Die Hard 2: Die Harder ½

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Die Hard 2: Die Harder ½ Die Hard 2: Die Harder ½ Year of Release: 1990 Review by Randy Parker Country: USA Verdict: Skip It Die Hard 2 is an altogether unfortunate fiasco, could learn a few things from John McTiernan, inferior to the original in every respect. Place the who directed the original, as well as The Hunt For blame squarely on the shoulders of Steven de Sou- Red October and Predator —all standouts for their za and Doug Richardson, who wrote the film’s hair-raising suspense. By contrast, Harlin doesn’t pathetic screenplay. Every line of dialogue reeks have a clue when it comes to choreographing ac- of either smarmy sap or forced humor. The plot is tion, and consequently, Die Hard 2 never picks up altogether implausible; the convoluted story line steam. involves a band of terrorists who take over Dulles Die Harder is impossible to take seriously even Airport and shut down the control tower, leaving for a minute. In fact, the movie often seems delib- a dozen planes stranded in the air waiting to land. erately campy, and it almost reaches the threshold The film has zero credibility, and all of the charac- of being so bad it’s good. You do laugh, but you ters come off as clichéd, cardboard cut-outs. laugh at the film, not with it. Die Hard 2 never So much for the script… How about the action? should have been cleared for takeoff. Well, let’s put it this way: director Renny Harlin © 1990 – Randy Parker - All Rights Reserved http://www.emusements.com/randy/RRI/ .
Recommended publications
  • Writing Dialogue & Advice from the Pros
    Writing Dialogue & Advice from the Pros Writing great dialogue is considered an art form. Listening to real-life conversations, watching award- winning films, and learning from the masters will help you craft dialogue that shines on the page. The following writing thoughts and advice are excerpts from Karl Iglesias’ book, The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters. Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Writing Unrealistic and Boring Dialogue In real life, dialogue is mostly polite conversation. In film, polite conversation is considered bad dialogue, unless it’s witty, sarcastic, or has a unique voice. The reason is that polite chat lacks tension, and tension is the key to dramatic storytelling. As Alfred Hitchcock once said, “Drama is real life with all the boring parts cut out of it.” The key to good dialogue is to understand that it’s not conversation, it’s action. What characters say in a scene should be said to get what they want in the scene. And to determine whether or not your dialogue sounds realistic, read it out loud. Garrison Keillor once advised, “If you read your work out loud, it helps to know what’s bad.” Try it. It works. Dialogue always sounds better in your head. Better to be embarrassed in your room than on the set. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read Your Dialogue Out Loud Writing authentic, well-crafted dialogue that sparkles, individualizes characters, and entertains the reader is the ultimate challenge for screenwriters, who otherwise may have solid script elements. It’s crucial to attracting talent, which can green-light your script. Writing great dialogue can also sell the writer, for those who excel in this area are highly sought after to the tune of six figures per week for dialogue rewrites.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents PART I. Introduction 5 A. Overview 5 B. Historical Background 6 PART II. The Study 16 A. Background 16 B. Independence 18 C. The Scope of the Monitoring 19 D. Methodology 23 1. Rationale and Definitions of Violence 23 2. The Monitoring Process 25 3. The Weekly Meetings 26 4. Criteria 27 E. Operating Premises and Stipulations 32 PART III. Findings in Broadcast Network Television 39 A. Prime Time Series 40 1. Programs with Frequent Issues 41 2. Programs with Occasional Issues 49 3. Interesting Violence Issues in Prime Time Series 54 4. Programs that Deal with Violence Well 58 B. Made for Television Movies and Mini-Series 61 1. Leading Examples of MOWs and Mini-Series that Raised Concerns 62 2. Other Titles Raising Concerns about Violence 67 3. Issues Raised by Made-for-Television Movies and Mini-Series 68 C. Theatrical Motion Pictures on Broadcast Network Television 71 1. Theatrical Films that Raise Concerns 74 2. Additional Theatrical Films that Raise Concerns 80 3. Issues Arising out of Theatrical Films on Television 81 D. On-Air Promotions, Previews, Recaps, Teasers and Advertisements 84 E. Children’s Television on the Broadcast Networks 94 PART IV. Findings in Other Television Media 102 A. Local Independent Television Programming and Syndication 104 B. Public Television 111 C. Cable Television 114 1. Home Box Office (HBO) 116 2. Showtime 119 3. The Disney Channel 123 4. Nickelodeon 124 5. Music Television (MTV) 125 6. TBS (The Atlanta Superstation) 126 7. The USA Network 129 8. Turner Network Television (TNT) 130 D.
