Thursday, August 30, 2012

Moonwalker Review









Moonwalker 


Release Date: 26th December 1988 - Australia


Production Companies
Ultimate Productions


Genre: Musical

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $22,000,000


Plot Summary
A true collector's treasure,
Moonwalker combines
Michael Jackson's greatest
videos with rare clips from
his early days in the Jackson
5, live concert and Grammy
performances. Also included
is a wild adventure film
written by Michael Jackson
himself, allowing a rare and
unique glimpse into the
creative mind of this musical
genius.


Cast
Michael Jackson - Himself
Kellie Parker - Katie
Sean Lennon - Sean
Brandon Quintin Adams - Zeke
"Baby Bad" Michael (Smooth
Criminal)/Kid MJ (Badder)
Joe Pesci - Frankie "Mr. Big"
LiDeo

Crew
Producer/Director - Jerry Kramer
Directors - Jim Blashfield ("Leave Me Alone") & Colin Chilvers ("Smooth Criminal")
Story ("Smooth Criminal")/
Executive Producer/
Choreographer/Songs/Playback
Singer - Michael Jackson
Screenplay ("Smooth
Criminal') - David Newman
Executive Producer - Frank DiLeo
Producers - Dennis E. Jones & Paul Diener
("Leave Me Alone")
Producer/Animation Conception ("Speed Demon") -
Will Vinton
Choreographer - Vincent Paterson
Co-Choreographer - Jeffrey Daniel
Production Designers - Bryan Jones &
Michael G. Ploog ("Smooth Criminal")
Make-up Supervisor ("Smooth Criminal") - Rick Stratton
Costume Designer - Betty Pecha Madden
Cinematographers - Thomas E. Ackerman,
Robert E. Collins, Frederick Elmes,
John Hora ("Smooth Criminal") &
Crescenzo G.P. Notarile
Stunt Coordinators - Jack Gil & John Moio
Special Effects Supervisor: Filmtrix, Inc
("Smooth Criminal") - Kevin Pike
Special Visual Effects Supervisor -
Hoyt Yeatman
Film Editors - Dale Beldin, David E. Blewitt
("Smooth Criminal") & Mitchell Sinoway
Music - Bruce Broughton


Review
In celebration of what could have been the 54th birthday of the late and famous singer and artist Michael Jackson, here's a review of his movie 'MOONWALKER'. To me, it wasn't so bad and who cares if this film doesn't have a plot, it is a one journey trip to experience the King of Pop's imagination. I won't spoil anything for the whole movie, but I loved the amazing dance sequence in "Smooth Criminal" which is the biggest highlight of all. As an added bonus, I was surprised that one of the kids from the final segment was played by John Lennon's son Sean.

'MOONWALKER' is a must-see for people including myself who are fans of the late King of Pop and I still love his dance moves, his videos and most importantly, his music.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Top Gun Review









Top Gun


Release Date: 13th July 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $357,288,178 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Daredevil fighter pilot Maverick is enrolled in the naval flying school of Top Gun to undergo advanced training. He competes with Iceman as they strive to be the best. Maverick is also head over heels for his flying instructor and learns the secret history of his father's death.


