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

The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element, 1997

On a completely different scale to this reviewer's past work featuring Bruce Willis, the Fifth Element is a resounding success.

Luc Besson's vivd glimpse of a future comes fully equipped with George Jetson like flying cars, whizz-bang healing tubes and a memorable voyage into the world of blue alien opera.

Corban Dallas (Willis) is a ultra-washed up military man spending his days in the taxi industry when destiny comes a callin' in the very pleasant shape of all thats powerful and good in the world Milla Jovovich. And wouldn't you know it, Corban and the smoldering Serbian hit it off in a race against the clock battle to save humanity against complete Evil, epitomised by the superbly goulish Zorg (Gary Oldman).

The highlight to this movie, however, comes in the form of Rush Hour's own comic star Chris Tucker who plays the outrageous philandering radio presenter Ruby Rhod who makes Prince look shy and intraverted. Please check this movie out if only for this reason. Please.

While the Fifth Element was never destined for critical acclaim, it sits handsomely alongside other favourites in many DVD collections. This is an innovatively shot movie with a killer score that sees Willis win over many fans as the chain smoking hard ass.

Did I mention Jovovich looks fit dressed only in bandages? and just a tip - I'm not referring to tutankhamun like attire

Hilarious fun.

9/10

Midbus

The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense, 1999

Righto, before we get underway this reviewer has to declare something. I love Bruce Willis, I believe Toni Collette is a very talented actress and I don't mind a sniff at M Night Shalalalalah.

However I hated this movie.

It felt the like watching two bottom of the ladder football teams run around the field clumsily, and by the time it came to the result, i was beyond caring.

Don't get me wrong, the M Night 'twist' is a corker but that's about all this movie has to offer. Willis is a cardboard cut-out of his usual self while I just hoped that Haley Joel Osment would join his 'dead people' (in hell, i suspect) for the duration.

There is no movie in history that depends SO heavily on its last 5 minutes to to justify the audiences' attention for the previous 102.

If you have somehow missed this, please run along to rent it ONLY if you are a fan of CBS dramas featuring Jeniffer Love Hewitt.

In a snapshot - poorly acted, amateurish script and at least unbreakable had samuel l jackson.

3/10 (2.9 for the ending)

Midbus