    [Show full text]
  • Theaters 3 & 4 the Grand Lodge on Peak 7
    The Grand Lodge on Peak 7 Theaters 3 & 4 NOTE: 3D option is only available in theater 3 Note: Theater reservations are for 2 hours 45 minutes. Movie durations highlighted in Orange are 2 hours 20 minutes or more. Note: Movies with durations highlighted in red are only viewable during the 9PM start time, due to their excess length Title: Genre: Rating: Lead Actor: Director: Year: Type: Duration: (Mins.) The Avengers: Age of Ultron 3D Action PG-13 Robert Downey Jr. Joss Whedon 2015 3D 141 Born to be Wild 3D Family G Morgan Freeman David Lickley 2011 3D 40 Captain America : The Winter Soldier 3D Action PG-13 Chris Evans Anthony Russo/ Jay Russo 2014 3D 136 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 3D Adventure PG Georgie Henley Michael Apted 2010 3D 113 Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D Fantasy PG Erica Linz Andrew Adamson 2012 3D 91 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 3D Animation PG Ana Faris Cody Cameron 2013 3D 95 Despicable Me 3D Animation PG Steve Carell Pierre Coffin 2010 3D 95 Despicable Me 2 3D Animation PG Steve Carell Pierre Coffin 2013 3D 98 Finding Nemo 3D Animation G Ellen DeGeneres Andrew Stanton 2003 3D 100 Gravity 3D Drama PG-13 Sandra Bullock Alfonso Cuaron 2013 3D 91 Hercules 3D Action PG-13 Dwayne Johnson Brett Ratner 2014 3D 97 Hotel Transylvania Animation PG Adam Sandler Genndy Tartakovsky 2012 3D 91 Ice Age: Continetal Drift 3D Animation PG Ray Romano Steve Martino 2012 3D 88 I, Frankenstein 3D Action PG-13 Aaron Eckhart Stuart Beattie 2014 3D 92 Imax Under the Sea 3D Documentary G Jim Carrey Howard Hall
    [Show full text]
  • Media Companion Is the Original Free to Use Movie Manager and Organizer That Offers Full XBMC Integration
    Introduction Top Next Media Companion is the original free to use movie manager and organizer that offers full XBMC integration. Simply put, Media Companion offers the facility to gather information from the Internet and make this information available to you in an organized manner. The information collected includes such things as posters, backdrops, plot summary, actors and actor images, ratings etc. Media Companion Currently supports Movies and TV Shows. Movie Features include. · Scrape movie information from IMDB. · Download movie posters from any of IMDB, TMdb, IMPA, and MPDB. · Download movie backdrops from TMdb. · Download movie trailers from IMDB. · View and edit all obtained data. · Search and browse movies using a selection of filters and searches. · Export to HTML list, with customizable templates. TV Show features include. · Automatically download information for TV Shows and episodes from TVdb. · Download actor images from either TVdb or IMDB. · Download and select poster for Show and individual seasons. · Download episode screen shot. · Create screen shot if download is not available. · Automatically rename episodes. · Display episodes missing from your collection. Media Companion Basics Previous Top Next Quick start - Adding Movies So you have Media Companion installed and run the program, the large amount of settings and tabs may be a little daunting. This page shows you the basic procedure to be used in order to add movies. When you start Media Companion for the first time, you will be presented with something that looks much like this. When first started, the Media Companion library will be empty, but this can be quickly changed by following these steps.
    [Show full text]
  • Characters Reunite to Celebrate South Dakota's Statehood
    2 x 2" ad 2 x 2" ad May 24 - 30, 2019 Buy 1 V A H A G R Z U N Q U R A O C Your Key 2 x 3" ad A M U S A R I C R I R T P N U To Buying Super Tostada M A R G U L I E S D P E T H N P B W P J M T R E P A Q E U N and Selling! @ Reg. Price 2 x 3.5" ad N A M M E E O C P O Y R R W I get any size drink FREE F N T D P V R W V C W S C O N One coupon per customer, per visit. Cannot be combined with any other offer. X Y I H E N E R A H A Z F Y G -00109093 Exp. 5/31/19 WA G P E R O N T R Y A D T U E H E R T R M L C D W M E W S R A Timothy Olyphant (left) and C N A O X U O U T B R E A K M U M P C A Y X G R C V D M R A Ian McShane star in the new N A M E E J C A I U N N R E P “Deadwood: The Movie,’’ N H R Z N A N C Y S K V I G U premiering Friday on HBO.
