Although debatable on its status as a Christmas movie, Die Hard is a thriller boasting action-virtuosity, stellar performance by Willis, and a script packed with endlessly-quotable badass one-liners that inspired an exodus of genre-imitations. 8.6/10.

…

New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there’s no one to save the hostages — but him.

*Possible spoilers ahead*

Most Memorable Moment: 1. “Yipee-ki-yay, motherf****, 2. Falling through the elevator shaft, 3. “Who are you, another american who’s watched too many movies?”

Pros: Bruce Willis a young, energized, vibrant lead with enough bravato and action-movie suave to make a perfect John McCaine – skyrocketed his career and it’s easy to see why, believable chemistry between Bruce Willis and Bonnie Bedella, Alan Rickman’s hans Gruber a phenomenal and smart, chilling villain, unbelievably thrilling action sequences and fast-paced, intricate stunts that are impossible not to be thoroughly entertained and on the edge of your seat by and which millions of movies have tried to replicate and even directly copy but have paled in comparison, sheer importance in cinema inspiring an exodus of similar action flicks (whether that’s a good or bad thing is debateable but undeniable is its role in movie history), incredible score that matches the on-screen action in intensity and adds to the feeling of epicness while also adding intricvate and cool new ideas too like having christmas music slowed down and differently keyed to make it epic in parts while also reaffirming and giving it that Christmas feel, hilarious quips and jokes that are perfectly laid out to not interrupt the action focus or epicness – incredibly smart dialogue and snappy writing, action kept personal level even though the stakes are high which makes you invest in it more, strong middle act but heart-pumping finale that’s as good if not better than any action movie to this day, Reginald VelJohnson from Family Matters a surprisingly good serious actor too adding comic relief but also adding some heart and character development, good cinematography and scene set-up,

Cons: Kind of a slow opening, some admittedly cliched stupid action movie characters like Harry, Richard, etc. and ~thin ones overall with little backstory even for main characters like John and Hans.. but hey that’s action movies for ya!

Overall Rating: 8.6/10