The legacy of Die Hard

CRB · 16-04-2013, 10:33

So I�m wondering if Die Hard was the first of its kind or not ?

What I mean is that Die Hard (the original one) really stands out in my memory as a cinema landmark film and, pretty much, the first film that has lots of actions, explosions on a high level with a big budget.

I know �Rambo: First blood Part II� and �Commando� came out a few years before it, so perhaps they were first. Are there any others that preceded Die Hard on the same scale ? Cinematic blockbusters certainly jumped on the action bandwagon after these, that�s for sure !

SIMON ADEBISI · 16-04-2013, 10:51

A few of the Bond films might be considered. The Spy Who Loved me for example.

charlie angel · 16-04-2013, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRB

I know �Rambo: First blood Part II� and �Commando� came out a few years before it, so perhaps they were first. Are there any others that preceded Die Hard on the same scale ? Cinematic blockbusters certainly jumped on the action bandwagon after these, that�s for sure !

Die Hard has a slightly different feel to those films though - there was a piece in Empire about it a while ago; apparently the Fox execs were nervous because their big tough hero sits down & has a blub in the film - they weren't sure how that was going to play.

Ultimately it's that humanising element that makes the film stand out over similar action fare.

allan · 19-04-2013, 19:56

I don't think you can pin it just on Die Hard. I think there are so many 80s action films that together defined the genre.

CRB · 19-04-2013, 20:17

Fair enough but which ones?

allan · 19-04-2013, 20:21

Commando, Predator, Aliens, Die Hard, Running Man, Rambo etc. etc. plenty to choose from. Sure some of those are more fantasy but they still fit into the 80s all out action fest that is sorely missing from modern cinema.

Only something like the Expendables has come close and even then both those films are just homages more than anything.

thescrounger · 19-04-2013, 20:26

It was the first of a genre that spawned other similar concept films, Under Siege, Speed, Passenger 57 etc.

allan · 19-04-2013, 20:29

Could you argue that it's a sub genre?

zharrt · 19-04-2013, 20:52

I think the legacy Die Hard is one of TV censoring, everyone for me its one of two films (the other being the Last Boy Scout again with Willis) where the TV edit is markedly different from the one we all know in terms of language cut out is first vividly known

Guest 85074 · 19-04-2013, 20:55

Die Hard follows its source material — Roderick Thorp's novel Nothing Lasts Forever — closely; many of the film's memorable scenes, characters, and dialogue are taken directly from the novel..............Director John McTiernan states on the DVD commentary that the change from a tale of political terrorism to a heist film was made because he wanted to bring "joy" to the story, rather than having the villains be overly ponderous; he also liked the notion of Cold War-era terrorists throwing aside their beliefs in pursuit of capitalist spoils.

So Die Hard is not Original but uses the heist angle to a different level (so to speak) and transfers it to the Nakatomi building.

allan · 19-04-2013, 21:00

Or Fox Plaza

Guest 85074 · 19-04-2013, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan

Or Fox Plaza

Indeed.

drush9999 · 13-05-2013, 14:53

What Die Hard did that was new was putting an average blue collar guy into an extreme situation. He isn't built like a brick house, is balding, has family problems, talks to himself.
Not many action movies had action heroes with some depth up till then.

Guest 85639 · 08-08-2013, 13:41

Just to let you know that BBC3 screened an unedited and uncensored version of DH3.

All the previous edits taken from UK versions either by BBFC or by FOX before submission to the BBFC have been restored...........BUT

The 12 seconds of cuts of the chain-whipping fight between McClane and Targo still has that bad jump cut edit.

SIMON ADEBISI · 08-08-2013, 14:53

Has that 12 seconds ever been shown anywhere?

Its as uncut as we're every going to get.

Niceguygeoff · 08-08-2013, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro1962

Just to let you know that BBC3 screened an unedited and uncensored version of DH3.

All the previous edits taken from UK versions either by BBFC or by FOX before submission to the BBFC have been restored...........BUT

The 12 seconds of cuts of the chain-whipping fight between McClane and Targo still has that bad jump cut edit.

They first showed the 'uncut' (as in, BBFC uncut) version a few years ago on the BBC. It's nothing new.

Guest 85639 · 08-08-2013, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIMON ADEBISI

Has that 12 seconds ever been shown anywhere?
Nope

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niceguygeoff

They first showed the 'uncut' (as in, BBFC uncut) version a few years ago on the BBC.

Sometimes broadcast versions can be changed from previous screenings,so there was a (abeit slim ) chance they might show the missing 12 secs by accident or something.

allan · 10-08-2013, 18:58

AFAIK, tv in the UK doesn't have to show bbfc approved versions of films. The only time it becomes a problem is if they show things that were cut due to legal reasons.

Guest 85639 · 10-08-2013, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan

AFAIK, tv in the UK doesn't have to show bbfc approved versions of films.

True,As in this screening of DH3 it was shown more uncut than the BBFC approved Video and DVD versions of the UK releases

MaxNutter · 03-03-2017, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by zharrt

I think the legacy Die Hard is one of TV censoring, everyone for me its one of two films (the other being the Last Boy Scout again with Willis) where the TV edit is markedly different from the one we all know in terms of language cut out is first vividly known

Repo Man, melonfarmer!