    [Show full text]
  • Hollywood and Terrorism
    Hollywood and Terrorism James Harrison A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master's of Arts Communications & Culture York University May 2008 Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-45940-9 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-45940-9 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Plntemet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission.
    [Show full text]
  • Die Hard 2 Film Tour
    Die Hard 2 Visit northern Michigan where scenes from this iconic film series were filmed. It’s Christmas Eve. John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, is waiting for his wife to land at Washington Dulles International Airport when terrorists take over the air traffic control system. He must stop the terrorists before his wife’s plane, and several other incoming flights that are circling the airport, run out of fuel and crash. Die Hard 2 (sometimes referred to as Die Hard 2: Die Harder), is a 1990 American action film and the second movie in the Die Hard film series. Die Hard 2 had a budget of $70 million and made $239.5 million worldwide, almost doubling that of the first film. problems and cost overruns. Initially, Tarmac scenes were filmed at the Star and distinguished Flying Cross, as director Renny Harlin planned on using airport and featured many locals as well as an flying ace in the Korean War. the normally snowed-in Stapleton extras in shots inside the plane, during Kincheloe Air Force Base served as a International Airport in Denver as the the evacuation scenes, and on the refueling base for aircraft heading to primary location. But the snow melted tarmac. Alaska during WWII, and as an air base early in the season and the crew was for defense of the Soo Locks. Without forced to move farther north, to Moses Meet Odin, the official wildlife control the use of the Soo Locks, America could Lake, Washington. Unseasonably warm dog for Alpena County Regional not effectively operate its war machine.
    [Show full text]
  • D-BOX Catalogue 7-17-2015
    D-BOX HOME THEATRE MOTION CODE LIBRARY COMING SOON RELEASE DATE Ex Machina 4/24/2015 Tracers 3/20/2015 NEW TITLES RELEASE DATE Run All Night 3/13/2015 PREVIOUSLY RELEASED RELEASE DATE (007) Casino Royale 11/17/2006 (007) Die Another Day 11/22/2002 (007) Dr. No 5/8/1963 (007) From Russia with Love 5/27/1964 (007) Goldeneye 11/17/1995 (007) Goldfinger 1/9/1965 (007) Quantum of Solace 10/31/2008 (007) Skyfall 11/9/2012 (007) Spy Who Loved Me, The 8/3/1977 (007) Thunderball 12/22/1965 (007) World Is Not Enough, The 11/8/1999 .45 11/30/2006 10,000 BC 3/7/2008 12 Monkeys 1/5/1996 12 Rounds 3/27/2009 127 hours 1/28/2011 13 Sins 3/7/2014 1408 6/22/2007 16 Blocks 3/3/2006 1942 1/1/2005 2 Guns 8/2/2013 2001 - A Space Odyssey 4/6/1968 2010 - The Year We Make Contact 12/7/1984 2012 11/13/2009 21 3/28/2008 24 1st season, episode 1 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 10 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 11 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 12 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 13 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 14 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 15 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 16 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 17 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 18 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 19 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 2 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 20 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 21 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 22 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 23 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 24 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 3 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 4 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 5 5/11/2001 24 1st season, episode 6 5/11/2001 24 1st
    [Show full text]
  • NPRC) VIP List, 2009
    Description of document: National Archives National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) VIP list, 2009 Requested date: December 2007 Released date: March 2008 Posted date: 04-January-2010 Source of document: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 Note: NPRC staff has compiled a list of prominent persons whose military records files they hold. They call this their VIP Listing. You can ask for a copy of any of these files simply by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to the address above. The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory to Archival Boxes in the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress
    INVENTORY TO ARCHIVAL BOXES IN THE MOTION PICTURE, BROADCASTING, AND RECORDED SOUND DIVISION OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Compiled by MBRS Staff (Last Update December 2017) Introduction The following is an inventory of film and television related paper and manuscript materials held by the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress. Our collection of paper materials includes continuities, scripts, tie-in-books, scrapbooks, press releases, newsreel summaries, publicity notebooks, press books, lobby cards, theater programs, production notes, and much more. These items have been acquired through copyright deposit, purchased, or gifted to the division. How to Use this Inventory The inventory is organized by box number with each letter representing a specific box type. The majority of the boxes listed include content information. Please note that over the years, the content of the boxes has been described in different ways and are not consistent. The “card” column used to refer to a set of card catalogs that documented our holdings of particular paper materials: press book, posters, continuity, reviews, and other. The majority of this information has been entered into our Merged Audiovisual Information System (MAVIS) database. Boxes indicating “MAVIS” in the last column have catalog records within the new database. To locate material, use the CTRL-F function to search the document by keyword, title, or format. Paper and manuscript materials are also listed in the MAVIS database. This database is only accessible on-site in the Moving Image Research Center. If you are unable to locate a specific item in this inventory, please contact the reading room.
