DIE HARD (1988) MOVIE REACTION - THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED! - First Time Watching - Review

[@Luke17-10ministry]

Hans Gruber was Alan Rickman's FIRST EVER movie role coming out of his career in theater and remains one of the best movie villains of all time.

[@Heller103085]

Def shows how good theatre acting can make you so charismatic

[@ariochiv]

What a legend.

[@Borgforce]

“By Grabthars Hammer, you shall be avenged…”

[@mth666]

@@Borgforce 😂

[@reqeffect]

He's so nice and chill as Metatron in Dogma. Absolute class as always.

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Everyone loves the "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf***er!" line, but my personal favorite is "No f***ing shit, lady! Do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza?"

[@huskyfaninmass1042]

I like "Let's see you take this under advisement, jerkweed."

[@ImSonnyBurnett]

Mine is "I was in in Junior High, dickhead!"

[@CraigMcfly1985]

​@@huskyfaninmass1042my favorite line.

[@samanthafoy1067]

There's also, "OMG the Quarter Back is Toast!"

[@horseshoe2blah201]

"Welcome to the party pal!"

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

This came out in an era where action movies had invincible killing machines as their protagonists. So seeing an action hero like John McClane get hurt but still defeat the bad guys was most likely refreshing af.

[@adriantrusca1245]

The fuck are you talking about? Most iconic action stars from the 80s got severely hurt in the films. But they won at the end.

[@michaelriddick7116]

Definitely. And its not just that he gets hurt, we've seen Stallone/Arnold get damaged but John gets INJURED. Between the gun shot when he's running from Karl, to the bathroom feet scene its just injury after injury. Where other action heroes kill their enemies, John McClane outlasts them :)

[@chrisleebowers]

"...And enough C4 to orbit Arnold Schwarzanegger," clearly telling the audience "I'm *not* Arnold Schwarzanegger, and if they shoot me, I'll die..."

[@billdoor3140]

Agreed and uts why I didn't like Die hard 4 where they had him surfing a fighter jet 😅 and acting like batman

[@Renoistic]

Agree which is why it's unfortunate John gets more invincible with each installment.

[@Grujnot]

Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, Die Hard is THE Christmas movie

[@michaelstocker2880]

Sorry, Violent Night is The Christmas movie!

[@DarkDisc1]

Yippee kai yay!!!

[@eddiewinehosen6665]

@@michaelstocker2880 Sorry again, Home Alone is THE Christmas movie!

[@Shadow-bs1iu]

Home Alone, surely this is THE Christmas movie

[@nascreates3392]

Hahahahahaha. I literally laughed out loud.

[@darrengibbs4288]

Fun Fact: when they did the scene with Hans dropping out the window, they told Rickman they would drop him on the count of 3, then dropped him on 2 giving us the great reaction.

[@darrengibbs4288]

@@James-h9l well, since I left the comment for the two people that just watched it for the first time, it was probably meant for them, not for us who have seen the movie.

[@halo1313]

Also he didn't know how far the drop was going to be so that added it the look of terror on his face.

[@MK-fz6il]

And Rickman was so pissed off at the director for tricking him, he didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. 😂

[@l.m.1272]

The paper blowing about at the end is suppose to represent snow falling. So this is definitely a Christmas movie.

[@dorkandproudofit]

What I love most about John McClane is that he's SCARED SHITLESS for the first half of the film, barely holding it together. This is way beyond anything he's ever had to face as a regular beat cop. But he manages to fight through the fear anyway, and as the movie goes on he gets bolder and more confident, or at least better at suppressing his fear under bravado to motivate himself. He's not the typical invincible fearless badass--he's an average, everyday joe schmo cop who JUST. WON'T. GIVE. UP.

[@BogeyTheBear]

You know what a hero is? Nothing else than a good guy having a bad day.

[@JuicyJLee]

And by today standards they put women in roles who don't have weaknesses or have fear or battle through something ..Woke movies are shit...Die hards all of them I love but My favorite is 3 Simon says

[@dorkandproudofit]

@@JuicyJLee Ah, we have found the incel. You guys always give yourselves away SO easily with the misuse of that single word that makes you all cry and scream like toddlers every time you hear it, even though you obviously don't really know what it actually means.

[@KwisatzHaderach77]

@@dorkandproudofit "Being woke *USED* to mean you know you're target; Now it means having two good legs and never taking a step forward" - Tom MacDonald - "Fake Woke"

[@dorkandproudofit]

@@KwisatzHaderach77 Thank you for that utterly nonsensical quote trying to sound profound. I assume your point is about as coherent?

[@stt5v2002]

The viewer was not “meant” to know what Hans’ group was saying in German. I studied German for several years in high school, which was enough to understand most of what they are saying. I always appreciated the fact that the German lines made sense and were performed seriously, even knowing most viewers would have no idea what was being said. Your translation provides a new experience for most of your viewers, making this reaction particularly unique. Thanks!

[@JRcomments]

It was simple sentencing, sort of 8 year old talk. The accents were horrible but easily understood.

[@fixfalcon2628]

Nicht schießen! Nicht schießen! @@JRcomments

[@losmosquitos1108]

Funny thing is that I saw this movie once when it was quite new, but in its german version, so these lines never stood out. Even funnier, that the translation for all movies was made in Germany using German voice actors these times, so this is really the first time I heard, one of them was actually talking in a Lower Austrian, probably Viennese accent (that‘s when she said „he has a bad accent“). Hence the reason why I’m always using original sound tracks since DVD times to enjoy the full flavor of diverse accents from NY to Scottish and to avoid terribly cringy voice acting which is common in translations. 🤦‍♂️😛

[@losmosquitos1108]

⁠@@JRcommentsactually Austrian German, so funny. But at 35:48 Alan Rickman said „schiesst den Fenster!“ instead of „schiesst auf das Fenster“. But hey, who cares. Epic movie.

