You may be aware that Die Hard is based on a novel, Nothing Lasts Forever. You may even know that Frank Sinatra had dibs on the role of John McClane, which, as we know, went to Bruce Willis after Ol' Blue Eyes passed on the role. But what you may not know is that the novel Die Hard is based on is, itself, inspired by another film: The Towering Inferno. As the story goes, author Roderick Thorp had a dream in which gun-wielding protagonists chase a man through a building, and that dream came to him the same night he saw the 1974 master disaster film. So what is the movie that turned Willis and Paul Newman into screen cousins? Only what famed movie critic Roger Ebert cites as the "best of the mid-1970s wave of disaster films."...
- 1/16/2024
- by Lloyd Farley
- Collider.com
Quick Links John McClane Was The Working Man's Action Hero John McClane Was A Man Out Of His Depth The Die Hard Sequels Inverted The Point Of John McClane Die Hard Was Made Great Through Being Relatable Die Hard introduced audiences to John McClane, an average cop who became a hero. Many action heroes were specially trained or their action scenes were over the top, the appeal of McClane is that he was an average person. The later Die Hard sequels forgot what made the first one so appealing.
In 1988, Die Hard took audiences by storm as it introduced Bruce Willis' John McClane, a New York cop forced to take on a heavily armed band of thieves at a Christmas party. After proving itself a strong hit at the box office, the movie gained its first sequel in 1990 and, from there, ballooned into a five-movie franchise, even landing some comics along the way.
In 1988, Die Hard took audiences by storm as it introduced Bruce Willis' John McClane, a New York cop forced to take on a heavily armed band of thieves at a Christmas party. After proving itself a strong hit at the box office, the movie gained its first sequel in 1990 and, from there, ballooned into a five-movie franchise, even landing some comics along the way.
- 12/22/2023
- by Ashley Land
- Comic Book Resources
Die Hard's success as a beloved Christmas classic is largely due to its departure from the bleak ending of the original book, Nothing Lasts Forever. In the book, the protagonist's family dynamic is different, and the daughter's character is portrayed negatively, which doesn't align with the theme of family and holiday cheer in the movie. The darker ending of the book, where the daughter dies alongside the main villain, would have made Die Hard less popular and less suited for holiday viewing.
Die Hard is a treasured holiday classic, but it might not be a staple of Christmas movie marathons if it stuck with its original ending. Die Hard is technically an adaptation of the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. Like the movie, Nothing Lasts Forever is about an N.Y.P.D. detective who attends an office Christmas party in a Los Angeles skyscraper that is...
Die Hard is a treasured holiday classic, but it might not be a staple of Christmas movie marathons if it stuck with its original ending. Die Hard is technically an adaptation of the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. Like the movie, Nothing Lasts Forever is about an N.Y.P.D. detective who attends an office Christmas party in a Los Angeles skyscraper that is...
- 12/21/2023
- by Ben Sherlock
- ScreenRant.com
Die Hard series ranked from worst to best(Photo Credit –IMDb)
Hey there, fellow list enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the world of Die Hard, the trendsetting classic that breathed new life into the action genre. With Bruce Willis stealing the spotlight as John McClane, the Die Hard franchise has etched its place in history as an unforgettable action movie series. Despite a slew of sequels, none quite capture the magic of the original. It’s a genre-shaping tale that didn’t invent action but spun it into something thrilling and adored by audiences.
So, grab your popcorn as we explore the Die Hard journey, from its roots in Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel, “Nothing Lasts Forever,” to ranking all five films in the series from least to most favorable. Let’s unravel the excitement and nostalgia of Die Hard’s enduring legacy!
5. A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) A Good Day To Die Hard...
Hey there, fellow list enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the world of Die Hard, the trendsetting classic that breathed new life into the action genre. With Bruce Willis stealing the spotlight as John McClane, the Die Hard franchise has etched its place in history as an unforgettable action movie series. Despite a slew of sequels, none quite capture the magic of the original. It’s a genre-shaping tale that didn’t invent action but spun it into something thrilling and adored by audiences.
So, grab your popcorn as we explore the Die Hard journey, from its roots in Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel, “Nothing Lasts Forever,” to ranking all five films in the series from least to most favorable. Let’s unravel the excitement and nostalgia of Die Hard’s enduring legacy!
5. A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) A Good Day To Die Hard...
- 12/18/2023
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
Die Hard is heading back to theaters for the holiday season.
Originally released in 1988, Die Hard is a bloody action movie that happens to be set on Christmas. Every year, fans debate over whether they consider the film to be a genuine Christmas movie, or just a film that happens to be set on Christmas, with some arguing that there's a big difference between the two. In any case, per AMC, it's been announced that Die Hard is coming back to theaters for this year's Christmas season, set to hit the big screen for a limited time starting on Dec. 8, 2023.
Related How Violent Night Pays Homage to Die Hard As Violent Night rolls on, David Harbour's Santa Claus experiences a mission that nods in a couple of ways to the Die Hard franchise. Yippee-Ki-Yay! Die Hard is back at select #AMCTheatres starting December 8! Only for a limited time, so hurry!
Originally released in 1988, Die Hard is a bloody action movie that happens to be set on Christmas. Every year, fans debate over whether they consider the film to be a genuine Christmas movie, or just a film that happens to be set on Christmas, with some arguing that there's a big difference between the two. In any case, per AMC, it's been announced that Die Hard is coming back to theaters for this year's Christmas season, set to hit the big screen for a limited time starting on Dec. 8, 2023.
Related How Violent Night Pays Homage to Die Hard As Violent Night rolls on, David Harbour's Santa Claus experiences a mission that nods in a couple of ways to the Die Hard franchise. Yippee-Ki-Yay! Die Hard is back at select #AMCTheatres starting December 8! Only for a limited time, so hurry!
- 11/28/2023
- by Jeremy Dick
- Comic Book Resources
There is a movie from 1968 starring Frank Sinatra that can be considered a prequel to Die Hard. The Detective was a box office success and one of Sinatra's biggest hits, but he declined the role of John McClane in Die Hard. The Detective is a detective story, while Die Hard embraces the high-energy tone of an action film. Both have compelling leading characters played by Sinatra and Willis, respectively.
There is a 1968 film that can technically be considered a prequel to the Die Hard film series starring Bruce Willis, with a prominent Hollywood star as the leading role. The first Die Hard movie hit theaters in 1988, introducing the iconic action hero John McClane (Willis), as he works to rescue hostages from terrorists on Christmas Eve. The film became a franchise of five Die Hard movies released between 1988 and 2013, but the original installment remains the most iconic.
