically acclaimed director Carl Franklin. ... Read more

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Director Renny Harlin (Cutthroat Island) took the reins of this 1990 sequel, which places Bruce Willis's New York City cop character in harm's way again with a gaggle of terrorists. This time, Willis awaits his wife's arrival at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., when he gets wind of a plot to blow up the facility. Noisy, overbearing, and forgettable, the film has none of the purity of its predecessor's simple story; and it makes a huge miscalculation in allowing a terrible tragedy to occur rather than stretch out the tension. Where Die Hard set new precedents in action movies, Die Hard 2 is just an anything-goes spectacle. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Suprisingly Weak
The first, and worst, sequel to Die Hard, is terrorised by the same plot as the original. While waiting for his wife's plane to arrive at Dulles Airport (on Xmas Eve), McClane notices a few suspicious exchanges between a group of men amidst the busy yuletide passengers.

Before you know he is neck deep in trouble with an army of mercenaries, led by Colonel Stewart (William Sadler), who are hell-bent on setting free a corrupt South American General/Drug Baron (Franco Nero). There are more bad guys than before. And more suspension of disbelief is required.

There are so many plot holes and illogical moments that the film almost drowns in its own absurdity. But there is enough action and stunts to cancel it out and distract our attention. Though they not presented in a breathtaking or memorable way. It's all too generic and a bit mean-spirited. No audience nowadays would be satisfied with it so prepare yourself for 80's violence.

William Sadler and Franco Nero lack the callous efficiency of Alan Rickman. And a hero can only be measured by his nemesis. But most of the time McClane is just capping off nameless mercs. How boring. Tho this should not be blamed on Sadler, he has a threatening and intense presence and as he has proved himself in movies like Trespass and Demon Knight. Too bad his character here is so badly written and underdeveloped. I'm sorry but blowing up 250 people off-screen to show how evil you are just won't cut it.

This was Renny Harlin's second movie of 1990 (the other was Ford Fairlain) and it is without a doubt the movie that made him a certified action director. It was a tough, and huge, movie to pull off. He just pulled it off with no particular charm. Though he does a wonderful job of capturing the look and feel of an East Coast winter. The wide-open snowfields and ice-covered runways will definitely make you feel chilly.

Although this is another problem. The first Die Hard worked entirely within the space of Nakatomi Plaza. It was claustrophobic and almost plausible. The scale and scope of Die Hard 2 is too big for its own good. Similar to the problems of ID4, the staples of reality are ripped out with ignorance and over-confidence. The bulk of the film is nothing but one dumb action scene after another. It doesn't make for coherent viewing.

Die Hard 2 is a definite lag in between both of McTiernan's very strong outings. By today's standards it seems dated and very 90's. Which is a shame considering the original and 'With A Vengeance' are, in a way, 'timeless'. It's movies like this that inspired 'Last Action Hero'.

Filmed in Panavision, the 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is superb looking with true blacks (a lot of this film is set at night) and nice fleshtones. Fire effects and colors look beautifully orange and overall the quality is top notch aside from a few instances of minor pixelation.

The gunshots are loud and ferocious in both the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks. All explosions and every punch and kick are rendered with amazing clarity. Some of the surrounds tend to stick to mono but the plane crash in the middle of the movie will convince it is actually happening in your living room. Dialogue scenes tend to stick to the front speaker and the musical score by Michael Kamen is well recorded and is sure to excite.

Renny Harlin's commentary is much more interesting that John McTiernan's fatigued and labored effort on the first movie. Harlin talks about the characters more and how he prefers his movies to be in terms of motivation and why characters should smoke only if it is necessary. Among other things. Such as how many of the effects he did then, in many different ways, would be so much quicker and easier to do today in Digital CGI.

The Featurette was made for Fox TV back in 1990 and it is a bit better than the usual, self-congratulatory nonsense that bogs down most featurettes. But it still can't resist talking about how 'great' the movie is. Tho thanks to this extra we now know that most of the snow in the movie is shredded soap. A second, 4-minute, Featurette is basically an extended trailer.

