Having finished all the shopping, the sending of cards (by snaimail and email), wrapped the presents and delivered goodies to friends and driving home in a pea souper of a fog this afternoon, I have spent the evening in a supine position on the sofa watching one of the greatest crap movies of all time "Die Hard". It wasn't till I had started off the DVD that I remembered it is set on Christmas Eve so I thought I would hurl it into the mixing bowl that is now my GIFT Challenge. I have lost track of whether I have watched a new or old movie, read a new or old book, or whatever, but hey it's Christmas so go with the flow.
This film has every stock character in the book: John McClane the tough New York cop (Bruce Willis) 
separated from his wife; the old fashioned policeman who strikes up a walkie talkie friendship with John as he sets about killing off all the terrorists one by one; the venal and publicity seeking nasty slimy TV man; the stupid deputy of police Duane, and the gung ho FBI agents who come to a nasty end.
For me this film is mostly memorable for the fact that this was really the first time the utter gorgeousness and sexiness of Alan Rickman impinged on my consciousness. He is way over the top as the leader of the gang, Hans Gruber, with his wonderful accent and permanent sneer on his face as he stalks around looking incredibly suave and elegant and evil.
There is a truly great moment in this film, pure Hollywood, when the vault he and his cohorts are robbing finally opens to the tune of the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The music bursts forth, the lights shine and glance off Rickman standing silhoutted and watching the doors open and it is simply fantastic. Never fails to thrill each time I see it.
Die Hard 2 and Die Hard 3 were pretty good sequels but nothing is as good as the original. It rocks.