Cast
Tom Cruise - Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Kelly McGillis - Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood
Anthony Edwards - Lt. (JG) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw
Meg Ryan - Carole Bradshaw
Val Kilmer - Lt. Tom "Iceman"
Kazansky
Rick Rossovich - Lt. (JG) Ron "Slider" Kerner
Tom Skerritt - Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf
Michael Ironside - Lt.
Commander Rick "Jester"
Heatherly
John Stockwell - Lt. Bill "Cougar" Cortell
Barry Tubb - Lt. (JG) Henry "Wolfman" Ruth
Tim Robbins - Lt. Sam "Merlin" Wells
Clarence Gilyard Jr. - Lt. (JG) Marcus "Sundown" Williams
Whip Hubley - Lt. Rick
"Hollywood" Neven
James Tolkan - Commander Tom "Stinger" Jordan
Adrian Pasdar - Lt. Charles "Chipper" Piper
Duke Stroud - Air Boss Johnson
Pete Pettigrew - Perry Siedenthal
Randall Brady - Lt. Davis
Brian Sheehan - Sprawl
T.J. Cassidy - Himself (Cameo)
Aaron & Adam Weis - Goose's Son (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Tony Scott
Based on a Magazine Article "Top Guns" -
Ehud Yonay
Writers - Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr.
Screenplay (Uncredited)/Associate Producer -
Warren Skaaren
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Bill Badalato
Producers - Jerry Bruckheimer and
Don Simpson
Technical Advisor - Pete Pettigrew
Aerial Consultants - Thomas R. Harmon
and Richard T. Stevens
Casting Director - Margery Simkin
Production Designer - John DeCuir Jr.
Set Decorator - Robert R. Benton
Director of Photography - Jeffrey L. Kimball
Camera Operators - John J. Connor,
Bob Carmichael (Uncredited) and Robert Edesa
(Uncredited)
Aerial Camera Operators - Nick Alavardo,
Larry Blanford, C.J. Heatley, George Howe,
William E. Kelley Jr., Dan Koblash,
David B. Nowell, Don Thompson and
Gary Tolbert
First Assistant Director - Dan Kolsrud
Second Assistant Directors - Patrick Cosgrove,
Sharon Mann and James Dillon (Uncredited)
Stunt Coordinator/Stunts - R.A. Rondell
F-14 Aerial Coordinator/Aircrew - Lloyd Abel
Navy Aerial Coordinator/Top Gun Instructor
and MIG Pilot - Robert Willard
Transportation Coordinator - Randy Peters
Special Effects Coordinator - Allen Hall
Supervisor of Special Photographic Effects -
Gary Gutierrez
Model Department Supervisor: USFX -
David Sosalla
Director of Photography: USFX - Rich Fichter
Film Editors - Chris Lebenzon and Billy Weber
Supervising Sound Editors - Cecelia Hall
and George Watters II
Sound Editors - Virginia Cook-McGowan,
Teri Dorman, Julia Evershade, Frank Howard,
Marshall Winn and David Stone
Re-Recording Mixers - Rick Kline,
Donald O. Mitchell and Kevin O'Connell
Foley Artists - Sarah Monat and
Edward M. Stediele
Songs - Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics - Tom Whitlock
Music Editor - Bob Badami
Music - Harold Faltermayer


Awards

1987 Academy Awards
Best Music, Original Song "Take My Breath
Away" - Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock (Won)
-------------------------
Best Sound - Donald O. Mitchell, Kevin O'Connell,
Rick Kline and William B. Kaplan (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Billy Weber and
Chris Lebenzon (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Cecelia Hall and
George Watters II (Nominated)


Review
What a total high-flying action movie. TOP GUN has done well with its perfectly choreographed flight sequences, brilliant cinematography and the onscreen romantic chemistry between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. TOP GUN provides incredible acting with the best performance from Cruise as Maverick. Also worthy of mention are the supporting actors like Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards. Terrific 80s songs such as Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" and Berlin's "Take My Breath Away", with the music score by Harold Faltermeyer, only add to this airborne action drama of overall superb quality.

This feature is superior to the last jet movie, Stealthwhich fails to amaze. TOP GUN is a unique film by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the late director Tony Scott, who made it a combined effort in all their hard work. It's enjoyable in its own right and deliberately takes your breath away (no pun intended). I'm putting this movie on my favourite action feature list.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Bourne Legacy Review











The Bourne Legacy 


Release Date: 16th August 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presentation)
Relativity Media (in association with)
The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Captivate Entertainment (in
association with)
Dentsu (in association with)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 150 minutes


Budget: $125,000,000

Box Office Gross: $276,144,750
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Aaron Cross, a new hero, 
experiences life-or-death 
stakes that have been 
triggered by previous events.
 

