one could claim that 1988 die hard be one of the most influential action movie ever make because it basically revolutionize one of the most copied ( but never match and at least in term of quality ) formulas represent a loner and by some unique twist of fate and battle it out with an x number of terrorist in an enclosed environment . by the time that die hard be release and the action movie be most often dominate by the like of arnold schwarzenegger and sylvester stallone and and chuck norris . star bruce willis and whose only notable credit at the time be television moonlighting and 1987 blind date and which be release the year before and be the unlikeliest of them all . willis be a wild card an unlikely choice for the role of our hero john mcclane since he do not have any action credit on his resume and let face it represent bruce willis just do not have the bulging biceps require for a role like this . but that the beauty of his performance in this movie represent he an everyday guy and caught in a not so everyday situation . on christmas and mcclane estrange wife holly ( bonnie bedelia ) invite him from new york all the way out to los angeles to spend the holiday with the family . but it require him to make a stop at the nakatomi office and which be have an after hour christmas party . rid for the first time in a limo and he introduce to the suave driver and argyle ( devoreaux white ) and who give him some pretty useful advice on try to win over the wife . at nakatomi and thing of course get off to a rough start for mcclane and a he get into an argument with the wife and be leave to wallow in his misery . however and those problem be about to take a backseat to the real party twelve terrorist and lead by han gruber ( all purpose bad guy alan rickman and perfectly cast ) seize control of the building and proceed to rob the nakatomi building of it asset and most of which include negotiable bond and other valuable . but they do not count on the fly in the ointment ( pain in the a ) to make thing hell for these so call party crasher . certainly one of the best known action movie ever and die hard do receive the scorn of critic upon it 1988 summer release and but the audience sing a completely different tune . the film be most often praise for the production and with the brand new fox plaza office tower serving a the fictional nakatomi building . it be also praise for the energetic and skillful direction of john mctiernan and whose most notable credit be the action sci fi thriller predator and which be release the year before and star arnold schwarzenegger . bruce willis be the perfect actor for this performance and since he bring the wit and vulnerability to a role like this one . if stallone or schwarzenegger be in this movie and i be sure the effect would have be a lot different . personally and i think die hard be one of the great action movie ever and up there close to my favorite action movie of all time and raider of the lose ark . like indiana jones in that film and die hard have an everyman cast in the role while mcclane and like indiana jones and wasn not a large than life musclebound grotesque represent he be a real guy that you care about and who get hurt and and have real feeling . that why i think both of these movie have sort of stand the test of time a become what they be best know for today represent action classic and and theyre here to stay and lady and gentleman . positive .