    [Show full text]
  • Selected Bibliography
    Selected Bibliography 4 Film Favorites: Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4. Los Angeles: Warner Bros., 2014. DVD. 24: The Complete Series. 2001–2010. Produced by Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow. Los Angeles: 20th Century Fox Entertainment, 2010. DVD. 48 Hours. DVD. Directed by Walter Hill. Paramount Pictures, 1999. A Good Day to Die Hard. Directed by John Moore. 20th Century Fox, 2013. Amazon Prime. A Stranger Among Us. Directed by Sidney Lumet. Hollywood Pictures, 1992. A Thief of Time. DVD. Directed by Chris Eyre. PBS Home Video, 2004. Abalos, David T. The Latino Male: A Radical Redefinition. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002. Abbott, Megan E. The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. Adams, Rachel, and David Savran, eds. The Masculinity Studies Reader, Keyworks in Cultural Studies. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. Alias—Seasons 1–5, Complete Series. 2001–2006. Produced by J. J. Abrams. Burbank, CA: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2006. DVD. Allen, Judith A. “Men Interminably in Crisis? Historians on Masculinity, Sexual Boundaries, and Manhood.” Radical History Review no. 82 (Winter 2002). Allen, Robert C., and Douglas Gomery. Film History: Theory and Practice. New York: Random House, 1985. © The Author(s) 2019 259 M. Yaquinto, Policing the World on Screen, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24805-5 260 Selected Bibliography Allen, Theodore W. The Invention of the White Race. New York: Verso, 1997. Alpert, Geoffrey P., and Roger G. Dunham. Policing Urban America. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1997. Alsultany, Evelyn.
    [Show full text]
  • Persian Visions Showcases Iranian Photographers
    Tuesday, Feb. 05, 2013 Features 10Persian Visions John McClane: showcases The man who won’t "Die Hard" BY SEAN LEAVY Iranian Assistant Features Editor he has saved Christmas, Los Angeles, and Washington DC from a cyber terrorist attack, saving his photographers On Valentine’s Day, the ultimate romantic returns to theaters in his fifth installment. Since 1988 wife and his daughter along the way. What could be more romantic? Now, as his new film A Good BY MARY QUINN Day to Die Hard is about to be released, John McClane (Bruce Willis) proves that he is the ultimate Contributing Writer hero and husband in his first four films.Die Hard (1988): When audiences were collection of contemporary photography from Iran entitled first introduced to McClane, The Albin O. Kuhn library gallery is currently exhibiting a- Bruce Willis was in the peak- - ofClane’s his action wife isfilm held career. as a hostage,Alan Rickman McClane (Harry resorts Potter), to any starts means as Persian Visions developed by Hamid Severi,. The exhibit in thenecessary villain, to who take takes down control the terrorists, of a 40 story including skyscraper. tossing When them Mcout cludesEach aartist’s wealth collection of media installations is a unique lensby 20 through of Iran’s which most celthe ebrated photographers. of windows. While the film runs a lengthy 131 minutes, the action Iranianbathed inexperience contrasting is lights,viewed. while No ontwo the pieces other, in images the exhibit of the and plot never let up. A first adventure of humor, violence, action prove to be the same.
    [Show full text]