Cast
Jeremy Renner - Aaron Cross
Rachel Weisz - Dr. Marta Shearing
Edward Norton - Col. Eric Byer
Joan Allen - Pamela Landy
Stacy Keach - Adm Mark Turso
Dennis Boutsikaris - Terrence Ward
David Strathairn - Noah Vosen
Albert Finney - Dr. Albert Hirsch
Michael Chernus - Arthur Ingram
Nell Brooks Cunningham - Dr. Dan
Hilcott
Louis Ozawa Changchien - LARX-03
Scott Glenn - Ezra Kramer
Donna Murphy - Dita Mandy
Oscar Isaac - Outcome-3
Željko Ivanek - Dr. Donald Foite
Corey Stoll - Vendel
Shane Jacobson - Mackie
Elizabeth Marvel - Dr. Connie Dowd
John Douglas Thompson - Lt. Gen. Paulsen 
Corey Johnson - Ray Wills
Michael Berresse - Leonard
Tony Guida - Dr. Benezara
Sonnie Brown - Dr. Liederburg
Oscar Isaac - Outcome #3.
Page Leong - Mrs. Yun
Ali Reza - Dr. Talwar
Gita Reddy - Dr. Chandra
Elizabeth Marvel - Dr. Connie Dowd

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Director - Tony Gilroy
Based on "Bourne" Series and
Inspiration - Robert Ludlum
Screenplay - Dan Gilroy
Producers - Patrick Crowley, Frank Marshall,
Ben Smith & Jeffrey M. Weiner
Co-Producers - Andrew R. Tennenbaum
Production Designer - Kevin Thompson
Costume Designer - Shay Cunliffe
Director of Photography - Robert Elswit
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Dan Bradley
Fight Coordinator - Jonathan Eusebio
Stunt Coordinator - Chris O'Hara
Special Effects Supervisor - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Supervisor: New York - Steven Kirshoff
Visual Effects Supervisors - Hal Couzens
& Michael Bruce Ellis
Film Editor - John Gilroy
Music - James Newton Howard
Writer/Producer/Singer: Extreme Ways - Moby


Review
While I haven't watched all of the 'Bourne' movies that starred Matt Damon, I instead went straight onto the fourth instalment. 'THE BOURNE LEGACY' is in every way that it is sleek and not as good as everyone compares it to the originals. Though the action was good and the suspense is chilling, it's just a shame that this feature reinvents the franchise and has no cameo for Matt. I think this could let down fans who have watched the movies just from Matt Damon. For Jeremy Renner's character Aaron Cross who had just taken over the reins of Damon's Jason Bourne as the main hero and the performance by the same actor is magnificent and he should be teaming up with Matt in the next sequel. Other actors Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton were presented in the movie and I thought they're both convincing and naturally fitted into the genre and in closing, I thought the final half of the film was impressive because of the motorcycle chase scene which I thought was unforgettable.

An absolute espionage action thriller, but a very mild one because 'THE BOURNE LEGACY' does have the occasional thrills for this picture and unfortunately I think it lacks the flair of the three original instalments.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

In Memory of Tony Scott (1944-2012)






Tony Scott (1944-2012)


Hello, blog site viewers. It's Film Guru Lad. I have sad news that Tony Scott, the younger brother of Ridley Scott and director of movies like "Top Gun" and "Crimson Tide", killed
himself in an accidental suicide on the 19th of August 2012 at the age of 68.

At 16, his career began when he appeared in his brother Ridley's short film "Boy and Bicycle", his first movie. He followed in his brother's footsteps, studying at several schools like Grandfield, West Hartlepool College of Art and Sunderland Art School. Originally intending to become a painter, he turned to film after graduating from the Royal College of Art. He worked at his elder brother's commercial television production unit and directed thousands of commercials during the next two decades. He oversees the company's operations while his brother develops his feature film career. Tony also took time in 1975 to direct a television adaptation of Henry James' story "The Author of Beltraffio". Then, in 1980, he began to receive overtures from Hollywood himself. In 1983, he directed a vampire film called "The Hunger", which became a box-office disappointment and failed to find an audience. Then, in 1985, producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson approached Tony to direct "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruisewhich came out in 1986.