Die Hard was...
There is a 1968 film that can technically be considered a prequel to the Die Hard film series starring Bruce Willis, with a prominent Hollywood star as the leading role. The first Die Hard movie hit theaters in 1988, introducing the iconic action hero John McClane (Willis), as he works to rescue hostages from terrorists on Christmas Eve. The film became a franchise of five Die Hard movies released between 1988 and 2013, but the original installment remains the most iconic.
Die Hard was...
- 11/26/2023
- by Emma Wagner
- ScreenRant.com
Die Hard started out with low expectations and mixed reviews, but it became a beloved classic and a major success at the box office. Die Hard cemented Bruce Willis as an industry icon and introduced Alan Rickman as a talented actor. Die Hard 6 was canceled due to the poor reception of the previous film, the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney, and Willis's retirement from the industry, but there are rumors of a reboot in the works.
When Die Hard hit theaters back in 1988, hopes weren't particularly high. And not only that: the reviews following its release weren't necessarily brilliant either. However, as years went by, everyone's perception of John McTiernan's film improved significantly, and Die Hard became one of the greatest classics of the action genre, shaping films of all kinds to this day.
Written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza and inspired by...
When Die Hard hit theaters back in 1988, hopes weren't particularly high. And not only that: the reviews following its release weren't necessarily brilliant either. However, as years went by, everyone's perception of John McTiernan's film improved significantly, and Die Hard became one of the greatest classics of the action genre, shaping films of all kinds to this day.
Written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza and inspired by...
- 8/29/2023
- by Micaela Pérez Vitale
- MovieWeb
Bruce Willis in Die HardScreenshot: 20th Century Studios
When Die Hard hit theaters 35 years ago, it was like Christmas in July. The action classic, directed by John McTiernan and starring Bruce Willis, established a new standard for popcorn blockbusters when it opened wide on July 22, 1988. Willis’ leading man status was...
When Die Hard hit theaters 35 years ago, it was like Christmas in July. The action classic, directed by John McTiernan and starring Bruce Willis, established a new standard for popcorn blockbusters when it opened wide on July 22, 1988. Willis’ leading man status was...
- 7/15/2023
- by Eric Francisco
- avclub.com
The Christmas action classic Die Hard would make for a great book, a real page-turner with its intensity, fascinating characters, high stakes, and more. Except it's already been a book, specifically the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel Nothing Lasts Forever. The book itself is a sequel to one of Thorp's earlier novels, The Detective, which had been adapted into a Die Hard prequel of sorts starring Frank Sinatra. His hope to have Sinatra reprise the role in the sequel didn't work out. After several years, the novel would be adapted as Die Hard. Some changes had to be made to turn Thorp's novel into the Bruce Willis vehicle we know and love, but just how different are the two?...
- 7/15/2023
- by Lloyd Farley
- Collider.com
Die Hard is an unquestioned action masterpiece. Thanks to revelatory performances by both Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, plus John McTiernan’s assured direction, Die Hard still has the power to awe and entertain even decades after its release. Few can say the same about the sequels, but what about the Die Hard prequel, The Detective?
Oh, you’ve never heard of a Die Hard prequel? Well, that could be because the 1968 Frank Sinatra vehicle The Detective is based on the 1966 novel by the same name, written by Roderick Thorp. And in 1979, Thorp published a sequel to The Detective called Nothing Lasts Forever, in which criminals led by a man called Gruber take control of a Los Angeles high-rise during a company party. Gruber even holds hostage the family member of a hero cop who must go rogue upstairs if he is going to thwart the terrorists. Also it’s Christmas time.
Oh, you’ve never heard of a Die Hard prequel? Well, that could be because the 1968 Frank Sinatra vehicle The Detective is based on the 1966 novel by the same name, written by Roderick Thorp. And in 1979, Thorp published a sequel to The Detective called Nothing Lasts Forever, in which criminals led by a man called Gruber take control of a Los Angeles high-rise during a company party. Gruber even holds hostage the family member of a hero cop who must go rogue upstairs if he is going to thwart the terrorists. Also it’s Christmas time.
- 7/4/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
While The Boys might be based on a successful comic book series, the superhero satire has managed to outdo its source material on numerous fronts. On occasion, an adaptation can improve on its inspiration. For example, author Michael Crichton’s novel Jurassic Park is a successful but unspectacular sci-fi story about a theme park gone wrong. Its 1993 movie adaptation Jurassic Park is one of director Steven Spielberg’s best movies and is widely viewed as one of the best blockbusters ever made. Similarly, the Roderick Thorp novel Nothing Lasts Forever is largely forgotten, while its movie adaption Die Hard is pretty well regarded.
While the comic book inspiration for The Boys is (usually) darker than the series itself, this doesn’t mean that the source material is better than its adaptation. Particularly after season 3, it is fair to say that The Boys has managed to outdo its source material. The Boys...
While the comic book inspiration for The Boys is (usually) darker than the series itself, this doesn’t mean that the source material is better than its adaptation. Particularly after season 3, it is fair to say that The Boys has managed to outdo its source material. The Boys...
- 5/11/2023
- by Cathal Gunning
- ScreenRant.com
Early in 1987, producers Larry Gordon and Joel Silver were on the hunt for an action hero. They were working on a rollercoaster tale about terrorists hijacking a high-rise tower in Los Angeles and the script called for a muscle-bound bruiser.
For contractual reasons, Frank Sinatra was top of the list for Die Hard. Ol’ Blue Eyes had first refusal as he’d been the star of 1968’s The Detective, which like Die Hard was based on author Roderick Thorp’s thriller novels.
When the 70-year-old crooner confirmed his terrorist-fighting days were long behind him, producers went straight to the most obvious candidate: Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Terminator, Commando and Predator star said no, preferring to try his hand at comedy alongside Danny DeVito in Twins. The rejections kept coming: Richard Gere, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Don Johnson and Mel Gibson all passed.
Way down the list was Bruce Willis.
For contractual reasons, Frank Sinatra was top of the list for Die Hard. Ol’ Blue Eyes had first refusal as he’d been the star of 1968’s The Detective, which like Die Hard was based on author Roderick Thorp’s thriller novels.
When the 70-year-old crooner confirmed his terrorist-fighting days were long behind him, producers went straight to the most obvious candidate: Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Terminator, Commando and Predator star said no, preferring to try his hand at comedy alongside Danny DeVito in Twins. The rejections kept coming: Richard Gere, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Don Johnson and Mel Gibson all passed.