[@PorterJustPorter]

Director John Mctiiernan was not a fan of subtitles. I recall an interview from years ago where he said that (as a film study exercise) he watches foreign films w/o subtitles. He's convinced the content of the dialogue is irrelevant if the filmmaking is effective. So, yeah, he decided no subtitles for his German characters here.

[@ridleysaria]

I was at a Christmas fair and they started playing Ode to Joy. Then I heard some kid say "Hey, they're playing Die Hard music!" That's when I fully accepted that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Or maybe Christmas is actually a Die Hard celebration. 😉

[@zwenkwiel816]

Ima put a little Bruce Willis in my crib XD

[@garethstanden3732]

Of course it’s a Christmas movie. His wife’s name is Holly 😜

[@lasprince]

I'd imagine Ludwig van Beethoven would love the association of the Ode to Joy in this movie.

[@chateauarusi]

​@@garethstanden3732 And her last name is basically "January" in Italian. 😁

[@andyg264]

I started an argument in the staff room at work over 20 years ago and before the whole Die Hard is Christmas movie thing was even big on the internet. Someone asked what was the best Christmas movie and I said this was, sparking the whole room to laugh at me and despite my best efforts to present all the evidence that it is a Christmas film I got shot down in flames. A few years later I saw this surface in the internet and brought it up again and found I had a few more supporters this time. Turns out I wasn't crazy as some suggested at the time - there were lots of people all over the world who held the same opinion. Last year I bought my wife a Nakatomi Plaza advent calendar with a miniature Hans Gruber that you move down one each floor each day until Christmas Day when he hits the deck... you know you have an awesome wife when she tells everyone proudly she has the best advent calendar she's ever seen!

[@4ME2DRV]

Bruce Willis was known for comedy in the TV Show "Moonlighting" (1985), so people didn't think he could be a tough hero type. He blew them away. I miss him in movies today.

[@diydan2213]

Remember the Seagram's Golden Wine Coolers commercials he was in?.. about the same time period..

[@singingwolf3929]

I think my favorite non-action movie of his is Hudson Hawk.

[@megasean3000]

Nobody thought the goofy dad from Malcolm In The Middle could be a drug kingpin, but Breaking Bad proved us wrong.

[@lisamccue1730]

The tall, blond actor who plays the "terrorist" named Karl, whose brother was the first one killed, was a very famous Russian ballet dancer and Olympian medal winner who defected to the United States in August 1979. I'd like to add that you two are the best movie reactors I've seen on KZbin. Very intelligent, very knowledgeable, appreciate things in the movies that a lot of other reactors always seem to miss.

[@jorgauer3952]

He was also in Witness

[@MrKimJoJo]

But don’t you think it’s a bit odd, they haven’t seen all these classics before..? 🤔

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

You mentioned the 80s villains and their charisma and this is right at the top. Alan Rickman is just **chef’s kiss**! What a performance.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

His performance was fantastic. Charisma overload, great delivery and such an incredible on camera presence!

[@Zoo-jc2kw]

When they said Rickman's line wasn't as good, i actually liked it better!! Yippie kai A mudda fk... i love when Rickman says that!! 😂

[@dalee72]

​@@Zoo-jc2kwYeah, because of his accent and he doesn't know how to say it properly.

[@phj223]

@@OfficialMediaKnights Since you liked this, you would probably also get a kick out of Under Siege (1992), starring the ever green Steven Seagal. If you're only gonna watch one Steven Seagal movie in your life, Under Siege would be it. Also starring (incredibly) Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey, and Baywatch heart-throb Erika Eleniak.

[@Zoo-jc2kw]

@@dalee72 i know, thats what makes it sound badass!! Imo

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Hans Gruber is one of my favorite movie villains ever made. He's firm but not degrading to his henchmen, he rewards their patience, the only time he loses his temper is when Holly refers to him as a "common" thief, and most importantly, he's smart as a whip. Before being known as Professor Snape, Alan Rickman was known as Hans Gruber. Let's pay our respects, shall we?

[@freddymo3339]

r.i.p.

[@stobe187]

The main villain bullying his henchmen is such a tired trope, I'm really happy they went against it here.

[@archabe]

I really like him as the Sheriff of Nottingham even tho Prince of thieves isn't the best Robin Hood movie, Alan Rickman is stellar as always.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

@@archabe Rickman was by far the best thing about that movie.

[@matthewmira3265]

Even though he doesn’t degrade his henchmen, Hans doesn’t really care about them, either. For example, after Karl’s brother, Tony, was killed by McClane, instead of showing Karl sympathy, Hans just tells him not to do anything that will alter the plan. Another one is when Hans was about to blow up the roof after being told by one of his henchmen that Karl was still up there, but he didn’t care about Karl’s well being.

[@BGTitanAvatar]

What I love is that in this 80’s action movie filled with explosions and one liners, the relationship between John and Holly is actually very well written. Usually it would just be the macho man saves the damsel and that’s enough. No need for further development. But no. We can see it as soon as they reunite. Like you said there is still love there, they just can’t seem to communicate with each other properly. After their argument we even see John beating himself up cuz he realizes he really just made that whole thing worse. All leading to that moment in the bathroom when John tells the officer about how he never told his wife he was sorry and has this big moment of vulnerability and Bruce sells it with absolute sincerity. And that’s before we even get into how Holly is crafty and handles Alan Rickmam’s crew in her own way. She’s not necessarily just a straight up damsel. Speaking of Alan Rickman, man what a performance. Iconic.

[@declanArdmore]

The actor who played Karl was one of the most famous Russian ballet dancers of that time. They made a movie about his defection , his plane was grounded for days , his wife chose to leave him instead of going with him , Jimmy Carter was involved . It was a big deal

[@welcometothemovies9157]

White nights?

[@declanArdmore]

@@welcometothemovies9157 Flight 222 (1985)

[@merakimade7440]

Flight 222

[@Shintigercurl]

fun fact: "die hard" is actually an adaptation of a book called "nothing last forever". there are a few differences: john in the book wasn't a cop but a retired detective. the woman he was saving in the book was his daughter, not his wife. hans wasn't a thief but a would-be revolutionary. and in the end hans does die but so does john's daughter.