After the success of "Top Gun", he directed other films like "Beverly Hills Cop II", "Revenge", "Days of Thunder", again with Cruise, "The Last Boy Scout", "Crimson Tide", "Enemy of the State" and others. His last movie that Tony directed in 2010 was the train movie starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine called "Unstoppable".

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dr. No Review










Dr. No


Release Date: 4th July 1963 - Australia


Production Companies
Eon Productions


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 minutes


Budget: $1,000,000

Box Office Gross: $59,609,144 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
James Bond is a secret agent from the British Secret Service who goes by his codename 007. He is on a mission to investigate the death of a fellow agent that takes him to Jamaica. He joins forces with CIA agent Felix Leiter and native Quarrel for answers. Along the way, Bond must
fend off a trio of deadly
assassins and dodge a
poisonous tarantula and
"a fire-breathing dragon"
while uncovering an evil
plot from Dr. No with the help of the beautiful Honey Ryder.


Cast
Sean Connery - James Bond
Ursula Andress - Honey Ryder
Joseph Wiseman - Dr. No
Jack Lord - Felix Leiter
Bernard Lee - M
Anthony Dawson - Professor Dent
John Kitzmiller - Quarrel
Zena Marshall - Miss Taro
Eunice Gayson - Sylvia Trench
Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
Peter Burton - Major Boothroyd
Timothy Moxon - John
Strangways (Uncredited)
Marguerite LeWars - Annabel
Chung - The Photographer
Dolores Keator - Mary Trueblood
Reggie Carter - Mr. Jones
Louis Blaazer - Pleydell-Smith
Colonel Burton - General Potter
Yvonna Shima - Sister Lily
Michel Mok - Sister Rose
Milton Reid - Dr. No's Guard (Uncredited)
Robert Rietty - John Strangways/Superintendent Duff (Voice) (Uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl - Honey
Ryder/Sylvia Trench/Various
(Voice) (Uncredited)
Diana Coupland - Honey Ryder
(Singing Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Terence Young
Based on the Novel "Dr. No" - Ian Fleming
Treatment - Wolf Mankowitz (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Richard Maibaum,
Johanna Harwood and Berkeley Mather
Associate Producer - Stanley Sopel (Uncredited)
Producers - Albert R. Broccoli and
Harry Saltzman
Production Designer - Ken Adam
Art Director - Syd Cain (Uncredited)
Production Buyer - Ron Quelch (Uncredited)
Costumes - Tessa Prendergast
Director of Photography - Ted Moore
Location Manager - Chris Blackwell (Uncredited)
Stunt Arranger - Bob Simmons (Uncredited)
Special Effects - Frank George
Visual Effects - Roy Field (Uncredited)
Matte Artist - Cliff Culley (Uncredited)
Film Editor - Peter R. Hunt
Sound Recordists - John Dennis
and Wally Milner
Dubbing Editors - Archie Ludski
and Norman Wanstall
Main Title Designer - Maurice Binder
Music - Monty Norman
Arranger: James Bond Theme - John Barry


Review
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bond. James Bond on the big screen, here's my first-ever review of a Bond movie, the one that started it all, DR. NO. Sure, the film was a good entry and did have some exciting action scenes, but it has a spy/espionage feel than an action film. It may not have the same appeal to the mainstream audience as the later Bond films, but it is an important film because it was the first Bond movie ever made. It even introduced the iconic formula that subsequent films followed. I liked Sean Connery performing the title character as he was the best James Bond. Other actors who succeeded him, such as Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, came close to matching his charisma, style and wit. The other things I find fantastic in the movie are the set designs by Ken Adam and James Bond's main theme music.

