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Die Hard tells the story of John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, who arrives in Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged wife during Christmas. His visit to her office, the Nakatomi Plaza, turns into a high-stakes hostage situation when terrorists, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), take over the building aiming to steal $640 million.
John McClane, barefoot and resourceful, becomes the building’s last line of defense. Communicating via walkie-talkie with Sergeant Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), McClane uses whatever he can find to thwart the terrorists and save the hostages, including his wife Holly, portrayed by Bonnie Bedelia.
This film stands out not just for its action but for its strong script and character development. Willis embodies McClane with a blend of vulnerability and toughness, while Rickman delivers a chilling performance as the cunning villain. The supporting cast, including Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson, also contributes significantly to the film’s enduring appeal.
John McTiernan directs with a keen eye for action, making Die Hard not only a thrilling ride but also a benchmark in the action genre, still holding up well over a decade after its initial release.
The DVD transfer does justice to the film’s visual style. Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the image quality is sharp with vibrant colors, minimal grain, and no significant digital artifacts, making it a treat for cinephiles.
The sound is equally impressive with a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that immerses viewers in the chaos of Nakatomi Plaza. Every gunshot and explosion is delivered with precise, room-filling audio.
The extras are as follows:
- Chapters/Trailer: 30 chapters for easy navigation, and the theatrical trailer is included.
Languages and Subtitles: English and Spanish in Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles in multiple languages.
Featurette: A short but enjoyable 5.5-minute featurette.
Cast Biographies/Filmographies: Information on key cast members.
Menu: Features a dynamic photo montage with animated effects.
Die Hard is out now on 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD.
You can also buy the Complete Movie boxset on Blu-ray and DVD.
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FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS |
10 10 10 3 |
| OVERALL | 8 |
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 127 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Year: 1988
Released: 1999
Cat.no: 01666DVD
Region(s): 2, PAL
Chapters: 30 plus extras
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Danish, Hungarian, Icelandic, Spanish
Widescreen: 2.39:1 (Super Panavision 70, Anamorphic Panavision)
16:9-Enhanced: Yes
Macrovision: Yes
Disc Format: DVD 9
Director: John McTiernan
Producers: Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver
Screenplay: Jeb Stuart and Steven E de Souza
Music: Michael Kamen
Cast:
John McClane: Bruce Willis
Holly Gennero McClane: Bonnie Bedelia
Hans Gruber: Alan Rickman
Karl: Alexander Godunov
Sgt. Al Powell: Reginald VelJohnson
Dwayne T. Robinson: Paul Gleason
Argyle: De’voreaux White
Thornburg: William Atherton