[@cstephen98]

I always like the honesty in Rickman's face when falls. They told him they'd drop him on the count of three. They lied ;)

[@CinobiteReacts]

This is another great example of how the 80s had FAR superior writing than nowadays. Every little thing, every little line, EVERY THING mattered. Right down to a whole scene about Holly's watch at the start which ends up being the thing that saves her and kills Hans at the end! Amazing. Hope the sequel comes up soon :)

[@dragongamer2670]

Also the Sets were amazing. Today the Sets and Camera work need more work in my opinion. Less CGI and more modern Effects.

[@LudusAurea]

Depends on movie

[@hayleyferguson3346]

It's a symbolic "letting go" of her single life as a separate woman working in L.A. By losing the watch, she disposes of that corporate life and stays with John.

[@miltontavares9506]

This film had John McTiernan as the director,Joel Silver as the producer,Michael Kamen in the score,Steven E.de Souza as the writer.There was no way Die Hard would fail to resonate with the audience and also Bruce Willis made John McClane into a vulnerable action hero that made the audience suffer and care for him.

[@Muck006]

Not "every" movie had such good planning ... and some of them became rather ridiculous, which resulted in the "bloodiest movie ever" scene in Hot Shots 2 ... parodying the ridiculousness of sequels in some action movie series (most notably Rambo).

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Alan's face when he falls is a genuine reaction. Since there wasn't CGI back in the day, they had to do this with stunts. And they dropped him earlier than they announced.

[@gregorychampion4843]

Ok! On 1,2,3 release! 1, RELEASE!!! OH SH*T!!! Lol

[@duncancurtis5108]

And the invisible red van at the back of the truck 😅😅

[@jaguarstryker1368]

"Drop him on One"

[@3DJapan]

Fun fact: The first CG used in a film was the 1958 film Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock.

[@charleslennie6267]

That's a myth, he was asked that in an interview and he was not 'dropped early'. It's on YT.

[@jeepamir508]

The scene where John finally met Hans for the first time was and still is awesome with so many subtle details that better describes both of them. First, Hans stepping on the cigarette, which John gave to him, right after John had turned his back, was Gruber's way of showing that not only he owned the whole place, but also that he owned McClane and was better then him (cigarette was the representation of John and Hans stepped on it) Second, there was a quick moment where Hans was blurred by camera (when he's speaking German and was pointing the gun at John) and suddenly Hans turned from Bill Clay to, well, Hans again. Such elogant and calculated moves that you can instantly tell it's him. That's true acting when you can tell what is going on even with camera out of focus. Then, 35:10 such a brilliant acting from Alan here. When John's questioning the presence of detonators, Hans appeared to be a little bit hesitant and confused, he didn't know whether he had to shoot John for bluffing or whether John's telling the truth. 35:13 - and, finally. John's mentioning the exact details of Takagi's murder showed Hans that John had been near him this whole time. And that's supposed to mess with Hans even more, cause McClane knew much more about his plans than Hans had suggested. Also, one more note. You might wonder how did John figure out that Hans was a terrorist and not Bill Clay. Well, remember at 7:55 you mentioned terrorists' watches. Yep, about that. There's a deleted scene where Hans and his men synchronized their watches at the beginning of their operation, and all of them were wearing the same watch. John discovered that soon after, probably in the moment where he killed the first terrorist on the stairs. So when John saw Hans wearing the exact same watch he quickly figured that out.

[@aidanclarke6106]

You're now officially ready for "Die Hard in Space", aka *The Fifth Element* (France/UK, 1997) with Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker

[@seanbrookshier1466]

Absolutely!! YES!! They so need to watch 5th element!!!! Good call.

[@mariovaudry6272]

I , Second that

[@Scorpious187]

Gary Oldman is the new Alan Rickman. Phenomenal actors, both of them.

[@sioned70]

Back in the day, most of us fell in love with Bruce because of his role in Moonlighting as David Addison. Moonlighting is now streaming on Hulu. It also stars Cybil Shepherd. Their chemistry and comedy is legendary IMO.

[@floorticket]

"DAVID!!"

[@3DJapan]

Moonlighting was a great show. He was also great in Hudson Hawk.

[@dth2brny121]

"Blondie blonde!" 😁 I grew up watching Moonlighting as a three-year-old (yes, I remember that far back), now I got the whole series on DVD. Bruce was hilarious and already a legend by the time he did Die Hard

[@TheRPGInsomniac]

To me, this will always be a classic Christmas movie. Growing up, we would watch movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Elf" as a family, but when it was just my dad and I hanging out we would throw this movie on and order a pizza ... ever since he passed away this movie has been a great memory of time with him, and always gets me in the holiday spirit because of that.

[@appo9357]

It’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls off Nakatomi Plaza.

[@zwenkwiel816]

This and home alone (1 or 2) are really the only acceptable Christmas movies imo...

[@PorterJustPorter]

Her name is Holly as in Christmas holly. Limmo driver is Argyle as in argyle stocking. Hans is a prolific theif, which is a nod to "Hans" Christian Anderson, a most prolific Christmas writer. There's Christmas music everywhere. It "snows" money bonds. FBI promises proverbial presents in the form of a swift conclusion by flying their sleigh (helicopter) over roof tops, all meanwhile the true bringer of gifts we discover is not the mythical fbi Santa, but Dad. The very last line of the movie literally tells us what kind of movie we're in. "If this is your idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for new years." Cue credits and...Christmas music.

[@appo9357]

@@PorterJustPorter that’s much deeper than I’ve ever looked. I like it. 👍🏼

[@fredermac7468]

This is not a Christmas movie. This is THE Christmas movie! Great reaction, glad y’all loved it. This movie is an enduring classic. This is the movie that made TV star Bruce Willis into a bankable movie star. It was also Alan Rickman‘s debut in the movies as well.

