One of the greatest action movies of the late eighties, DIE HARD, ushered in a new standard for action films. With the dissolution of the Cold War, both the stereotypical Russian threat (TOP GUN, RED DAWN) and the destructive egoist (OCTOPUSSY) became less fearful. With DIE HARD, director John McTiernan introduced Hollywood to a new type of villain: the terrorist entrepreneur. Alan Rickman stars as Hans Gruber, an relentless businessman whose lethal tactics achieve his goals. Unlike most 1980s film villains who committed globally dangerous acts for liberty, genocide, or megalomania, DIE HARD’s Gruber uses guns, explosives and cunning to storm the Takagi Corporation’s Christmas party and heist millions of dollars form the company. In addition, DIE HARD also saw the development of the clumsy or bad luck hero, John McClane (Bruce Willis), a man in the wrong place at the wrong time who chooses to intervene. McClane overcomes incredible odds in attempting to foil Gruber’s plot. Action fans would see this misfit hero archetype again in UNDER SIEGE (Steven Segal) and THE PHANTOM MENACE (Jar Jar Binks).
[after witnessing Mr. Takagi's murder]
John McClane: [talking to himself] Why the fuck didn't you stop them, John? Because then you'd be dead, too, asshole.
Alan Rickman is a wonderfully talented actor who has appeared in numerous movies, including Harry Potter, Galaxy Quest, Dogma, Rasputin, Sense & Sensibility, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Truly Madly Deeply and Die Hard. A legend of a man and cute to boot! Ocean view behind him is a photo I took in Australia. Source: Ezthemes Size: (141 Kb)
Desktop theme based on the action movie, Die Hard. It contains all theme parts, including one theme apiece for the hero and the villian and a screensaver. One man can make a difference. Source: Ezthemes Size: (2441 Kb)
