Die Hard 4K UHD (1988)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

My God...you guys want to read just about the most insufferable reminder of why 1988 was better than 2018? Behold: the most pretentiously "woke" review of Die Hard ever: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/ri...the-first-time

I didn't mind reading that, actually. It's utterly pretentious for sure but it's making some good points nonetheless. Just because this is my favourite movie ever doesn't mean I can't appreciate another slant on it.

[Blu Lemmy]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

My God...you guys want to read just about the most insufferable reminder of why 1988 was better than 2018? Behold: the most pretentiously "woke" review of Die Hard ever: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/ri...the-first-time

I got halfway through that and could go no further.

[Cortiz]

Anyone seen this at Wal-Mart today?

[jh901]

Reading it is fine, but informed readers appreciate these rags are for SJWs and #theResistance. It's an action movie. No one in their right mind should be thinking about race relations and late 80s politics.

[guachi]

I made the mistake of watching Die Hard a few days before the 4k announcement came out. I say mistake because I would have rather waited to watch the movie in 4k than the $1 DVD I had bought.

In any event, in reference to the "woke" review (which I haven't read) I noticed that Die Hard had non-white people in roles where race was irrelevant to role. Three I can think of off the top of my head are the black cop, chauffeur, and the safe cracker. And not one of those three roles is a stereotype.

EDIT: I just read the article. I find it odd that the article criticizes the movie for being of its time and referencing the culture of the period. I mean, we currently live in an America where people communicate via nothing but animated GIFs. It's the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Darmok come to life.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by guachi

I made the mistake of watching Die Hard a few days before the 4k announcement came out. I say mistake because I would have rather waited to watch the movie in 4k than the $1 DVD I had bought.

In any event, in reference to the "woke" review (which I haven't read) I noticed that Die Hard had non-white people in roles where race was irrelevant to role. Three I can think of off the top of my head are the black cop, chauffeur, and the safe cracker. And not one of those three roles is a stereotype.

That's the exact trimvirate of non-stereotypical black characters that the review makes note of.

[jh901]

Hahaha. ^You aren't trying if you aren't offended or oppressed (or being oppressive).

[ROSS.T.G.]

My haul is out for delivery

[Batman1980]

I just want films 1-4 in 4k, is that too much to ask?

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I just want films 1-4 in 4k, is that too much to ask?

We're a quarter way there. Just picked up my copy from Target.

[FilmBufffff]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

Anyone seen this at Wal-Mart today?

I'm omw now, will report back within the hour. BB dropped the ball on the biggest 4K Tuesday yet, smh.

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by guachi

Three I can think of off the top of my head are the black cop, chauffeur, and the safe cracker. And not one of those three roles is a stereotype.

I read this placing far too much emphasis on the surrounding context and about spit my coffee out. LOL

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by formula_nebula

We're a quarter way there. Just picked up my copy from Target.

None of my local Targets got it in looking at my app.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

I read this placing far too much emphasis on the surrounding context and about spit my coffee out. LOL

I'm white, and break into safe's very cautiously, while observing my surroundings.

[guachi]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's the exact trimvirate of non-stereotypical black characters that the review makes note of.

At least he seems to make note of it in a neutral or positive light. There are the '80s stereotype of having the Japanese owning the company or the cocaine. But at least regarding the Japanese owning the company there's not one mention that any employee has any negative feelings about it. Considering what the late '80s were like that's actually interesting.

My wife and I love watching old TV shows from the '60s to the '80s and most of them are seas of white people. Partly it's because there really were far fewer minorities in America but that, of course, isn't the entire reason. I'd be shocked if you could find another movie from the '80s that had THREE minorities in roles that weren't required to be (like the Japanese owner) or an obvious stereotype.

Until a few months ago, I never noticed it. And I think it's for the reasons mentioned as to why it's a great movie. All the bit players have enough little things to humanize them quickly enough that the other stuff is not relevant - aside from an observation 30 years later.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by maverick22

None of my local Targets got it in looking at my app.

That is crap! I would try calling a store.

[Croweyes1121]

Question for you guys. Do you have one tiny moment that’s your absolute favorite in Die Hard? Mine has always been after John gets shot by Karl, when he kicks him and then leaps into him, and says “motherf**ker, I’ll kill you!”, and then there’s that primal yell after the line that I won’t attempt to spell. I know it’s a minor thing, but I remember as a kid thinking “whoa, this is a serious fight”, and “he actually may kill this guy”. lol The combination of that audio, the extreme close up of fights flying where you can’t exactly tell how much hurt McClane’s laying in him, and the hard cut from that moment back to Theo...I just love that moment so much. Feels like when everything in the film is at its craziest pitch.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by guachi

At least he seems to make note of it in a neutral or positive light. There are the '80s stereotype of having the Japanese owning the company or the cocaine. But at least regarding the Japanese owning the company there's not one mention that any employee has any negative feelings about it. Considering what the late '80s were like that's actually interesting.

My wife and I love watching old TV shows from the '60s to the '80s and most of them are seas of white people. Partly it's because there really were far fewer minorities in America but that, of course, isn't the entire reason. I'd be shocked if you could find another movie from the '80s that had THREE minorities in roles that weren't required to be (like the Japanese owner) or an obvious stereotype.

Until a few months ago, I never noticed it. And I think it's for the reasons mentioned as to why it's a great movie. All the bit players have enough little things to humanize them quickly enough that the other stuff is not relevant - aside from an observation 30 years later.

Yep, nail on the head: they mostly feel like real people, not just throwaway characters designed to Advance The Plot Now, so race becomes entirely irrelevant. Knowing that these guys were German McClane could've had a field day with a load of digs about the war and whatnot in the hands of another writer, but there's not a single dig at any of their nationalities in the movie. The one time the race card is really played is when Thornberg threatens Paulina, the McClanes' nanny, with deportation, but that says as much as about that sleazeball character as it being a product of its time (and that specific concern still resounds now e.g. the Great Wall of Trump).

It's amazing how fresh Die Hard feels 30 years later, yes there are yuppies and cocaine but the suits are a little less boxy, Holly's outfit doesn't have the '80s shoulderpads of doom, and no-one's got a brick phone clamped to their ear! There aren't too many mullets in sight apart from the terrorists, but that's what helps to set them apart from the good guys and it really seems to fit them without badly dating the picture (Europeans sometimes rock trends that the US discarded years ago anyway).

This movie's a ****ing masterpiece is what it is.

[spf781]

Picked it up at my local Walmart for $17.96. Just an FYI if you were looking to save a few bucks. 👍

[infiniteCR]

It'd cost me 2$ to drive to walmart