Rating: 
Summary: McClane is back....
Review: With the success of John McTiernan's 1988 action thriller Die Hard, moviegoers were literally overwhelmed with explosion-and-mayhem laden tales of good-guy-vs.-bunch-of-clever-and-well-armed villains-in-an-enclosed-space films. Some, like Andrew Davis' Under Siege (one of the few movies starring Steven Seagal that I'll sit through) were actually good. Most of them got sillier and sillier as producers and screenwriters struggled with the familiar Hollywood question: How can we top/rip off Die Hard? (In the text commentary to McTiernan's Die Hard, one of the producers reveals that in one studio meeting heard the ultimate in ironic pitches: one producer tried to sell his action adventure flick as "Die Hard in a building.")1990's Die Hard 2: Die Harder, directed by Finnish director Renny Harlin, is actually one of those few good films of the action-thriller genre, although at times it suffers from its own excesses. Taking the blueprint from its 1988 source movie, it once again places John McClane (Bruce Willis) in a tight spot...actually, several tight spots, including such people-friendly places as a luggage conveyor belt, a C-130's cockpit, and the wing of a Boeing 747 as he once again fights a group of heavily armed villains and rescue many innocent hostages. Die Hard 2 echoes many motifs from the first film. It is set 12 months later, during the Christmas holidays. It starts in an airport. Once again his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) is in jeopardy. Once again smarmy reporter Dick Thornburg (William Atherton) attempts to exploit the story for his own career advancement. And of course McClane, who has transferred to L.A. and is now a police lieutenant there, clashes with various bureaucracies and local police officers who don't want the hero of the Nakatomi hostage crisis to wreak havoc in their neck of the woods. Of course, this being a very ambitious sequel, Die Hard 2 had to have a different setting, since audiences certainly would not have paid to see McClane simply blow up another skycraper. This time it's Dulles International Airport that is being held hostage by former Army Col. Stuart (William Sadler) and a team of renegade soldiers who mix right wing politics with sheer capitalism. Their plot: to take control of the airport and its air control systems until Gen. Ramon Esperanza (Franco Nero), a Manuel Noriega-like dictator who is en route Stateside to be tried for drug-related crimes, is set free. While predictable (c'mon, you know McClane is not going to sit idly by while those terrorists hold thousands of lives in their hands, right?) and with a very high casualty rate, Die Hard 2 is an entertaining film. Willis still shoots, smirks and wisecracks his way through the sometimes unbelievable situations concocted by screenwriters Steven de Souza and Doug Richardson. Explosions still bloom and boom. Bullets, knives, golf clubs, and even icicles are still deadly tools for hero and villains alike, and the bad guys get their just desserts... The Special Edition two-disc set, like the others in the Die Hard collection, contains the feature film (with director's commentary, various audio and subtitle options, and anamorphic Widescreen presentation) in Disc 1. Disc 2 contains the theatrical and TV trailers, interviews, and making-of featurettes.
Rating:
Summary: Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Review: After the ground-breaking, awesome Die Hard comes a worthy sequel. Though not as good as the original, Die Hard 2 has its moments and turns out to be a good film. Bruce Willis is again great as NYPD cop John McClane, and Bonnie Bedilia gives an even better performance as McClane's wife, Holly. The downpoint of the casting is certainly William Sadler as villain Colonel Stuart. He can't compare to Rickman or Irons and hurts the film. The plot is interesting but why couldn't the planes have landed at a diferent airport? The darkness and helps the film a lot, and the script isn't that bad. action is entertaining, including a snowmobile chase, several gunfights, and a fight on the wing of a plane. Music is okay. The suspense is well-balanced and the feel is good, yet it is very unrealistic. However, if you put aside all the plotholes and unrealistic things, Die Hard 2 is quite an entertaining action romp and is worth renting and possibly buying.
Rating: 
Summary: A fan's review
Review: I would like to start by pointing out that this movie gets a lot of crap. A LOT. This is in no way as bad as the reviews may make you think, and in fact this is my favorite Die Hard film. I'm a huge fan of the series. I've seen them all plenty of times, and this one stands out for me. I'm not the only one, either; Ebert also claims this to be the greatest Die Hard. You've heard the same complaints about this movie a thousand times, I'm sure of it. But what tends to be left out is the amazing special effects, the truely die hard enemies, and the perfectly directed action scenes. This was directed by a different director than the other two blockbusters. Die Hard 2 also made the most money at the box offices. It really is the best!