While DR. NO lacked a few things, such as cool gadgets, the film had set the benchmark for all Bond movies to come. I recommend this feature to anyone, including Bond fans, who have yet to see the character in his film debut.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Thursday, August 16, 2012

In Memory of Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012)








Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012) 

Greetings, viewers. I have some sad news. Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, known to be responsible for composing music scores for movies such as "The Sting" and "The Spy Who Loved Me", passed away in Los Angeles at age 68 on August 6th, 2012.

He wrote dozens of scores for film, Broadway and television. He scooped up many awards throughout his career, including three Oscars, four Golden Globes, etc. Although incredibly versatile for his style, he composed more than 40 scores for pictures such as "Sophie's Choice", Woody Allen's "Bananas", and "The Way We Were". He was best known for his re-imaginings of Scott Joplin, such as "The Entertainer", which appeared in "The Sting" and "The Spy Who Loved Me".

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Step Up: Miami Heat Review











Step Up: Miami Heat 


Release Date: 2nd August 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Offspring Entertainment
Summit Entertainment

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Music/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 99 minutes


Budget: $33,000,000

Box Office Gross: $93,723,802
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Emily, the daughter of a 
wealthy businessman, 
arrives in Miami hoping 
to become a professional 
dancer. She falls in love 
with Sean, a young man 
who leads a dance crew 
in elaborate, cutting-edge 
flash mobs. The crew, 
called the MOB, strives 
to win a contest for a 
major sponsorship 
opportunity, but Emily's 
father threatens to 
develop the MOB's 
historic neighborhood 
and displace thousands 
of people. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Kathryn McCormick - Emily
Anderson
Ryan Guzman - Sean
Adam Sevani - Robert 
"Moose" Alexander III
Misha Gabriel - Eddie
Peter Gallagher - William 
"Bill" Anderson
Stephen "tWitch" Boss - Jason
Chadd "Madd Chadd" Smith -
Vladd
Tommy Dewey - Tripp
Cleopatra Coleman - Penelope
Megan Boone - Claire

Crew
Director - Scott Speer
Based on Characters - Duane Adler
Writer - Amanda Brody
Producers - Erik Feig, Jennifer Gibgot,
Garrett Grant, Adam Shankman &
Patrick Waschberger
Production Designer - Carlos Menendez
Director of Photography - Karsten Gopinath
Choreographers - Chuck Maldonado,
Christopher Scott, Jamal Sims
& Travis Wall
Film Editors - Matt Friedman &
Avi Youabian
Music - Aaron Zigman


Review
I'm unfamiliar with the 'Step Up' series and never watched any of the other dance films of the series, 'MIAMI HEAT' is a very solid fourth instalment and I guarantee that it'll give good entertainment. The movie's story is not bad and has a good romantic subplot, but I am amazed by its dance choreography which is really energetic and Michael Jackson would have been proud of it. 'MIAMI HEAT' does deliver something and I would give four well deserved stars for this one.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Die Hard Review










Die Hard


Release Date: 6th October 1988 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox
Gordon Company
Lawrence Gordon Productions
Silver Pictures

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M (Not Suitable for
Young Children)

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $28,000,000

Box Office Gross: $143,651,650 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A band of international terrorists, led by Hans Gruber, staged a coup on an office building and took several hostages. Only one person is in their way: John McClane, a detective from New York who was visiting Holly, his estranged wife, for the holidays. Will McClane go out by himself
by taking down all the
crooks, including Hans
and rescuing Holly and
others from their clutches?


