Die Hard (1988, USA) C-131m. SCOPE ***½ D: John McTiernan. Starring Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Robert Davi. Outstanding, violent action thriller, a highlight of the 1980s. On Christmas Eve, cop Willis intends to pick up his soon-to-be ex-wife Bedelia from a high-rise office building. Just then, a group of high-tech terrorists storm the skyscraper and take everyone hostage. Can Willis use his experience and wits to outsmart the criminals? First half is not always on-target, even occasionally stupid, but final thirty minutes are sensational. Film meant Willis' major breakthrough and was followed by two sequels. Based on Roderick Thorp's novel Nothing Lasts Forever. Well-photographed by Jan de Bont (SPEED). Director McTiernan went on to make THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990).