Die Hard 35th anniversary

[DenOfEarth]

Hard to believe this classic action masterpiece is 35 years old now this year.

I remember going to see it in theaters when i was 7 years old when me and my parents went on vacation for 7 days in San Diego and we saw it in one of the theaters near the hotel we stayed. And we had a blast! i remembered when it hit HBO when i was 8 the next year, i taped it and watched it every christmas eve as a tradition with part 2 as well.

One of my fave movies since and my fave action movie since! a masterpiece with a likable lead hero, Bruce Willis in a great performance, Alan Rickman who is charismatic as the villain and thrills abound.

[BudBaxter]

You're about six months early.

Hard to believe this was a summer movie in the US (it premiered in July 1988).

The fact it's 35 this year makes me feel very old indeed....

Still an awesome flick though. Masterpiece is spot-on.

[SeanJoyce]

I've never understood this dude's obsession with documenting his age when he saw something. And the capper, reminding us he turned 8 the year after he was 7, I just...

[DenOfEarth]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

I've never understood this dude's obsession with documenting his age when he saw something. And the capper, reminding us he turned 8 the year after he was 7, I just...

Just sharing memories of this movie and how i became a fan.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by DenOfEarth

Just sharing memories of this movie and how i became a fan.

Don't sweat it; objecting to someone else referencing their age -- while recounting a fun memory of their first time seeing a movie, no less! -- is one of the more bizarre things I've read on these forums... and I've seen it all. Personally, I love hearing people's childhood encounters with great flicks, and I post that stuff all the time. I'd be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I mentioned I was ten years old when I first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, and that it changed my life.

So anyhoo, my unsolicited advice: just let that weird objection go. You be you.

[Jay H.]

I saw it at the theater with a friend of mine the Summer before our Sophomore year. About 80% of the movie is excellent. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is still the best villain of all action movies.

[DenOfEarth]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Don't sweat it; objecting to someone else referencing their age -- while recounting a fun memory of their first time seeing a movie, no less! -- is one of the more bizarre things I've read on these forums... and I've seen it all. Personally, I love hearing people's childhood encounters with great flicks, and I post that stuff all the time. I'd be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I mentioned I was ten years old when I first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, and that it changed my life.

So anyhoo, my unsolicited advice: just let that weird objection go. You be you.

I blocked his ass.

Anyway! what also makes this movie work is the phenomenal screenplay, sure it's based on a book but very loosely as it did it's own thing and replaced the book character with it's own cinematic creation being John Mcclane and became an iconic film character.

Who knew that they wanted Stallone, Arnold, Patrick Swayze, Tom Selleck, Harrison Ford and more to be John Mcclane, but let's be glad it was Bruce because he had 2 box office flops and was well known on Moonlighting. It's a good choice because some people thought he was a comedy actor, but he performed well being a serious action guy actor here as he plays a down to earth relatable cop character who's an every day joe who got into the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes a hero in the movie.

Plus engaging characters especially Alan Rickman who did phenomenal as Grueber. Plus the score is outstanding as well.

[Starman22]

I remember I seen this in theater in 1988 and I was around 7 or 8 years old. This is the best Die Hard movie franchise.

[Snikt]

I rented this from our local video store when I was about 9 or 10. Dad rented it for us, then we moved on to Die Hard 2; followed by With a Vengeance.

I love Die Hard, With a Vengeance and Live Free or Die Hard. Die Harder is a decent film for me. AGDTDH…watched it twice (theatrical, then the unrated cut). Probably won’t watch again.

[Zivouhr]

Saw Diehard 1 in theaters on opening weekend as a kid and really enjoyed the movie. I had watched Willis in Moonlighting with Cybill Sheppard, which was mildly funny, but Diehard was much more my style for action films. Great action, villain and a tough hero. Good stuff.
For awhile back then, Diehard was as much as an influence on action films as The Matrix.

[BloodshotUSA]

I just got my Die Hard blu ray box set in the mail today. I bought the older one with only the first 4 movies in it for obvious reasons.

Definitely going to be watching the first movie tonight. One of the greatest movies of all time.

[Zivouhr]

Diehard is also a good Christmas themed holiday movie too, set during Christmas week.

[Canada]

I saw this at my local university's theater shortly before Christmas, it was awesome.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Diehard is also a good Christmas themed holiday movie too, set during Christmas week.

Die Hard 2 is set in the weeks before Christmas, Die Hard is set on Christmas Eve the 24th

[John1701D]

One of the very few movies I got my Dad to go see and this one took a LOT of convincing. He hated Willis because of Moonlighting.

[floridaswamprat]

I was 28 when this came out in 1988 though I do not think I saw it in the theater. I probably waited until I was 29 and saw it was on VHS. For those who are counting: that makes me 62 now though I will be 63 at my next birthday.

Did I mention that I was 28 in 1988?

[mjvmovieman]

I watched Die Hard at age 35 for Christmas just over a week ago (along with Die Hard 2). I remember watching Die Hard as a kid around age 9 or 10 on the USA Network. If I watch 'Die Hard' again next Christmas, I will be 36.

Die Hard is one of my favorite movies.

[DenOfEarth]

Originally Posted by Starman22

I remember I seen this in theater in 1988 and I was around 7 or 8 years old. This is the best Die Hard movie franchise.

Must had been an experience seeing it on the big screen like me as a kid. I mean, i still remember like it was yesterday and i even saw Die Hard 2 and 3 on the big screen as a kid/teen.

To hear the explosion in dolby at the theaters was a blast, even the nail-biting suspense in the movie.

Now if they can do a boxset on 4K of all 4 movies.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Starman22

I remember I seen this in theater in 1988 and I was around 7 or 8 years old. This is the best Die Hard movie franchise.

It’s the ONLY die hard film that’s good to me. Actually, it’s freeging amazing. One of the best action films ever made. Period. This is how you do it. Memorable characters, great action, a realistic feel, etc. my only gripe is the ending scene where Al shoots Max. Seemed unnecessary. But, that’s a tiny nitpick.

Five stars.

[spider-neil]

One of the greatest action movies of all time and still holds up decades later.