Way down the list was Bruce Willis.
- 2/17/2023
- by Kevin E G Perry
- The Independent - Film
Clint Eastwood was one of the first actors approached to play Die Hard's John McClane - only to claim he didn't get the gags. Die Hard made Bruce Willis an instant movie star, but the path to his casting was surprisingly convoluted. The film was based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever, itself a follow-up to author Roderick Thorp's The Detective. The latter was made into a movie starring Frank Sinatra in the late '60s, meaning he had to be approached first. The singer had retired from acting following 1984's Cannonball Run 2, leading to a casting search that ended with Moonlighting star Willis.
Despite Willis' McClane - whose casting was weirdly controversial - being written as an everyman hero, every major action star of the time was approached. This includes Eastwood, who would have been in his late 50s during this period. Despite having played many cops roles during his career,...
Despite Willis' McClane - whose casting was weirdly controversial - being written as an everyman hero, every major action star of the time was approached. This includes Eastwood, who would have been in his late 50s during this period. Despite having played many cops roles during his career,...
- 12/31/2022
- by Padraig Cotter
- ScreenRant.com
Thirty-six floors. Thirteen terrorists. Three exclusive interviews. Eminently quotable and endlessly rewatchable, Die Hard remains the gold standard for big screen action. Adapted from a Roderick Thorp novel by first-timer Jeb Stuart and meticulously directed by set-piece maestro John McTiernan — these rare ingredients distilled into a film like no other. For the movie's 30th birthday back in 2018, we spoke to McTiernan, De Souza and Stuart to bring you the ultimate Die Hard viewing guide. Yippee-Ki-Yay, motherfuckers.
- 12/8/2022
- by James Dyer
- Empire - Movies
John McClane was intended to be the antidote to the "invincible" action hero archetype, but later Die Hard sequels completely missed this point. Die Hard was based on Nothing Last Forever by Roderick Thorp, a sequel to his novel The Detective. Since Frank Sinatra already played the titular role in a 1968 movie adaptation, he had to be offered Die Hard first. Since he had retired from acting by then, he swiftly turned it down, with everyone from Richard Gere to Arnold Schwarzenegger passing on Die Hard. Desperate for any kind of name, Moonlighting star Bruce Willis was cast, with the screenplay subsequently playing up the character's humor.
According to Script Apart, co-writer Steven E. de Souza intended to create a more humane action hero compared to Rambo or Commando - the latter of which the screenwriter himself penned. Compared to the types of characters played by Arnie or Sly, Willis' McClane bled,...
According to Script Apart, co-writer Steven E. de Souza intended to create a more humane action hero compared to Rambo or Commando - the latter of which the screenwriter himself penned. Compared to the types of characters played by Arnie or Sly, Willis' McClane bled,...
- 12/4/2022
- by Padraig Cotter
- ScreenRant.com
“Die Hard” is one of the most popular and enduring action movie franchises. The films follow the adventures of John McClane (Bruce Willis), a New York City police officer who finds himself in a series of increasingly dangerous situations.
Die Hard 5-Movie Collection Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)John McTiernan (Director) (Playback Language) $48.99 Check Reviews
The first “Die Hard” movie was released in 1988 and was an instant classic, spawning four sequels over the next two decades. If you’re a “Die Hard” fan, you might wonder what order you should watch the “Die Hard” films. Well, wonder no more! Here is a list of all the “Die Hard” movies in order.
All “Die Hard” Movies in Order of the Release Date Die Hard (1988) Die Hard 2 (1990) Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) Live Free or Die Hard (2007) A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) All About the “Die Hard” Movie Franchise...
Die Hard 5-Movie Collection Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)John McTiernan (Director) (Playback Language) $48.99 Check Reviews
The first “Die Hard” movie was released in 1988 and was an instant classic, spawning four sequels over the next two decades. If you’re a “Die Hard” fan, you might wonder what order you should watch the “Die Hard” films. Well, wonder no more! Here is a list of all the “Die Hard” movies in order.
All “Die Hard” Movies in Order of the Release Date Die Hard (1988) Die Hard 2 (1990) Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) Live Free or Die Hard (2007) A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) All About the “Die Hard” Movie Franchise...
- 7/28/2022
- by Israr
- buddytv.com
Screenwriter Jeb Stuart joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Die Hard (1988)
The Fugitive (1993)
Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Face of Fu Manchu (1965) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Detective (1968) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Dirty Harry (1971) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary, Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Rear Window (1954) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Vertigo (1958) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s review, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
North By Northwest (1959)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Wait Until Dark (1967) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Switchback (1997)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Getaway (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
The Thin Man (1934)
Another 48 Hrs (1990)
Commando (1985) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Long Riders (1980)
The Warriors...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Die Hard (1988)
The Fugitive (1993)
Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Face of Fu Manchu (1965) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Detective (1968) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Dirty Harry (1971) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary, Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Rear Window (1954) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Vertigo (1958) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s review, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
North By Northwest (1959)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Wait Until Dark (1967) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Switchback (1997)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Getaway (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
The Thin Man (1934)
Another 48 Hrs (1990)
Commando (1985) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Long Riders (1980)
The Warriors...
- 3/8/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Guns firing, blood flying, goons dying, and an unlikely hero quipping before bringing down the big bad. Just your standard action movie, right? Now replace the blaring guitar or thunderous orchestra with “Jingle Bell Rock,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “The First Noel.” Wait… is this a holiday movie or Lethal Weapon?
Every year, the debate rages on. Bruce Willis, spraying machine gun fire. Hans, nonplussed, killing the world’s worst yuppie scumbag Ellis. Al, the redeemed killer cop, gunning down Karl in a surprise display of heroics. Sure, John McTiernan, Jeb Stuart, and Steven E. de Souza’s Die Hard is a certified classic of the action genre, but is it really a Christmas movie? There are arguments for and against this, but for whatever reason, the controversy has coalesced around Die Hard and forgotten the real action movie that deserves to be in the Christmas canon, and...
Every year, the debate rages on. Bruce Willis, spraying machine gun fire. Hans, nonplussed, killing the world’s worst yuppie scumbag Ellis. Al, the redeemed killer cop, gunning down Karl in a surprise display of heroics. Sure, John McTiernan, Jeb Stuart, and Steven E. de Souza’s Die Hard is a certified classic of the action genre, but is it really a Christmas movie? There are arguments for and against this, but for whatever reason, the controversy has coalesced around Die Hard and forgotten the real action movie that deserves to be in the Christmas canon, and...
