Die Hard

Die Hard, 1988

There are moments in a man's life that he’ll remember forever. His first kiss, the first time he had a beer or the moment he realises he’ll never be captain of the Australian cricket team. Then there’s the moment he first sees ‘Die Hard’ – the quintessential mid 80’s action flick and greatest Christmas movie of all time.

Bruce Willis is John McClaine the role he was born to play, a divorced cop who has a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. McClaine ends up stuck in a building during a robbery – a simple premise but in the hands of director John McLaughlin it becomes a textbook example of what a good action movie should look like. Sparse plot, plenty of glass smashing and violence and plenty of one liners.

Famous for its catchphrase “Yippee kay ay motherfucker” Die Hard transcends its 80’s origins to be a movie that is still as enjoyable today as it was when it was first released.

There are other actors in the movie, most notably Carl Winslow from that ridiculous Steve Urkel sitcom but lets be honest the entire movie is about Bruce and action, in that order. Spawning a number of sequels including the underrated third movie in the series Die Hard these days is a trip down memory lane to a simpler time when heros were police, villains were German and terrorism was strictly for money rather than religion.

9 out of 10

Umes

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass, 2003

Based on a true story, Shattered Glass explores the tumultuous career of journliast Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) during his three year stint at political and arts magazine, 'The New Republic'.

His stories are so interesting they might not be entirely true.

Directed by Billy Ray (Breach), Shattered Glass is an intelligent, well scripted look at some very interesting subject matter.

Christensen is good in the lead role but it's the supporting actors that make this film the winner it is. Peter Sarsgaard (An Education) plays a fellow New Republic writer and thrives in the role while Hank Azaria (Godzilla), Steve Zahn (Sahara) and Rosario Dawson (The 25th Hour) are also part of what really is an A-grade cast.

You'll cringe and squirm as the career of Stephen Glass painfully unravels but it's compelling stuff and a story deserving of being told this thoroughly. There are no bells and whistles here, but sharp writing and editing keep you glued.

Shattered Glass will make you question every magazine article you pick up and that's not a bad thing.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Highlander

Highlander, 1986

The good name of Highlander has been tarnished by a series of underwhelming follow-ups but the original remains a downright classic.

Frenchie Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat) plays immortal Scotsman Connor MacLeod - over 400 years old but still up for a fight.

Mentored by the Egyptian born Ramirez (Sean Connery, Goldfinger) - MacLeod prepares for 'The Gathering' - the grand final for immortal warriors.

Standing in MacLeod's way is The Kurgan (Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption) - whose 3000 years on earth have left him a little cynical and nasty. The Kurgan's people were originally so evil they would throw children into deep pits full of hungry dogs. This sort of form makes him an easy man to root against.

The idea of immortality (decapitation is the only way to finish off an immortal) has always fascinated me and it's well thrashed out here. The concept of 'The Quickening' is original and clever.

With a killer soundtrack by Queen and a wonderfully dreary snapshot of New York in the 1980's - Highlander is rewarding viewing.

I encourage you to watch the whole franchise of movies (plus the TV spin-off) but after all - 'there can be only one'.

Dark, ominous and intriguing - Highlander is a worthy addition to your video collection.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Saw

Spawning the most successful horror franchise of its generation, this film is not for the squirmish. The brainchild of two Aussie blokes (Leigh Whannel & James Wan, the former playing the character of Adam) who went on to make millions from this film and its five sequels (with more in the pipeline).

The film begins with the aforementioned Adam and Lawrence (Cary Elwes) dazed, confused and chained in an abandoned warehouse. Through sharply executed flashbacks and the perspective of investigating officers (one of whom is played by Danny Glover of Predator 2 fame) the audience is dragged through the deviant plots developed by the man known only as the Jigsaw Killer until the brilliant climax which will have you gagging for more...luckily there is more. Heaps more.

This film attracted a stellar cast and the flashback scenes are crisp while the pace of the movie doesn't slow for a moment.

An impressively fresh take on this genre which breathed new life into it.

9/10

Willo

The King of Kong

The King of Kong, 2007

Think you're good at Donkey Kong? Think again. This hilarious and moving documentary follows nice guy Steve Wiebe's quest to be recognised as one of the world's truly great arcade gamers. To do so he has to overcome the politics of the old school gaming world - run by some of Earth's most interesting characters.

His nemesis Billy Mitchell could be film's greatest villain - his monologues are breathtakingly good.

"No matter what I say, it draws controversy. It's sort of like the abortion issue."

For anyone who spent a few too many dollars in milk bar arcade machines as a youngster - this is the doco for you.
If you didn't - don't fret - just immerse yourself in a good vs evil story and cheer on Wiebe!

And the best part? It's all real. DAD......WIPE MY BUTT!

9/10

Nutbuckle

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker (2008)

This film from Kathryn 'don't call me James Cameron's ex' Bigelow (Point Break) is the most intense war movie seen since Saving Private Ryan, but for so many different reasons.

Whereas SPR had plenty of Spielberg's 'mates' onboard dropping dimes into his Yarmulke affording him the ability to stage the haunting events of D-Day, this film succeeds for exactly the opposite reason.

Made on a budget of only $11 million and shot just a few kilometres from the Iraq border in neighbouring Jordan, it is expertly shot, directed and edited throwing the viewer head first into the action witnessed by the small group of protagonists. This is a raw and intense exercise in film making.

From the opening scene the viewer is thrust into the eyes of an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit stationed in Baghdad. They are forced to overcome internal disunity, worries back home and the ever present threat of the often hostile Baghdad natives all the while trying to simply finish their tour.

Jeremy Renner (the bad guy from SWAT, I think) is excellent in the lead role, he doesn't look like your convential leading man which helps his performance immensely. I mean, would it be credible if we were forced to believe that someone who looked like Brad Pitt would be defusing road side bombs in Iraq?

What this film does that so few are able to is to get the audience to feel what the characters feel. This is accomplished by showing each of them in many different situations (from combat scenes & roadside detonations to drinkin' & family life) throughout the course of the story thus creating a level of complexity rarely seen and the raw atmosphere that is created by Bigelow, which one has to think is attributable to the low budget and shooting on (near) location.

9/10

willo