Rating:
Summary: Die Hard 2; Die Harder
Review: It's a snowy Christmas night in the nation's capitol, one year after the terrorist attack of Nakitomi Plaza in L.A. New York detective John McClane (Bruce Willis), the terrorist attack's underdog police hero, is there at an airport to wait for his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) to arrive from her flight. But when military terrorists, led by the unmerciful Colonel Stuart (William Sadler), seize the terminal and start to take over, McClane faces the nightmare of his past in this new emergency as he slips into top gear in a daring attempt to save the terminal and his air-born wife trapped in a doomed airplane. Provides the same suspenseful action-packed adventure from the original, and a worthy sequel to that awesome thriller. Also stars Reginald VelJohnson (original "Die Hard", "Family Matters" T.V. series) as McClane's old friend from L.A. This specific film, unlike the original and the third episode directed by John McTiernan, was directed by Renny Harlin, who also directed "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (starred his now ex-wife Geena Davis), "Captiva Island" (starred his now ex-wive Geena Davis), "Cliffhanger" (starred super-action star Sylvester Stallone), and the genetically engineered shark horror tale "Deep Blue Sea", just recently released in 1999.
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as the original and the third one
Review: Although Die Hard 2 isn't as good as the first and third ones, it still manages to pull off some great visual effects and action sequences. This time around, McClane is at Dulles Airport in D.C. (which looks nothing like the real dulles airport) waiting for his wife to arrive when terrorists take over the airport's controls, enabling them to make contact with the planes and land them. They take over the controls so they can have their general land there. Director Renny Harlin pulls off some good action scenes, such as a snowmobile chase, a fight to the death on the wing of a plane, and a shootout at the annex skywalk. Those pros aside, it's a shame that McTiernan, who directed the first film, couldn't direct this. If he had, the movie would have been much better. Also, the movie is VERY unrealistic and isn't nearly and funny as the first and third movies. So when you buy this movie, don't expect anything like the first or the third one. Expect an average sequel that could've been much better,
Rating:
Summary: Die Hard and Die Hard 2
Review: Die Hard began a subgenre in action films (as well as Bruce Willis' career as an action star)--that of the lone hero, a sort of cowboy for the modern era. Films like Under Siege ("Die Hard on a boat") and Passenger 57 ("Die Hard on a plane") are example of substandard entries that soon followed. What they missed is that Die Hard is a good film on its own. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is a New York cop transplanted to Los Angeles when his wife gets a job with the Nakatomi Corporation. When terrorists take over the building during a Christmas party, it's up to John to save the day. Alan Rickman gives an excellent performance as lead terrorist Hans Gruber but it's Willis that carries the film with his wisecracks, catchphrases, and charisma. Inevitably, there would be a sequel and we should consider ourselves lucky that it was Die Hard 2. Subtitled "Die Harder," it was actually based on an unrelated novel (58 Minutes by Walter Wager) that was then geared to fit the McClane character. Again, it's Christmas, and again Mrs. McClane is in danger. Her plane is flying over Washington, D.C., and is quickly running out of fuel. But more terrorists are attempting to fly in a drug lord and will have no planes landing until he arrives safely. Die Hard 2, although a lesser film than its predecessor, more than makes up for it in the fun factor. Self-referential remarks ("How can [this] happen to the same guy twice?") and a total lack of any coherent logic along with terrific effects (and a stunning high perspective shot) come together to make one of the best action sequels. A double feature is probably not in order, but either of these films make for fine escapist viewing. "Yippy-ki-yay, [melonfarmer]!"
Rating:
Summary: How can the same thing happen to the same guy twice?