[@apb672]

Ah shoot you beat me to it.

[@blanewilliams5960]

Do you watch it with 5 year old children ? It's a great movie but not a Christmas movie that you watch with young children on Christmas Eve.

[@mikeity2009]

@@blanewilliams5960 If your family has lots of children i feel sorry for you.

[@BrokeSpike]

​@@blanewilliams5960Would you watch Bad Santa with a 5 year old? Why is that the bar for what constitutes a Christmas movie? It takes place during Christmas time, at a Christmas party and there's Christmas music. It's a Christmas movie.

[@blanewilliams5960]

@@BrokeSpike No I would not and I also do not consider it a "Christmas" movie but that's just my opinion. What does Die Hard have to do with Christmas ? It's a movie about a heist and cold blooded murder and a lone cop saves the day by killing all the criminals. Merry Christmas!

[@rainwaterjoseph4634]

The scene of Carl Winslow buying twinkies for his wife is classic. Bag it.

[@AColonDashSix]

What makes Hans a great villain is that he is complex but still a bad guy. He's got this master plan and he adapts to changes pretty well, but at the end of the day his motivation is pretty simple.

[@daverhoden445]

He was an EXCEPTIONAL crook.

[@thefaithslayer2553]

Alan Rickman's performance is even more remarkable when you consider the fact that this was his first major role.

[@DNulrammah]

First Major MOVIE ROLE.

[@Baiko]

Similarly, this was Bruce Willis's first action role.

[@BrokeSpike]

​@DNulrammah His first film role in general in fact. And in only his second film, he won a BAFTA. One of a kind talent.

[@armandblake]

Really miss him 😢

[@insulaarachnid]

If you love Alan Rickman giving villain, then you should watch him as the Sherriff Of Nottingham in, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. For a non villain role then I also recommend his performance in Galaxy Quest.

[@earthien]

...and Dogma.

[@nicolajenkins489]

@@earthien yes! Dogma ❤

[@user-blob]

@@earthienyes!

[@kehdepermit]

He's also an excellent bad guy in Quigley Down Under.

[@lynnesears6254]

I thought he deserved an Oscar for "Robin Hood"! I'd never heard of him before and wow!

[@stobe187]

One of those nearly perfect movies. No lie, I've seen this maybe 40-50 times and it is just as good each time. The snappy dialogue, cinematography, music, tension, action, casting, performances - everything just works. There's no unnecessary fluff, no missteps. I love the distinct anamorphic lens look and the circular lens flares. I love that the hand to hand fights are not super precisely choreographed "dances", they look much more real that way. I love the luscious male model hairstyles of the henchmen. There are many imitators, but no one has come close to nailing it as well as this film does. PS. Of course this is a christmas movie. Christmas is integral to the plot: the robbers selected christmas as the time to do the hit, christmas is the reason McClane is there. People who argue that this is not a christmas movie are those with minds so narrow that they can only accept a single locked-in-stone formula. In their minds a christmas movie has to have a family that has a bit of strife, there are some hijinx and misunderstandings but in the end everyone is getting along plus there's a nice lovable dog.. PPS. One of my favorite tiny details in this is when Ellis is in the office with the baddies talking to John on the radio. They show the henchman pouring some coca-cola into a glass and they cut to John - and you still hear the hissing of the coke through the walkie-talkie :D

[@amariebloom]

Facts

[@Skull1Hunter]

@stobe187 Holy shit! I have watched this movie dozens of times, but never caught the detail of the soda hiss on the walkie-talkie. That is amazing attention to detail from the filmmakers and a great ear on you.

[@kateofone]

Saw it for the first time when I was 5 years old and likely seen it over 50 times and watched the others but the fifth one. I just couldn’t.

[@zackolmert9622]

I actually pour a cans of coke into glass because of this movie.

[@zackolmert9622]

Also in Europe it's common for people to not drink coke from the can & pour into glass when at home or in a resturant. Another good detail by McTiernan.

[@traceyreid4585]

Bruce Willis was amazing in this, he was everyman. We all felt his joy and pain and in his most intense moments, wrapped in a fire hose with a weight attached about to plunge him into oblivion, his absolute terror and abstract relief when he untied the bloody thing! Brilliant commentary/reaction 👏

[@BroNovaGaming]

I love how much of a trash talker John is in a fight. Like when he was fighting Karl and he was yelling "You Should Have Heard Your Brother Squeal...When I Broke His F***in' Neck!" while bashing his head into the pipes.

[@LIGHTNING132YTG]

Bruce Willis is one of the greatest action stars of his generation. It's so heart-breaking that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia back in February. Die Hard is definitely of one his best films. You guys do a great job on these reaction videos and I enjoy them a great deal with how you discuss the techniques that are used in both the modern era of cinema and the older eras. It's great watching others who share the same passions regarding film and the industry overall. Another great Bruce Willis film is Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan from 2000 (part 1 of a trilogy with Split being part 2 and Glass being part 3). It's personally my all time favorite film and tends to be considered the best film ever made in its field. I definitely recommend a watch.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Oh we’ll be going into more M. Night Shyamalan soon. We just watched Signs and that was such an incredible experience. We are sad to hear about what Bruce Willis is going through. He is such a talented actor and the 2 films we’ve recently seen in him have been amazing. He was so charismatic in this it made us fall in love with the character. Thank you for watching this with us. It’s so rewarding to hear when you guys enjoy the commentary ❤️

[@LIGHTNING132YTG]

Signs is definitely M. Night's best horror(esque) film. And, unfortunately, all we can do for Bruce is give our condolences and prayers to his friends and family.

[@LIGHTNING132YTG]

Also, a rest in peace to Alan Rickman.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

@@LIGHTNING132YTG Alan Rickman’s performance here has to be one of our favorite things about this movie. His legendary voice…the presence! Both our lead and the main villain in this film were radiating charisma! It was great seeing them act side by side.

