25. Car Trouble
Well, if youre going to have an armoured car in an action film, do something with it. And Die Hard does, well, what it does best, and blows it up with a rocket launcher. Oh my god, the quarterback is toast, exclaims motor mouth hacker Theo. We chuckle. And then Hans tells them to hit it again, to make his point. Its chillingly ruthless, and swings that pendulum back in favour of the bad guys. That constant swing is a key element to the raising and lowering of the tension - a balance the film gets spot on.
24. John's Explosive Temper
Not one to let an opportunity pass by; John exacts revenge on the rocket launcher team by doing what he can. Namely strapping some C4 to a monitor and wangling it down a lift shaft. It's a reckless move, (does he really know what he's doing?) but in terms of a middle finger back up to Hans and his crew, it's particularly powerful. It also gives us that mightily impressive explosion which rips across the floor. It seems, at each turn, Die Hard is notching up the scale of destruction in an incredibly satisfying manner and leaves you wondering, what the heck are they going to do next?
23. Top Negotiations
Weve not seen him for 45 minutes, but the coked-up Ellis makes an unforgettable return. Attempting to sell John out for his own ends, his misguided attempt to befriend and negotiate with Hans starts off on a comical note but quickly descends into horror. Its a genuinely bleak moment, and once again a comment on the vapid and disposable nature of yuppie culture. Ellis believes he can talk his way out of the situation, but John - and the rest of us - knows whats coming next. As John realises that Hans is going to shoot, his frantic pleas intercut with a smug Ellis giving his best sales pitch, is chilling. And the fact we hear what John hears, just that gunshot, gives the moment more of an impact. Its a moment of visual restraint that once again shows how serious and affecting Die Hard can be.
22. When Johnny Met Hans
A great little twist, as Hans bumps into John and does his best to convince him that hes just another hostage. Full marks to Hans for his quick thinking, as he sinks back on the floor and acts in the best possible accent(it sounds slightly Texan) to fool John - its clear just what a devious bloke were dealing with here. Again, it really ratchets up the tension. Were not sure how much John has worked out, and as he hands over a weapon to Hans were screaming "no!" at the screen. So when the gun turns out to be missing bullets, its a tremendous relief and leads into the hero/villain face off that we wouldnt miss for the world. Beautifully played by both actors... its a tremendous sequence.
21. Computer Room Shootout
Kicking straight back into another set piece, the shootout in the computer room is visceral; theres a great "bad guy shot in legs, falls through a plate glass panel" moment. Its also shot with wonky angles, and low lying cameras, making you feel like part of the fire fight. The unrelenting sequence as Hans and Karl shoot the glass out, tumbling it onto John, makes you genuinely feel for the guy. And the shot of the exit, the glass covered floor, and the pan down to Johns bare feet (something that the film set up a long time ago) gives you all the information you need to know about whats coming next.