release year: 1988
genre: action
viewing setting: numerous (member of the double-digit club)
what I expected: no longer applicable
what I got: one of the greatest action movies ever made
synopsis: Terrorists take over a nearly-abandoned skyscraper full of hostages, but a lone cop on vacation is also trapped in the building, and he'll do his best to stop the bad guys.
impressions: This is a genre-creating movie, which inspired countless variations on the same theme. No matter - this is still the first and best. It's a tightly-scripted, well-plotted, well-acted, and violent action movie. There are numerous little humor bits that are priceless.
acting: Bruce Willis is the protagonist, and does a great job of mixing ass-kicking and humor. Many, many others do good jobs with their roles as well - the self-serving reporter, the idiotic police chief, the leader of the terrorists, the cop who befriends McClane over the radio, the evil FBI guys...they're all here.
final word: This is one of the best action movies ever made, hands-down.
rating: A