[@stobe187]

It is heartbreaking to witness Willis deteriorate, the man is a legend. I know he got a lot of stick for making direct-to-video cash-grabby movies in his later years but I believe that was only to make money for his family because he knew his mind was fading soon. Such a shame. But luckily he has the support and love of his family, his ex-wife and friends so he doesn't have to suffer without attention and care.

[@francisalbert1799]

That dramatic turn Karl gives Hans is he wants John dead as Hans is just happy they got the detonators back. It’s personal for Karl.

[@joelb4530]

Doing some work in my kitchen with my daughter, she was playing Christmas songs and I made her listen to Run DMC, telling her it was from the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Fast forward an hour and I find this, you made my day! 😆

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Woah! What are the odds! That’s some good timing 😄 keep on rocking to those awesome tunes!

[@dezzconnor8360]

One of my favorite bits in this movie is practically a throw-away, (in fact I don't think I have ever seen anyone leave it in their reactions,) but it completely showcases how out of their depth the "good guys" are here. When the S.W.A.T. team is moving up to the building, one of them catches his hand on a thorn in the rose bushes. His flinch and his pained little "OW" just totally undermine the whole Bad-Ass SWAT Guys cliche. Makes me laugh every time.

[@thefredricksons8150]

This has always been one of my favorite beats, too! That and the candy bar theft. :)

[@IAMCAVE]

Willis’ performance, changed how action heroes are portrayed, by being vulnerable and emotional. Rickman’s debut in film set a higher bar for being the villain.

[@FLStyle]

There are 2 movies I'll definitely watch every December, Elf and Die Hard. That's my answer to whether its a Christmas movie or not. RIP Alan Rickman, legend!

[@blanewilliams5960]

Will you show Die Hard to your 5 year old child ?

[@marezesim8119]

and Lethal Weapon

[@chadstewart5610]

It is hard to overstate just how unexpectedly awesome this movie was seeing in a crowded theater when it came out. I snuck in as a 15 year old immediately after seeing the remake of The Blob, thinking if Die Hard was as bad as expected I’d just leave. Instead, it totally blew me away and saw it two more time the following three days, the next day with my mom and brother and two days later with them and my dad. A week later Dad and I saw it again. Four times in the theater in eight days. I have done that with no other movie.

[@WanderingCactus]

One thing to remember is that this was Bruce Willis' first movie role IIRC, and he was known for the comedy show Moonlighting, in fact this is what made him a movie star, the studio didn't want him as he didn't fit the action star mold.

[@glennwisniewski9536]

James Shigeta (Takagi) was one of the first Asian-American actors to achieve success in romantic leading roles. One of his best known films is Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (1961) but even his first film, The Crimson Kimono (1959), is a worthwhile and ground-breaking entry.

[@StephenLuke]

He was also the voice of Li Shang’s father General Li in the Disney animated feature film Mulan (1998).

[@zsigzsag]

I first saw him in an episode of, The Outer Limits (TOS), "Nightmare". This This episode was a psychological thriller, one of the best of the series without any real special effects just great dialogue. He plays, "Major Jong" a POW in an alien camp. His acting really stood out, have liked him ever since!

[@GsButterfly78]

I absolutely love James Shigeta in Flower Drum Song. I actually have it on dvd.

[@jamdeeder]

"Asian Bill Bixby" ❤

[@dth2brny121]

Proof that Alan Rickman was a bad-ass...Not only was the German accent he put on for this movie villainous AF, but so was his regular, native English accent as well. LOL He truly was an amazing actor...

[@joeldf6859]

You mentioned the cinematography - that's by Jan de Bont. A Dutch native, after coming to the U.S., this was probably the biggest film he was involved with up to that point after doing several Madonna videos and concert films. He also shot "The Hunt for Red October" and "Basic Instinct". His first directing job was "Speed", which I know you guys did just before this. He then followed up with "Twister". After that, his directing kind of floundered with "Speed 2" and "The Haunting".

[@Khay-77]

Yes, this is 100% a Christmas movie. Hans Gruber is literally representing The Grinch who is coming to steal Christmas from everyone in Nakatomi Plaza. It's happening on Christmas Eve, there's Christmas music, festivities throughout.

[@Arsolon618]

You guys have discovered the work of one of the best action film directors of the 80s, John McTiernan! He also directed Predator, The Hunt for Red October, Last Action Hero, and The 13th Warrior.

[@moviemetalhead]

Left out The Thomas Crown Affair(1999)

[@Hiraghm]

The 13th Warrior was great; I felt like I was hanging out with men again while watching it. Talk about vulnerable heroes...

[@laurawalsh2829]

Fun movie BTS fact: The drop at the end from the building for Alan Rickman was to commence on the count of 3 - except the director had them drop Alan on 1. So that look of panic on Alan Rickman’s face as he begins to drop in slo-no is very real!!!

[@glenmassey3746]

Hans didn't even get a count at the end of the movie, just 1 and drop.😂

[@marvel-ousre-grind8724]

I didn't realize that you left this comment, when I posted mine... It's almost the exact same, LOL...

[@daverhoden445]

LOL.. I was looking for this. Someone mentions it in every reaction video I've seen.

[@KyleS3m3noff]

It's kind of hard to explain to people not from that generation just how transformative this film was to the action genre. Prior to John McClane getting destroyed across two hours, 80s Regan era action films were huge, superhero-sculpted impossibilities that never got hurt, never slowed down, never showed any kind of weakness and usually taking on a foreign army (literal armies, military forces). After this film, the entire paradigm changed - not just in presenting more relatable, human protagonists but also shifting from foreign military might as the enemy and having smaller, more personal scopes. The main template changed. To the point where you can point to over half the genre's releases since and say "It's Die Hard on a boat/train/oil rig/at a sports game..." It's impact is almost on the level of Jaws... just not as blatantly obvious.

[@mrwidget42]

Alexander Gudunov (Karl , the brother) was a former lead ballet dancer with the Bolshoi theatre company who defected from the Soviet Union not too long before being cast for this movie. He also appeared in an action movie with Harrison Ford a little bit before Die Hard, called "Witness".