Review: The makers of Die Hard 2, hoped to surpass the success of the original Die Hard. While the second film may feature action on a larger scale, the plot does not draw the audience into the story in the same way the first Die Hard did. Director and action movie specialist, Renny Harlin, is only partially successful at creating and sustaining a high level of suspense and excitement, working with a script that could have been stood a bit more polish. Once again police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) gets into some heavy-duty action on Christmas Eve. This time it's at Dulles Airport, in Washington, where terrorists have taken control and seek the release of a foreign general. McClane is suddenly in the middle of the action, seeking to foil the plot and also save his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), who is a passenger on a circling plane, in danger of running out of fuel. Die Hard 2, is a very different film from Die Hard. Some of the elements most critical to the success of the first film, are not present. The first time around, action was confined to a limited area, a few floors in the Nakatomi Plaza. The danger to McClane's wife was more immediate and real, reinforced by the menacing presence of supercrook Hans Gruber, played with style by Alan Rickman. There was real antagonism between McClane and Gruber, which propelled the movie. In Die Hard 2, the action is spread over a much wider stage, with many more players. McClane, though still a one-man army, never establishes a relationship with one principal "baddie". Colonel Stuart (William Sadler), the wild-eyed leader of the mercenaries is rather robotic, and lacks any special charisma. McClane and wife Holly, are pretty much out of touch throughout the critical phases of the movie. And if not for the "coincidental" presence of news reporter Dick Thornburg (William Atherton) from the first film, Holly would have almost nothing to do. A logical plot, is secondary to the action. If not, then the "same thing" wouldn't happen to the "same guy". Die Hard 2 - Die Harder, is a good action film, that takes a different approach from its predecessor. There is no shortage of action, but the "intimacy" that characterized the first film is absent. Bigger? Yes. Better? Perhaps not. The Special Edition DVD features director Renny Harlin's detailed and revealing commentary. As usual, he is very informative, insightful, and frank, in discussing the production of the film. Harlin's commentaries are among the best, for their honesty. You also get a second disc with a couple of documentaries, deleted scenes, interview with Harlin, and other special features.
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as the original
Review: Count me among the few, it seems, who believe DIE HARD 2 to be almost as good as the original DIE HARD. I personally don't understand why this sequel always seems to be undervalued in favor of the jaggedly uneven, incoherent DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE. Certainly DIE HARD 2 is not as good as the original. It lacks the first film's grittiness and claustrophobic atmosphere (but of course a loss of the latter was expected when the scriptwriters expanded the playing field to an entire airport as opposed to one floor of a highrise); its villain is no match for DIE HARD's subtly chilling Hans Gruber; and director Renny Harlin disappointingly favors action over those little human touches that so distinguished the original, insteading favoring more action. (Besides, couldn't the screenwriters have come up with a more creative plot than simply recycling the general structure of the original? But hey, this is a Hollywood product, where it's best not to take too many chances in the quest to cash-in on a big success, which DIE HARD certainly was.) All that being said, the action sequences are undeniably thrilling---the action of the second half, particularly, moves so quickly from one great setpiece to another that the momentum never lets up 'til the very end---and Bruce Willis is just as good as he was in the original, proving that he will always be John McClane in my mind. All in all, DIE HARD 2 is arguably even MORE entertaining viscerally than DIE HARD. In short, DIE HARD will forever be a genre classic, but DIE HARD 2 is a worthy sequel when it comes to pure action---and when you are talking about action movies, isn't the action what's really important anyway?
Rating:
Summary: Overreaches but still exciting
Review: While this installment is the weakest of the three, it still has some exciting moments. All in all, I think the film tried so hard to top the first (best) Die Hard film, that the failure is that much more evident. The characterizations are not as well fleshed-out as in the others. The action scenes become predictable and less exciting as the movie progresses. I had to laugh at one of the BIGGEST continuity flaws I've ever witnessed in a big-budget movie: the plane that crashes is forced to the ground by lack of fuel. Why, then, does it explode in a HUGE fireball if it's out of gas? Somebody screwed up.
Rating:
Summary: This was great!!!!!!!
Review: In this movie we find John Mcclane at Dulles airport just waiting for his wife to fly in. all of the sudden terrorist take over the airport and McClanes wifes plane is forced to circle above it. This was a great movie with all the great stunts and the ejection chair, but I thought that it would have been alot better if the terrorist went in the airport and took it over not from a near by church. I cant wait for Die Hard 5, Die Hardest.
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