There are a few deleted scenes that are not that interesting and it's easy to see why they were cut from the film. Although the alternate scene on how McClane gets to the Annex Skywalk (The Boiler Room) is quite cool.

The interview with Renny Harlin and the Villain's Profile are promotional titbits in which they discuss how to direct a high-concept sequel and how to be an evil bad guy.

Behind the scenes and storyboards focuses on 2 scenes. The first is 'Breaking the Ice' and the second is 'Chaos on the Conveyor Belt'. The storyboard and film comparison is for the 'Skywalk Ambush' sequence.

Visual effects breakdowns explore, in great length and tedious, repetitive slo-mo, the Ejector seat scene and the Airport Runway. These are basically green-screen evolutions. The other model effects scenes broken down are 'Chopper', 'Airplane Models' and 'Wing Fight'.

Fast-paced follow-up fueled by thrills...
While not as original or inspired as the first, "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" is still an action-packed, slick movie with twists and turns fit for a roller-coaster ride of pure mayhem! Bruce Willis reprises his role as John McClane, this time in trouble at a Washington D.C. airport, where terrorists have taken the air traffic control captive. With McClane's wife on one of the stranded planes, our hero races to kick the butts of the bad guys once again! This is a worthy follow-up to the 80s hit film, with some cool action sequences and some pretty decent scripting.

Almost as good as the original
Count me among the few, it seems, who believe DIE HARD 2 to be almost as good as the original DIE HARD. I personally don't understand why this sequel always seems to be undervalued in favor of the jaggedly uneven, incoherent DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE.

Certainly DIE HARD 2 is not as good as the original. It lacks the first film's grittiness and claustrophobic atmosphere (but of course a loss of the latter was expected when the scriptwriters expanded the playing field to an entire airport as opposed to one floor of a highrise); its villain is no match for DIE HARD's subtly chilling Hans Gruber; and director Renny Harlin disappointingly favors action over those little human touches that so distinguished the original, insteading favoring more action. (Besides, couldn't the screenwriters have come up with a more creative plot than simply recycling the general structure of the original? But hey, this is a Hollywood product, where it's best not to take too many chances in the quest to cash-in on a big success, which DIE HARD certainly was.)

All that being said, the action sequences are undeniably thrilling---the action of the second half, particularly, moves so quickly from one great setpiece to another that the momentum never lets up 'til the very end---and Bruce Willis is just as good as he was in the original, proving that he will always be John McClane in my mind. All in all, DIE HARD 2 is arguably even MORE entertaining viscerally than DIE HARD.

In short, DIE HARD will forever be a genre classic, but DIE HARD 2 is a worthy sequel when it comes to pure action---and when you are talking about action movies, isn't the action what's really important anyway?

A fan's review
I would like to start by pointing out that this movie gets a lot of crap. A LOT. This is in no way as bad as the reviews may make you think, and in fact this is my favorite Die Hard film.

I'm a huge fan of the series. I've seen them all plenty of times, and this one stands out for me. I'm not the only one, either; Ebert also claims this to be the greatest Die Hard. You've heard the same complaints about this movie a thousand times, I'm sure of it. But what tends to be left out is the amazing special effects, the truely die hard enemies, and the perfectly directed action scenes. This was directed by a different director than the other two blockbusters. Die Hard 2 also made the most money at the box offices. It really is the best!

Overreaches but still exciting
While this installment is the weakest of the three, it still has some exciting moments. All in all, I think the film tried so hard to top the first (best) Die Hard film, that the failure is that much more evident.

The characterizations are not as well fleshed-out as in the others. The action scenes become predictable and less exciting as the movie progresses.

I had to laugh at one of the BIGGEST continuity flaws I've ever witnessed in a big-budget movie: the plane that crashes is forced to the ground by lack of fuel. Why, then, does it explode in a HUGE fireball if it's out of gas? Somebody screwed up. ... Read more