DIE HARD: WITH A VENGENCE (1995)

Directed By: John Mctiernan
Written By: Jonathan Hensleigh & Roderick Thorp
Cinematography By: Peter Menzies Jr.
Editor: John Wright

Cast: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons, Sam Phillips,Graham Greene, Collen Camp


This feels like the first quality sequel to the original Classic DIE HARD. Like we are catchign up with John Maclaine after some time has passed and he is roughly still the same. only this time we are on his home turf more in his element. The film also comes up with a good reason for him to be back in action. IT seems the bombings are revenge for the events in the first film.

The film begins with a shocking huge explosion and rarely let's up on the action and tension from there.

The film plays up more of a cop-buddy type film that was originally hinted at in the original with different partners. Here it is the first half dynamic of the movie only involving a hostile civilian forced into helping maclaine, Then a actual full fledged partner.

The humor at first seems more dependent on racial humor bringing the film to a boiling tension. Which may have been sparked by the two stars of this film Co-starring together the previous year in the film PULP FICTION. That may have helped influence the script.

The original director is back. Which might have made this film more of a proper sequel. He was actually the second choice. The original Director offered thefilm Was Danny Cannon Who was more interested in making JUDGE DREDD.

The film wasn't written as a direct sequel. Like the original film it was written around a previous script titled SIMON SAYS, But it fits effortlessly into the DIE HARD mold. Maybe that's why it feels so fresh for a sequel. Insted of the story being limited to a building. Like in the original or a airport in the sequel. This time they have all of new york city to play with. Especially considering Samuel L. Jackson's character was originally written for a woman. It alos was almost going to be the third sequel for the lethal weapon franchise. Before the SIMON SAYS Script was presented Die Hard 3 Was going to use the script that eventually became SPEED 2

Jeremy irons is good, He was a last minute replacement for David Thewlis who supposedly was fired by Bruce Willis, but Irons villian still pales in comparison to Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber from the original. Though they both seem to have a grand plan that rests on indirection. Jeremy irons has a bit more charisma. His plan is grander is going through the motions of being a typical villian while adding his own spin on it. making him have a flare all his own.

Lawrence fishburne was the first choice for Zeus but he turned it down and by the time he reconsidered Samuel L. Jackson had already accepted the role.

The action sequences are spectacular that gor from grand to realistic in a instant.

This film feels more personal then the last one. Die hard 2 seemed to be all about the situation. The film this time is more about the characters involved in this situation. It also seems to have a dark sense of humor and not necessarily present Bruce willis as a one man army.

A nice additon to the home Library

Grade: B+