Die Hard 2: Die Harder

Whether or not you like Die Hard 2 depends very much on how much you like sequels. This is no Star Wars or Matrix sequel. There isn't a broad story to be continued: this is a cash in sequel. But if that doesn't bother you then sit back, and enjoy because Die Hard 2 is an action movie that doesn't disappoint.

A year after the previous story ended, John McClane is once again meeting his wife for Christmas. Only this time it's not a skyscraper the terrorists are attacking, it's the airport in which McClane is meeting her.

While it completely lacks originality, you can't help but enjoy what's on offer here. Some characters in film are as forgettable as the credits that follow them, but every now and then a character gets written that captures the imagination of an audience, and John McClane is one of those guys.

Sporting his trademark dirty white vest, Willis positively eats up the scenery as he overacts to the point of comedy without ever over doing it. The action is too frenetic and the script far too knowing. At one point McClane asks himself "How can the same stuff happen to the same guy twice?".

Though this may lack a villain as delicious as Alan Rickman's, Die Hard 2 came along at a time where it was standard to fill in the bad guy element with any old European accent. So Shawshank Redemption fans will enjoy seeing William Sadler taking on the villain duties with some aplomb.

And while Renny Harlin may be a well known director, it takes a quick glance of his C.V to realise that this may well be the best film he ever directed, as he finds a perfect balance of action and quips with a bit of a story lurking in the background.

Die Hard 2 is the ultimate popcorn movie. The story doesn't have any depth and only one twist but if you want some mindless yet well directed violence and a hero that is not only genuinely funny, but also very cool then this will hit the mark.