[@davismccardle1]

And in The Money Pit starring Chevy Chase.

[@mrtim5363]

Alexander Gudunov was not only a lead ballet dancer w/the Bolshoi theatre company. He ran the Russian Ballet Federation. After he defected from the Soviet Union Alexander Gudunov was not only a lead ballet dancer in a us theater company. He ran the US Ballet Federation.

[@earthwormjim3269]

He died back in 1995 due to chronic alcoholism.

[@trevorjames4619]

@@davismccardle1 in no universe, on no planet, did Chevy chase star in the money pit.

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

Voted worldwide as THE greatest action movie of all time. And i have to agree, this one and Terminator 2 get my vote

[@SCharlesDennicon]

True Lies!

[@gardener68]

And Hot Fuzz for the best send-up of buddy cop movies, which had a fantastic action climax.

[@Otokichi786]

"Raiders of the Lost Ark": A generation of college students were persuaded to "dig in the dirt" as now-Cool Archeologists! A movie with enough action sequences for THREE Action movies.;)

[@gardener68]

@@Otokichi786 Absolutely!

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

@@Otokichi786 all the first 3 indiana Jones movies are masterpieces for sure 👍. I would also add Predator and Lethal Weapon series aswell

[@Itstwofourteen]

It has been a Christmas movie since the first time I watched it on VHS with my dad, and it shall remain a Christmas movie for me until the day I die! 🎄 Rest in peace, old man... I miss you.

[@kelseydortch9037]

R.I.P. & damn right

[@paulcooper3845]

Best Xmas film ever.

[@TampaCEO]

47:10 - The surprised look on Alan Rickman's face is real. He actually performed the stunt. The director was supposed to drop him on a count of three. Instead, he dropped him on a count of one. He wanted to get a real surprised look. It definitely worked. Rickman was not happy with the director but the shot was worth it. 😅

[@rappscallion3238]

The heartfelt monologue that Bruce Willies does at 39:21 impressed director Terry Gilliam so much that he decided to cast him in the movie 12 Monkeys.

[@StrifeLeeSimpson]

“Not your circus, not your clowns” my new motto

[@Eric-ff4bf]

I always felt that Alan Rickman's performance as Hans is one of the greatest villains I've ever seen. And his super villain was so great as a way to counter Willis's John McLain We get to see how great McClain is because the villain is so formidable. Such a great fil m that it inspired not just a Diehard franchise, but influenced action films for about the next 10 years, when film after film pitted an outnumbered and outgunned hero battling it out in a constricted area against a band of vicious villains. Tremendous.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Hey guys! Thank you for joining us. So what do you think? Is this a holiday movie? If you'd like to support the channel and gain access to the full length reaction become a member of our patreon bit.ly/3ICVrJ6 Join this channel to get access to our videos early and our channel badges! ❤kzbin.info/door/iCUz1bHid4H9mu6g2IOjXgjoin

[@cog4life]

Well yeaaaaahhh….it’s a Christmas movie 🎄 😅😊

[@jameshamblin8440]

Yes, this is ABSOLUTELY a Christmas movie.

[@tjtreks7134]

Lol, yeah, of course this is a Christmas movie! 😆😆

[@js0988]

It's not christmas until John McClane says Yippee-Ki-Yay, Motherfucker!

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

This movie hit the theaters on July 15th, 1988. Smack in the middle of the summer. So, no. Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie. It's THE Christmas movie.

[@Cameron5043]

Oh, you BET this is a Christmas movie, one of the best!!! Please watch the second one asap! Its also amazing! Great reaction, thank you guys!

[@louhillen8254]

A classic Xmas film! Catapulted Bruce to Hollywood A Lister! And Alan Rickman…..what a legend ❤

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

"Come out to the Coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs" Me everytime I get invited to a family Christmas dinner. Just kidding 😂

[@DanielTate-wt9jt]

If you really love Bruce Willis, right now on Hulu, they've got the TV series "Moonlighting," which was what made Bruce such a big star. It's a detective, comedy, meta, 80 cheese, romance starring, Bruce, of course, and Cybil Sheperd. It's a little silly and goofy at times, but that's part of its charm. Bruce is gold in it!!! But don't underestimate Cybil in it. She's great, too. I hope some reaction channel does reactions for it, Bruce is so iconic, and to see his beginnings when he was in his prime is great. And to see other people experience that for the first time would be awesome.

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

This movie is one of my top 5 favorite movies, after Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

We had SUCH a blast with this one! Also, there are a couple you mentioned that we're gonna be working on soon!

[@LordBaktor]

@@OfficialMediaKnights I hope Jurassic Park is one of them. That was THE movie of my childhood. Watched it 4 times in the theatre and at least 50 more times since then.

[@jaybird8192]

All 80s and 90s movies when film making and story telling was at it's very best, in my humble opinion!

[@darthmaul13]

I say it every year. It’s not Christmas till Hans Gruber falls off nakatomi plaza! This is a Christmas movie. It takes place during Christmas, they play Christmas music & the score has Christmas tunes in it. They’re Christmas jokes. “Now I have a machine gun ho ho ho” multiple people sing Christmas songs. And the end song is let it snow.

[@JezterTV]

Nice to see an english reaction with someone who knows german. Fröhliche Weihnachten und Grüße aus Berlin!

[@sothearithiem2753]

Yep, it’s definitely a Christmas movie. Since y’all enjoyed this movie so much, y’all should watch “The 13th Warrior”, also directed by John McTiernan.

[@blanewilliams5960]

Not if you wouldn't show it to a 5 year old...not a Christmas movie.

[@jeffthompson9622]

In case others haven't already mentioned it, this is Alan Rickman's first movie role, after being a stage actor.

[@MegaToronto1]

In the scene with John using the gun strap to lower himself down the elevator shaft, the stuntman was required to reach out and grab the duct opening, but he actually missed and fell down the shaft, though he was harnessed in. But missing it added that extra element of suspense and they left it in the film.