Cast
Bruce Willis - John McClane
Alan Rickman - Hans Gruber
Alexander Godunov - Karl
Bonnie Bedelia - Holly Gennaro-McClane
Reginald VelJohnson - Sgt. Al Powell
Paul Gleason - Dwayne T. Robinson
De'voreaux White - Argyle
William Atherton - Richard Thornburg
Hart Bochner - Harry Ellis
James Shigeta - Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
Bruno Doyon - Franco
Andreas Wisniewski - Tony
Clarence Gilyard Jr. - Theo
Joey Plewa - Alexander
Lorenzo Caccialanza - Marco
Gerard Bonn - Kristoff
Dennis Haydn - Eddie
Al Leong - Uli
Gary Roberts - Heinrich
Hans Buhringer - Fritz
Wilhelm von Homburg - James
Robert Davi - FBI Special Agent Big Johnson
Grand L. Bush - FBI Agent Little Johnson
Matt Landers - Capt. Mitchell
Carmine Zozzora - Rivers
Dustyn Taylor - Ginny
George Christy - Dr. Hasseldorf
David Ursin - Harvey Johnson
Mary Ellen Trainor - Gail Wallens
Taylor Fry - Lucy McClane
Noah Land - John McClane Jr.
Betty Carvalho - Paulina

Crew
Director - John McTiernan
Based on the Novel "Nothing Lasts Forever" -
Roderick Thorp
Screenplay - Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager/
Second Unit Director - Beau Marks
Associate Producer - Lloyd Levin (Uncredited)
Executive Producer - Charles Gordon
Producers - Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver
Casting Director - Jackie Burch
Production Designer - Jackson DeGovia
Art Director - John R. Jensen
Set Decorator - Phillip Leonard
Costume Designer - Marilyn Vance
Makeup Supervisor - Scott Eddo
Director of Photography - Jan De Bont
First Assistant Director - Benjamin Rosenberg
Second Assistant Director - Terry Miller
Stunt Coordinator - Charlie Picerni
Special Effects Coordinator - Al Di Sarro
Special Effects Foreman - William Alridge
Special Effects Foreman: Boss - Thaine Morris
Visual Effects Producer - Richard Edlund
Visual Effects Art Director: Boss - Brent Boates
Model Shop Supervisor: Boss - Mark Stetson
Chief Model Maker: Boss - Pat McClung
Director of Photography: Boss - Bill Neil
Chief Matte Artist: Boss - Matthew Yuricich
Film Editors - Frank J. Urioste and John F. Link
Assistant Editors - Derek Brechin,
Bryan H. Carroll, Gregory M. Gerlich and
Kelly Irvine (Uncredited)
Second Assistant Editors - Jeff Gullo and
Edward Malone
Sound Effects - Stephen Hunter Flick
Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited)/
Sound Effects - Richard Shorr
Sound Effects Editors - Catherine Shorr
and David E. Stone
Re-Recording Mixers - Don J. Bassman,
Kevin F. Cleary and Richard Overton
Foley Editors - Ron Bartlett and
Rick Mitchell
Foley Artists - Vanessa Theme Ament
and Robin Harlan
Music - Michael Kamen


Awards

1989 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary,
Richard Overton and Al Overton Jr. (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Frank J. Urioste and
John F. Link (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Stephen Hunter Flick
and Richard Shorr (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Richard Edlund, Al Di Sarro,
Brent Boates and Thaine Morris (Nominated)


Review
DIE HARD was simply an action-packed thrill ride with elements such as explosions and shootouts you would want an action film to have. This movie redefined the action genre and started a formula where other features like Under Siege and Speed began to imitate its original story concept and have shared its impact on many different results. It creates tough competition for rivals such as Lethal Weapon and James Bond. Some people considered DIE HARD a Christmas movie because it was set during the festive holiday when the film had nothing to do with the holiday. Director John McTiernan knows how to make an action flick with a sense of scale and put on a spectacle. The premise has lost much of its originality over the years.

The movie contains the incredible acting of Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, who played John McClane and Hans Gruber. One is a wisecracking hero cop, and the other is a psychopath. Back then, Willis was not yet as famous as the action star he has become now, so the thought of him in an action film was inconceivable. The brutal action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat.

I have only seen a few Die Hard movies, like the third and the latest addition, Live Free or Die Hard, but the original was something I had never seen before. It's a great and memorable film for action movie fans.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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