- 11/26/2021
- by Ron Hogan
- Den of Geek
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for Die Hard fans.
While there may be a little less festive cheer to go around this December, one thing remains constant during the holiday season: the debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
And one man who probably knows better than most is screenwriter Doug Richardson. Besides Bruce Willis himself, Richardson has had a hand in more Die Hard films than almost anyone out there, starting with the similarly festive follow-up Die Hard 2: Die Harder.
While Willis is firmly in the “no” camp on the question of whether Die Hard and its sequel are Christmas movies, Richardson disagrees.
“It is a Christmas movie,” he tells Den of Geek.
“At this time of year, the internet starts to erupt over whether it’s a Christmas movie. It’s very amusing. But I think it fits the movie and...
While there may be a little less festive cheer to go around this December, one thing remains constant during the holiday season: the debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
And one man who probably knows better than most is screenwriter Doug Richardson. Besides Bruce Willis himself, Richardson has had a hand in more Die Hard films than almost anyone out there, starting with the similarly festive follow-up Die Hard 2: Die Harder.
While Willis is firmly in the “no” camp on the question of whether Die Hard and its sequel are Christmas movies, Richardson disagrees.
“It is a Christmas movie,” he tells Den of Geek.
“At this time of year, the internet starts to erupt over whether it’s a Christmas movie. It’s very amusing. But I think it fits the movie and...
- 12/18/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Movie fans are often aware of most book-to-movie adaptations but one film whose source material isn't well known is the 1988 action-thriller film Die Hard. Despite the movie being widely popular, very few people are aware that it was adapted from the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel, Nothing Lasts Forever.
Related: Die Hard: 5 Reasons It's The Greatest Action Movie Ever Made (& Its 5 Closest Contenders)
The novel is a sequel to Thorp's earlier novel titled The Detective which had also been adapted into a film starring Frank Sinatra. The author wrote the sequel with the hope that it would be made into a follow up film that still had Sinatra as the lead. Unfortunately, the legendary singer and actor didn't want to reprise his role. Several years later, the novel would be adapted into Die Hard with a few changes made to the original story. Here are those major differences.
Related: Die Hard: 5 Reasons It's The Greatest Action Movie Ever Made (& Its 5 Closest Contenders)
The novel is a sequel to Thorp's earlier novel titled The Detective which had also been adapted into a film starring Frank Sinatra. The author wrote the sequel with the hope that it would be made into a follow up film that still had Sinatra as the lead. Unfortunately, the legendary singer and actor didn't want to reprise his role. Several years later, the novel would be adapted into Die Hard with a few changes made to the original story. Here are those major differences.
- 10/9/2020
- ScreenRant.com
Evans (right) with Robert Shaw on the set of "Black Sunday" in 1977.
By Lee Pfeiffer
Robert Evans has passed away at age 89. The former actor-turned-studio head had a long, dramatic career that saw him appointed to run Paramount Pictures at the tender age of 36 when the studio was bleeding red ink. Under Evans' management, the studio rebounded, releasing such classics as "Chinatown", "Rosemary's Baby", "The Odd Couple", "True Grit" and, most notably, "The Godfather". Even Evan's non-blockbusters became cult classics. Among them: "Harold and Maude" and "The Italian Job". Other hits brought to the screen by Evans include "Marathon Man" and "Black Sunday". His tumultuous private life was the stuff of Hollywood lore including his seven marriages. Evans' producing career started modestly when he bought the screen rights to the crime thriller "The Detective" by Roderick Thorp. He successfully brought it to the screen in an acclaimed 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra.
By Lee Pfeiffer
Robert Evans has passed away at age 89. The former actor-turned-studio head had a long, dramatic career that saw him appointed to run Paramount Pictures at the tender age of 36 when the studio was bleeding red ink. Under Evans' management, the studio rebounded, releasing such classics as "Chinatown", "Rosemary's Baby", "The Odd Couple", "True Grit" and, most notably, "The Godfather". Even Evan's non-blockbusters became cult classics. Among them: "Harold and Maude" and "The Italian Job". Other hits brought to the screen by Evans include "Marathon Man" and "Black Sunday". His tumultuous private life was the stuff of Hollywood lore including his seven marriages. Evans' producing career started modestly when he bought the screen rights to the crime thriller "The Detective" by Roderick Thorp. He successfully brought it to the screen in an acclaimed 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra.
- 10/28/2019
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Robert Evans, the legendary Paramount Pictures exec and consummate Hollywood producer behind films like Chinatown and Marathon Man, died on Saturday, October 26th, Variety reported. He was 89. A representative for Evans confirmed his death, though no cause or location was given; The New York Times reported that Evans died in Beverly Hills.
Evans’ career stretched across decades and was filled with an array of glitzy highs and brutal lows. He was best known for running and revitalizing Paramount in the late Sixties and early Seventies, overseeing hits like The Odd Couple,...
Evans’ career stretched across decades and was filled with an array of glitzy highs and brutal lows. He was best known for running and revitalizing Paramount in the late Sixties and early Seventies, overseeing hits like The Odd Couple,...
- 10/28/2019
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Yippie-ki-yay! Fans of the “Die Hard” movies can geek out with a new book that goes inside the entire saga with exclusive interviews with the cast and crew and and rare and unseen imagery including set photographs and concept art. Written by Variety senior producer David S. Cohen and James Mottram, “Die Hard: The Ultimate Visual History” is available on Nov. 13 from Insight Editions.
In the first chapter, screenwriter Jeb Stuart tells how a fight with his wife helped him crack the central character of the story.
Part 1: Die Hard
“Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the a–.” —John McClane
Road Rage
Jeb Stuart needed a paycheck.
Things shouldn’t have been this tight. He was a writer on the rise. After five years of graduate school, he’d written a hot spec script that had landed at Columbia Pictures...
In the first chapter, screenwriter Jeb Stuart tells how a fight with his wife helped him crack the central character of the story.
Part 1: Die Hard
“Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the a–.” —John McClane
Road Rage
Jeb Stuart needed a paycheck.
Things shouldn’t have been this tight. He was a writer on the rise. After five years of graduate school, he’d written a hot spec script that had landed at Columbia Pictures...
- 11/5/2018
- by James Mottram and David S. Cohen
- Variety Film + TV
There have been a few titles banded around for the next instalment of the franchise that refuses to die (hard). The day has finally come for an official title and it’s dubbed simple ‘McClane’.