[@decusq]

Not many people know this but DIE HARD is Bruce Willis's first major action film, before this he was mainly doing comedies and Romantic Comedies. Originally the role was reserved for Frank Sinatra but he passed.

[@amberbucknall3072]

Moonlighting ❤

[@Arnold-l1k]

I'm retired but I worked as a security officer here in Atlanta one of the things I noticed that impressed me about this film was how they showed how all the building systems interact with each other., and actually use that to ratchet up the tension during this film. Sergeant Powell's reaction to having his unit shot apart is Cinematic gold

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

When you think about it, this movie is basically Home Alone for adults. If you haven't seen Home Alone yet, then that leaves you another Christmas reaction.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

That's the plan! 😄

[@Lemon_Force]

@@OfficialMediaKnights or its Alien from the perspective of the Xenomorph 😂

[@lovidodd21]

One of my all time favourites. Alan Rickman is absolutely brilliant. Yes!! It’s definitely a Christmas movie lol. Great reaction guys! Side note, the look of terror on Alan Rickmans face when he falls is totally genuine. The director convinced him to do the stunt and dropped him on 2 instead of 3 (the actual fall was only a few feet but still lol)

[@bradythurman7640]

Guys!!! I’m so excited, clicked on this vid immediately. You guys have been some of my favorite reactors, I have binged almost all of your videos. Thank you guys for understanding the filmmaking and letting movies play out patiently, appreciating them as an art while also having fun. Film literacy is something many reaction channels miss, and it’s nice to see y’all analyze and enjoy so many!

[@salvy9388]

Denise German translation was so awesome. It caught me by surprise!

[@tehdipstick]

John didn't intentionally let Ellis die. Ellis endangered himself by telling Hans that he knew John, which is why John was begging him to say otherwise. By that point John had seen various examples of how Hans and his men operated, and had a pretty good idea that if he gave himself up along with the detonators, Hans would just have him and Ellis both killed anyway. Ellis, meanwhile, genuinely thought he could strike a deal with Hans that benefited them both. He didn't care if Hans were to kill John, because that would just mean he wouldn't have any competition for Holly. That's why he threw John under the bus, but kept Holly's identity safe. Unfortunately for him, he misjudged Hans. Once he'd given up all the information on John that he had, he was already a dead man.

[@RinzlerWraith]

Fun fact , because this films based on the second book in a series, frank sinatra legally had to be offered the role of john mclane in this movie because he signed a multi picture deal when he starred in the film the detective, the first in the book series.

[@docbradleydc]

Man, that offer letter would be an amazing piece of memorabilia.

[@jamesharper3933]

This movie changed the face of action movies going into the 90's. It brought a larger than life hero and vaulted Bruce Willis from a TV show (Moonlighting) to international stardom. Definitely do Bruce's 1999 highly overlooked action/drama Mercury Rising and Michael Douglas's Fallling Down. You won't be disappointed.

[@bridgethaines7127]

Die Hard is 100% a Christmas movie. It's my favorite Christmas Movie. My sister got me the "A Die Hard Christmas: The Illustrated Holiday Classic" book one year for it even.

[@jorgesoross127]

Setting the C4 off by electrically shocking it with a computer CRT dropped from hundreds of feet was the most MacGyver idea in that show.

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Back when action movies were solidly written. Everything that happens in the first half has a consequence later in the movie: for example, the guy sitting next to John in the plane advises him to make fists with his toes. Which leads to John getting in all the action barefoot.

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Loved that! Every little detail meant something later on. Great writing!

[@Borgforce]

Apart from the people shagging in the offices… 😂

[@hughbrown5931]

I'm glad you both enjoyed this Christmas Action movie! I remember seeing this in the cinema and being blown away by the film. Alan Rickman's performance was fantastic, and this film put Bruce Willis on the Map as an action actor and also showed his range. Great Film!

[@kevinexline5392]

Cool little fact about the fall… the director told them to drop him on the count of 3, but they actually purposely dropped him before so that he wasn’t ready for it. So the look on his face is legit because he wasn’t expected it.

[@samuelmoulds1016]

yeah, you two have such great reactions and insights! I more than enjoy your combination of chemistry and knowledge! my personal favorite 'Christmas movie' is "The Ice Harvest" staring John Cusack and a host of characters! (I told some 'church goers' "The Ice Harvest" is my favorite 'Christmas movie, they watched it, at my suggestion, and now they refuse to talk to me)!

[@sivan1127]

20:45 The live translation was awesome😂

[@cmale3702]

I've been watching reaction videos for a couple of years now. I came across one of your videos about a month ago. From there, I binge watched many of your reactions. You guys have quickly become my favorite. You guys are very genuine in your reactions and the fact that you know a lot about making movies and can appreciate all of the different components that go into making them, sets you apart from any other reactions I've seen. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll be just fine. I was so happy to see you react to Die Hard! I've seen it many times since it first came out and it's one of my favorites. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I knew you would. :)

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Wow! This made our day! Thank you for taking the time and writing something nice! You are awesome. We're so glad you've been enjoying these so far and hope you continue to do so moving forward. We love hearing you guys' thoughts on movies!

[@Critical_mtb]

Same here. I found you when I looked up saving private ryan. It was such a different reaction vibe you show us. I watched it like 3 times already. I binged watched so many of your videos and found myself coming back. Thank you for all the hard work you pour into making the videos and keeping us entertained...feels like watching movies with friends. ❤😊

[@tonyyul703]

​@@OfficialMediaKnightskeep this in mind to, that just two or three years prior to the release of This Film Bruce Willis was virtually an unknown as well. He didn't truly gain notoriety until Moonlighting a show he did in the 80's with the beautiful Cybill Shepherd, and most of the one liners were all unscripted... And if you want a more comedic side to Bruce Willis, please REACT TO *BLIND DATE* Starring Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger it's a must watch and react......