The announcement came via producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura speaking to Empire. di Bonaventura stated;
“We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before. I don’t know how you do Die Hard without Bruce – the idea that he’s not very significant in this movie is not accurate at all. We are gonna explore John McClane in his twenties. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version.”
The 6th instalment in the long-running saga is a prequel-sequel, flicking back and forth between Bruce Willis’s 60-year-old McClane and his younger self in his 20’s. 20-year-old McClane will be a regular cop in 1970s New York. Bruce Willis is also set to...
The announcement came via producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura speaking to Empire. di Bonaventura stated;
“We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before. I don’t know how you do Die Hard without Bruce – the idea that he’s not very significant in this movie is not accurate at all. We are gonna explore John McClane in his twenties. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version.”
The 6th instalment in the long-running saga is a prequel-sequel, flicking back and forth between Bruce Willis’s 60-year-old McClane and his younger self in his 20’s. 20-year-old McClane will be a regular cop in 1970s New York. Bruce Willis is also set to...
- 9/4/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Die Hard 6, which has been touted as the origin story of Bruce Willis’ wise-cracking action hero of the classic franchise, has a new title. In an interview with the UK movie magazine Empire, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said, “You can tell our intention by the fact that the title page we handed in says, McClane.
Deadline originally broke the story in 2015 that the next installment of the franchise was originally put on the drawing board as Die Hard: Year One at Fox with Live Free Or Die Hard helmer Len Wiseman returning.
According to the Empire report, the sequel-prequel script features Willis as a 60-year-old McClane with a younger version of McClane in his 20s.
Said di Bonaventura, “We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before… We are gonna explore John McClane in his twenties. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version.” The Conjuring...
Deadline originally broke the story in 2015 that the next installment of the franchise was originally put on the drawing board as Die Hard: Year One at Fox with Live Free Or Die Hard helmer Len Wiseman returning.
According to the Empire report, the sequel-prequel script features Willis as a 60-year-old McClane with a younger version of McClane in his 20s.
Said di Bonaventura, “We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before… We are gonna explore John McClane in his twenties. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version.” The Conjuring...
- 9/3/2018
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Conjuring scribes, Chad and Carey Hayes have been picked up by 20th Century Fox to give the new Die Hard movie a rewrite.
Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) is in place to produce and direct the next instalment in the franchise with Lorenzo di Bonaventura is also taking a producers spot.
No story details have been confirmed, but word on the street says the film looks set to be an origin story where we see a younger actor portray McClane as a regular cop in 1970s New York. Bruce Willis is also set to appear in flashback scenes alongside the heart of the story. It has bee reported that the project will have a Die Hard: Year One type of feel, in reference to Frank Miller’s comic book Batman: Year One.
Also in the news – Ian McKellen & Helen Mirren cast in Bill Condon’s adaptation of...
Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) is in place to produce and direct the next instalment in the franchise with Lorenzo di Bonaventura is also taking a producers spot.
No story details have been confirmed, but word on the street says the film looks set to be an origin story where we see a younger actor portray McClane as a regular cop in 1970s New York. Bruce Willis is also set to appear in flashback scenes alongside the heart of the story. It has bee reported that the project will have a Die Hard: Year One type of feel, in reference to Frank Miller’s comic book Batman: Year One.
Also in the news – Ian McKellen & Helen Mirren cast in Bill Condon’s adaptation of...
- 3/13/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The ‘Die Hard’ franchise is a series of films that are based on ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, a 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp. The first film ‘Die Hard’ was released in 1988 and ‘Die Hard 2’ followed in 1990. The third film in the series was ‘Die Hard with a Vengeance’ which was released in 1995. The next installment came in 2007 with the release of ‘Live Free or Die Hard’. Finally, ‘’A Good Day to Die Hard’ was released in 2013. The series follows the adventures and situation that John McClane finds himself in and these are often violent and
20 Things You Never Knew about the Die Hard Franchise...
20 Things You Never Knew about the Die Hard Franchise...
- 11/29/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Books have been a great source of inspiration for the movie industry, but sometimes they sneak up on you and unless you really pay attention to the credits you’d never know a film was based on a book. As we continue our look at various book/movie adaptations, I’m taking a look at the movies you most likely didn’t know were based on books!
If you’re looking to dive more into our discussion on books and the movies, be sure to check out our articles on Bad Books That Made for Great Movies and the Top 10 Movie Franchises Based on Novels. Now...let’s get to it!
Die Hard
Yeah, I’m sure most people would have never guessed this was based off of a book. It’s easy to see why as the book is titled Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp and doesn’t...
If you’re looking to dive more into our discussion on books and the movies, be sure to check out our articles on Bad Books That Made for Great Movies and the Top 10 Movie Franchises Based on Novels. Now...let’s get to it!
Die Hard
Yeah, I’m sure most people would have never guessed this was based off of a book. It’s easy to see why as the book is titled Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp and doesn’t...
- 8/23/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
For as long as there have been movies, there have been movies based on books. This is a look at the best movie franchises that are either based on a book or several books.
It’s one thing to have a movie that is based on a book. It happens all the time. It’s more rare to have an entire franchise of films based on a book or set of books. Over the last two decades, it seems like we have been seeing more and more franchises emerge that are based on books. This seems to be happening for a few reasons. First, Hollywood is more than ever looking for established properties on which to base films. Book, have been and always will be one of the best established properties for a movie to be based upon. Second, if the books have a big following, chances are that the...
It’s one thing to have a movie that is based on a book. It happens all the time. It’s more rare to have an entire franchise of films based on a book or set of books. Over the last two decades, it seems like we have been seeing more and more franchises emerge that are based on books. This seems to be happening for a few reasons. First, Hollywood is more than ever looking for established properties on which to base films. Book, have been and always will be one of the best established properties for a movie to be based upon. Second, if the books have a big following, chances are that the...
- 8/16/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (G.S. Perno)
- Cinelinx
First of all, just in case you didn't know, yes, Die Hard is based on a 1979 book called Nothing Lasts Forever written by Roderick Thorp. I've never read the book, but thanks to CineFix we have a video essay that breaks down the differences between the film and the book.
I'm sure a lot of you gathered together with family and friends over the holiday to watch Die Hard. Some people outside of the geek community don't see it as a traditional kind of family Christmas movie, but we all know better.
I'm sure a lot of you gathered together with family and friends over the holiday to watch Die Hard. Some people outside of the geek community don't see it as a traditional kind of family Christmas movie, but we all know better.
- 12/28/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The question of 'what the greatest action movie of all time is' typically boils down to two very simple, but beloved words: Die Hard. Then the conversation generally turns into slobbering over Die Hard and how great and perfect it is. But one of the more interesting Hollywood legends claims that Die Hard actually started out as a sequel to Arnold Schwarzenegger's Commando. So is there any truth to it? Screenwriter Steven de Souza has finally settled it once and for all.
During a recent interview with Bristol Bad Film Club, Steven de Souza, who wrote the initial draft of Commando 2 (which ultimately never got made) was asked about the whole Die Hard legend. It turns out, that's all it ever was, because as he tells it, there is absolutely no way Commando 2 was turned into Die Hard. Here is what he had to say.
"I don't know how...
During a recent interview with Bristol Bad Film Club, Steven de Souza, who wrote the initial draft of Commando 2 (which ultimately never got made) was asked about the whole Die Hard legend. It turns out, that's all it ever was, because as he tells it, there is absolutely no way Commando 2 was turned into Die Hard. Here is what he had to say.
"I don't know how...
- 12/7/2016
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
The origins of movies and the story of their continued developments are always of interest to die-hard fans, and especially to Die Hard fans. The classic action film has long been known to have a rich history as far as its source materials are concerned. It's somewhat based on the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel Nothing Lasts Forever, which is a sequel to his book The Detective. The earlier work became a movie of the same name in 1968 starring Frank Sinatra, and he was...
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- 6/17/2016
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
The origins of movies and the story of their continued developments are always of interest to die hard fans, and especially to Die Hard fans. The classic action film has long been known to have a rich history as far as its source materials are concerned. It's somewhat based on the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel Nothing Lasts Forever, which is a sequel to his book The Detective. The earlier work became a movie of the same name in 1968 starring Frank Sinatra, and he was expected to reprise the lead role in the follow up. Years went by after Sinatra passed on the movie and it was supposedly then reworked as a sequel to Commando (though screenwriter Steven de Souza has denied this). Eventually it wound up being a new property all its own, but there are two...
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- 6/17/2016
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
Director Gordon Douglas is one of many prolific filmmakers who seemed to fall short of auteur recognition despite considerable iconic items lodged within a vast filmography. Starting out in Hollywood as a child actor, he was directing shorts throughout the 1930s and began developing a resume of B-grade features, the most notable from this period being the 1954 sci-fi classic Them!, one of several genre items capitalizing on nuclear warfare fears. The 1960s found Douglas evolving freely with the times, churning out some racy Carroll Baker numbers (including in a biopic of Jean Harlow), the James Bond knock-off In Like Flint (1967), and a trio of Frank Sinatra vehicles. In between directing Sinatra in a pair of movies where the crooner plays Miami Pi Tony Rome, Douglas concocted something much more provocative, a seedy, lurid neo-noir titled The Detective (1968). One of several oft-referenced titles detailed in Vito Russo’s The Celluloid Closet,...
- 1/19/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Frank Sinatra shines in a story of police corruption that tries to say it like it is -- or like it was in 1968, just before the ratings system came in. The well-intentioned, suspenseful story is burdened by odd censor choices, Sinatra's conservative self-image, and rudely retrograde attitudes toward gays. In a sparkling new transfer with Jerry Goldsmith's jazzy score isolated on its own track. The Detective Blu-ray Twilight Time Limited Edition 1968 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 114 min. / Ship Date December 8, 2015 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jacqueline Bisset, William Windom, Al Freeman Jr., Tony Musante, Lloyd Bochner, Robert Duvall, Horace McMahon Cinematography Joseph F. Biroc Art Direction William J. Creber, Jack Martin Smith Film Editor Robert L. Simpson Original Music Jerry Goldsmith Written by Abby Mann from a novel by Roderick Thorpe Produced by Aaron Rosenberg Directed by Gordon Douglas
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
- 12/30/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Given its setting during the Christmas season and with “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” playing as the credits rolled, Die Hard rapidly became a beloved Holiday classic. So, it’s no surprise to see 20th Century Home Entertainment kick off the Holiday gift giving season with the release of Nakatomi Plaza: Die Hard Collection. All five films in the series along with a bonus disc are packed into the base of a plastic replica of the famous locale of the first film. The structure measures 15″ high, mounted on a base which measures 7 1/8″ square and will stand proudly atop your mantle or bookshelf, a reminder of the series; enduring popularity despite the premise wearing thin with each installment.
The first, with Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis), attempting to stop terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) from killing everyone at a holiday part attended by his ex-wife (Bonnie Bedelia), is riveting,...
The first, with Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis), attempting to stop terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) from killing everyone at a holiday part attended by his ex-wife (Bonnie Bedelia), is riveting,...
- 10/26/2015
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Dear Len Wiseman… I'm going to do my best to avoid making the obvious joke here about your last name, since my last name is McWeeny, and nothing good can come from that particular war. However, I would like to drop you a few quick thoughts regarding your proposed pre-boot (part prequel, part reboot) of the "Die Hard" series before you go too far down a road that dead ends in Stupid Town. Obviously, I have not been in any of the conversations you're having about the film. Maybe the folks over at Deadline completely screwed up the reportage on the idea that you have. I certainly hope so, because if not, you are on the verge of doing something monumentally dumb, and I'd love to explain why. There is only one great "Die Hard" movie. Unfortunately, you did not direct it. Maybe you had a great time working with Bruce Willis.
- 10/15/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Producer Robert Evans, circa 1970s, in the documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture.
Robert Evans: The Kid Is Alright
By
Alex Simon
I interviewed legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans in 2002 for Venice Magazine, in conjunction with the release of the documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture," adapted from his iconic autobiography and audiobook. Our chat took place at Woodland, Evans' storied estate in Beverly Hills, in his equally famous screening room, which mysteriously burned down a couple years later. Evans was still physically frail, having recently survived a series of strokes, but his mind, his wit and his charm were sharp as ever, with near total recall for people, places and stories. Many, many stories. Here are a few of them.
It’s a widely-held belief that the years 1967-76 represent the “golden age” of American cinema. Just look at a few of these titles: Rosemary’s Baby,...
Robert Evans: The Kid Is Alright
By
Alex Simon
I interviewed legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans in 2002 for Venice Magazine, in conjunction with the release of the documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture," adapted from his iconic autobiography and audiobook. Our chat took place at Woodland, Evans' storied estate in Beverly Hills, in his equally famous screening room, which mysteriously burned down a couple years later. Evans was still physically frail, having recently survived a series of strokes, but his mind, his wit and his charm were sharp as ever, with near total recall for people, places and stories. Many, many stories. Here are a few of them.