[@tonyyul703]

​@@OfficialMediaKnights you have to watch The TRANSPORTER

[@RabidParakeetSweat2]

Die Hard is such a goodtime, glad you enjoyed it. Another great action flick mid 90s that kicks ass to watch - The Long Kiss Goodnight. You won't be disappointed. (And it might be a Xmas movie too.) Enjoy!

[@Patterner]

Oh yes. Geena Davis was excellent in that.

[@stillhuntre55]

Another great 90s action flick that takes place around Christmas is TURBULENCE!

[@IChooseJesus9091]

The Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis & Samuel Jackson. Excellent movie. One of my favorites.

[@dolleyes5062]

My verdict #1: Another great reaction! My verdict #2: "Die Hard" is DEFINITELY a Christmas movie! It's set during a Christmas party, there's a pregnant woman, Holly's a Christmas-based name, there's Christmas music, Holly's watch was a VERY useful Christmas present & the main theme is about family, whether it's McClane's family, Sgt. Powell's impending family or Karl's obsession with avenging his brother. I've watched it at least once every Christmas for years & will again, so it's a Christmas movie to me! 🎄🎁 Acting-wise, this is one of Bruce Willis' best roles, but Alan Richman steals the show as Hans Gruber. Richman's Gruber is one of the most iconic villains in movie history & he should have been Oscar-nominated. Reginald VelJohnson's Sgt. Powell is a badass in his own right & his connection with McClane is a new spin on the "buddy cop" genre, especially when they met for the first time. Another Alan Richman movie I'd suggest is "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Another Bruce Willis suggestion: "Death Becomes Her." Another suggestion: "Trespass," about 2 firefighters played by Bill Paxton and Bill Sadler, who are on a treasure hunt and cross paths with gangsters played by Ice-T and Ice Cube. Devoreaux White, aka "Argyle,"also has a bit part. Thanks again! 👍

[@evacombs9720]

One of the reasons I enjoy you both as reactors is that you meet movies where they are for what they are. - This movie has a lot of plot holes and incorrect law enforcement procedure (for 1988) and things like bad German accents (though I think young Alan Rickman makes up for this), but you go in to it with the fun, action oriented thinking this movie asks for. - I also enjoy your insights because you do know more than I do about things like guns and procedure, as well! - You are both smart and observant! But it's that you meet serious movies and funny movies and action movies, etc. where they are for what they are that makes you great reactors.

[@Korraganitar]

The dispatcher who doesn't believe McLain really hammers home how different things were back then. These days, something like that would lead to instant response.

[@troywhitworth1106]

Hans Gruber. One of the All Time great villains!

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

He is the BEST!! So much charisma and awesomeness wrapped up in one villain!

[@JoeyBrooklynite]

My absolute FAVORITE Christmas movie all-time! Ppl say it isn't but debate a wall 😂 Great job as always Knights..I didn't finish the video but I'm confident 😉

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

Haha it absolutely is a Christmas movie 😂😂 thank you so much for the support, we appreciate you so much!! Hope you enjoy the rest!

[@i_love_rescue_animals]

I saw this way back when it came out - and I *thought it was going to be a dumb, action movie. Boy was I wrong! Absolutely fell in love with Alan Rickman's elegant villain and loved Bruce Willis' snarky charm (as well as the competent cop). Such a fun action film! RIP Alan Rickman. ❤

[@sethraelthebard5459]

OH THIS ROCKS!!! I was just thinking about this movie a couple days ago and thought it would be hilarious if you guys reacted to it! That's crazy! Thanks for sharing and glad you enjoyed it as much as me!

[@sircdrom]

Great reaction! I really agree with what you said about the sentimentality of 80s - 90s movies as opposed to the cheesy approach around 2000s movies. Spot on!

[@kimzwolinski9919]

Absolutely a Christmas movie.🎄 The cast of this movie is perfect from Bruce all the way down to Argyle. I love that he got his little moment at the end both for the character and the actor who played him. That was a fun reaction 😊

[@johto]

I feel blessed i was born '77, got to watched all these kickas 80's movies when they were fresh and i was a pre-teen / teen. Its good to see younger people appreciating this era too. There's something more with thes than just my nostalgia. They sure dont make these like they used to👍

[@sunnypalal]

This was Alan Rickman's first movie. Love this Christmas movie! Also totally enjoy your channel.

[@BeachcomberNZ]

That rifle you were asking about, that Karl (long blonde hair) was using, is a Steyr AUG military rifle, made in Austria. Our army, here in New Zealand, also had them as standard issue for quite a few years.

[@ResolvingReality]

As a director John McTiernan is a legend. Also did Predator a year before in '87

[@Kosmisch1987]

I think you guys are becoming my fav movie reaction channel. Love your commentary, chemistry and energy. Hope to watch many more movie with you! :)

[@OfficialMediaKnights]

It warms our hearts to hear you’re enjoying these! Thank you for showing some love ❤️

[@ValtteriMyllymäki]

"It's not christmas until I see Hans Gruber fall from Nakatomi tower"

[@Broom-SSN]

GREAT reactions and really great commentary at the end. I think you guys really hit on allot of factors that made this a timeless classic. And how about that safe-cracking scene? I really loved the way they made that a moment of villain POV that was ecstatic, surprising and a little funny. For just a moment we felt that rush of being with the uber cool international heist, then quickly back to the good side of the force.

[@nero756]

as a german it feels so great watching a english movie and the german is actually speaking german and doesnt sound like he is having a stroke xD

[@flowrpeace]

along with the the great actors in this movie, was the fantastic Alexander Godunov, who played Carl. Gudunov was a Russian ballet dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet. Great dancer. It was so cool to see him in this part. He also acted in Witness, a completely opposite character than this role. Loved him.

[@janispayne5570]

Alexander G. was also the love interest of Jessica Lange, a hugely popular and beautiful actress at that time. ❤️

[@lsu1992]

Fun fact- Alan's expression during the fall was epic, and genuine- They told him they were gonna drop on the count of 3, but went on 2. 😂 True story!