It’s a widely-held belief that the years 1967-76 represent the “golden age” of American cinema. Just look at a few of these titles: Rosemary’s Baby,...
- 7/5/2015
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
By Alex Simon
By the mid-1960s, the notorious Hayes Code, the censorship standards begun in the 1930s, had begun to fall away. Films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Bonnie & Clyde, The Graduate and In the Heat of the Night started pushing the envelope in terms of “adult” content portrayed on-screen. With the advent of the MPAA rating system in November, 1968 a new era of freedom was ushered in. Filmmakers could frankly portray sex, violence, profanity and formerly taboo subject matters. While the aforementioned films are all iconic in stature, one of the key films that pushed the rating system into being is now largely forgotten.
Roderick Thorp’s 1966 novel The Detective became an instant best-seller, a mammoth (600 pages), unflinching look at Joe Leland, a weary veteran cop who finds his legal and personal mettle tested while investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy, gay department store heir.
By the mid-1960s, the notorious Hayes Code, the censorship standards begun in the 1930s, had begun to fall away. Films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Bonnie & Clyde, The Graduate and In the Heat of the Night started pushing the envelope in terms of “adult” content portrayed on-screen. With the advent of the MPAA rating system in November, 1968 a new era of freedom was ushered in. Filmmakers could frankly portray sex, violence, profanity and formerly taboo subject matters. While the aforementioned films are all iconic in stature, one of the key films that pushed the rating system into being is now largely forgotten.
Roderick Thorp’s 1966 novel The Detective became an instant best-seller, a mammoth (600 pages), unflinching look at Joe Leland, a weary veteran cop who finds his legal and personal mettle tested while investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy, gay department store heir.
- 4/20/2015
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Ryan Lambie Dec 1, 2019
The Die Hard series may be quiet at the moment, but there's a unique story behind the writing of each one…
As any action fanatic will tell you, Die Hard is among the best films of its type ever made. Tautly directed by John McTiernan, deceptively well shot by cinematographer Jan de Bont, and full of charismatic turns from Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia, it’s seldom been bettered, even by its sequels.
The key to the first film's success, and the sequels in their best moments, is hero John McClane. Tough, sarcastic but ultimately human, he cuts a very different figure from the beefed-up, larger-than-life heroes of 1980s and 90s action cinema. When John McClane gets shot or injured, he actually feels pain. It's something we were keenly aware of in the 1988 original, but gradually ebbed away as the Die Hard franchise drifted from...
The Die Hard series may be quiet at the moment, but there's a unique story behind the writing of each one…
As any action fanatic will tell you, Die Hard is among the best films of its type ever made. Tautly directed by John McTiernan, deceptively well shot by cinematographer Jan de Bont, and full of charismatic turns from Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia, it’s seldom been bettered, even by its sequels.
The key to the first film's success, and the sequels in their best moments, is hero John McClane. Tough, sarcastic but ultimately human, he cuts a very different figure from the beefed-up, larger-than-life heroes of 1980s and 90s action cinema. When John McClane gets shot or injured, he actually feels pain. It's something we were keenly aware of in the 1988 original, but gradually ebbed away as the Die Hard franchise drifted from...
- 12/11/2014
- Den of Geek
The Die Hard series may be alive and well, but there's a unique story behind the writing of each one…
As any action fanatic will tell you, Die Hard is among the best films of its type ever made. Tautly directed by John McTiernan, deceptively well shot by cinematographer Jan de Bont, and full of charismatic turns from Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia, it’s seldom been bettered, even by its sequels.
The key to the first film's success, and the sequels in their best moments, is hero John McClane. Tough, sarcastic but ultimately human and relatable, he cuts a very different figure from the beefed-up, larger-than-life heroes of 1980s and 90s action cinema. When John McClane gets shot or injured, he actually feels pain. It's something we were keenly aware of in the 1988 original, but gradually ebbed away as the Die Hard franchise drifted from thriller territory...
As any action fanatic will tell you, Die Hard is among the best films of its type ever made. Tautly directed by John McTiernan, deceptively well shot by cinematographer Jan de Bont, and full of charismatic turns from Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia, it’s seldom been bettered, even by its sequels.
The key to the first film's success, and the sequels in their best moments, is hero John McClane. Tough, sarcastic but ultimately human and relatable, he cuts a very different figure from the beefed-up, larger-than-life heroes of 1980s and 90s action cinema. When John McClane gets shot or injured, he actually feels pain. It's something we were keenly aware of in the 1988 original, but gradually ebbed away as the Die Hard franchise drifted from thriller territory...
- 12/9/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
It's been 25 years since we were first held hostage with an ass-kicking Bruce Willis on Christmas Eve in "Die Hard," a film that's as fresh and awesome as it was when it first hit theaters (in limited release on July 15, 1988, and nationwide on July 22). Five films and 71 kills later, John McClane is still one of our favorite cop heros.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the action classic, we're letting you in on 25 trivia facts about the film. From the unexpected origin of "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!" to Reginald VelJohnson's Twinkie attacks, "Die Hard" is full of fun facts that you probably never knew, even after a hundred viewings (don't deny it).
1. "Die Hard" was Alan Rickman's feature film debut. That's right, Professor Snape, who's set to play Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film "The Butler," was first introduced to the big screen as the infamous Hans Gruber.
2. Rickman...
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the action classic, we're letting you in on 25 trivia facts about the film. From the unexpected origin of "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!" to Reginald VelJohnson's Twinkie attacks, "Die Hard" is full of fun facts that you probably never knew, even after a hundred viewings (don't deny it).
1. "Die Hard" was Alan Rickman's feature film debut. That's right, Professor Snape, who's set to play Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film "The Butler," was first introduced to the big screen as the infamous Hans Gruber.
2. Rickman...
- 7/15/2013
- by Erin Whitney
- Moviefone
Sometimes the twists and turns that film projects take seem to be guided by fate — as the story of Die Hard demonstrates. And since we have Die Hard on the brain with Olympus Has Fallen in theaters today (being touted as "Die Hard in the White House"), we thought you might enjoy this story. Novelist Roderick Thorp wrote the 1979 book Nothing Lasts Forever about a retired New York detective that is forced to contend with a group of German terrorists. In the mid '80s, screenwriter Steven de Souza was approached by Fox to tackle an adaptation of the Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Commando. De Souza looked to Thorp's novel for inspiration since it was one of his favorite detective tales at the time. The proposed sequel to...
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- 3/22/2013
- by Alison Nastasi
- Movies.com
A little over a month ago, we posted that in celebration of it’s 25th anniversary there will be a Die Hard Marathon showing all four movies starting around Noon on February 13th followed by the premier of A Good Day To Die Hard at 10Pm getting out just before Midnight. That’s almost 12 action-packed hours of Die Hard awesomeness! As you can guess, there was no way I could refuse to take this opportunity to see one of the greatest action-movie series of all time for the first time on the big screen, or make that Mega-Screen since I decided to see this at Wehrenberg’s Chesterfield Galaxy 14 Cine, which in my opinion is one of the best movie theatres here in the St. Louis area. For $25 you got all five movies plus a collectable lanyard that entitles you to a 25% discount at concessions throughout the whole day and with their wide-selection,...
- 2/18/2013
- by Ken Parker
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With A Good Day to Die Hard set to debut on Valentine’s Day, and the original film turning 25 this year, this seems like as good a time as any to look back at some of the things you might not know about the original film (unless you’re totally Die Hard obsessed like we are). Fortunately, YouTube user SeaBlue33 has put together a handy video that does just that. Yippie ki yay? John McTiernan’s original film was based on Roderick Thorp’s novel Nothing Lasts Forever. Thorp’s book didn’t feature John McClane, but instead told the story of retired NYPD cop Joe Leland as he fights to stop Cold War German terrorist-turned-thief Anton “Little Tony” Gruber from taking over the Klaxon Oil building in Los Angeles where his daughter works. At...
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- 2/12/2013
- by Mike Bracken
- Movies.com
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 30 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated “A Good Day to Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis!
“A Good Day to Die Hard,” which opens on Feb. 14, 2013 and is rated “R,” also stars Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Yuliya Snigir, Radivoje Bukvic, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco, Sergei Kolesnikov, Roman Luknár and Melissa Tang from “Max Payne” director John Moore and writer Skip Woods based on certain original characters by Roderick Thorp.
To win your free “A Good Day to Die Hard” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!
“A Good Day to Die Hard,” which opens on Feb. 14, 2013 and is rated “R,” also stars Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Yuliya Snigir, Radivoje Bukvic, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco, Sergei Kolesnikov, Roman Luknár and Melissa Tang from “Max Payne” director John Moore and writer Skip Woods based on certain original characters by Roderick Thorp.
To win your free “A Good Day to Die Hard” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!
- 2/8/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In anticipation for A Good Day To Die Hard, we’re going to be taking a look back at the previous four films in the series to honor the franchise. Today we look at at the film that kick-started the whole thing, 1988′s Die Hard. It’s tough to imagine that it’s been twenty five years since Bruce Willis burst onto the scene as detective John McClane and took down thirty or so terrorists in Die Hard. Adapted from Roderick Thorp’s novel Nothing Lasts Forever, what would become the action classic started out as a sequel to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1985 hit Commando. Nothing against John Matrix, but thank the maker that didn’t [ Read More ]
The post Die Hardest: A Retrospective – Die Hard (1988) appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Die Hardest: A Retrospective – Die Hard (1988) appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 2/7/2013
- by philip
- ShockYa
When Live Free or Die Hard was released in 2007, it rubbed some action fans the wrong way. This fourth sequel was given a PG-13 rating, after all three previous movies - Die Hard, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, and Die Hard With a Vengeance - were slapped with that glorious R rating that audiences love. Thankfully, a new report today reveals that next month's A Good Day to Die Hard has been awarded an R rating.
Bruce Willis returns as John McClane, who teams up with his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) to stop the heist of nuclear weapons in Russia. Mary Elizabeth Winstead also reprises her role from Live Free or Die Hard as John's daughter Lucy.
John Moore is directing from a screenplay by Skip Woods, based on certain original characters created by Roderick Thorp. Are you excited to hear that classic line 'Yippee-ki-yay, motherf&*%er?' again?...
Bruce Willis returns as John McClane, who teams up with his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) to stop the heist of nuclear weapons in Russia. Mary Elizabeth Winstead also reprises her role from Live Free or Die Hard as John's daughter Lucy.
John Moore is directing from a screenplay by Skip Woods, based on certain original characters created by Roderick Thorp. Are you excited to hear that classic line 'Yippee-ki-yay, motherf&*%er?' again?...
- 1/12/2013
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
Collider has some great fucking news tonight about the next fucking film in the fucking greatest action film franchise to ever have fucking existed, Die Hard. According to that fucking awesome website, A Good Day To Die Hard will be fucking Rated Fucking R. How fucking awesome is that shit? To keep that in some kind of fucking perspective, the first three films in the series, Die Hard, Die Hard 2, and Die Hard: With a Vengeance all were rated fucking R. For violence, and probably for strong fucking language. But I don't fucking know. The last fucking shitshow with that Justified fucker, Live Free or Die Hard, was a pansy film that cut down on the swears and had less violence. What is this, fucking Disneyworld? Now, we're back to basics bitches! Fun Fucking Fact: 1988's Die Hard was based on the 1979 novel, Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.
- 1/12/2013
- ComicBookMovie.com
… But most usually don’t.
If there’s anything movie nerds love, it’s complaining about why movies (especially those in genres we love) suck now compared to the ones from “back when they were good” (read: whatever said nerd grew up on). Now, there’s a kernel of truth to the claim that blockbuster film-making isn’t as auteur-driven, inventive, and boldly exciting as it was at one point in time, maybe we could explore a few reasons what tentpoles could do to avoid sucking. There are two examples we’ll lean on for these “rules” – one from the Golden Age of the studio era of Hollywood, and one during the heyday of the burgeoning popcorn movie model.
So back in 1938, Warner Bros. released what was at the time one of the most expensive movies they’d ever produced, a lavish production of the Robin Hood legends shot in...
If there’s anything movie nerds love, it’s complaining about why movies (especially those in genres we love) suck now compared to the ones from “back when they were good” (read: whatever said nerd grew up on). Now, there’s a kernel of truth to the claim that blockbuster film-making isn’t as auteur-driven, inventive, and boldly exciting as it was at one point in time, maybe we could explore a few reasons what tentpoles could do to avoid sucking. There are two examples we’ll lean on for these “rules” – one from the Golden Age of the studio era of Hollywood, and one during the heyday of the burgeoning popcorn movie model.
So back in 1938, Warner Bros. released what was at the time one of the most expensive movies they’d ever produced, a lavish production of the Robin Hood legends shot in...
- 9/28/2012
- by Brendan Agnew
- Obsessed with Film
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