Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- In what ways does Die Hard set the standard for modern-day action movies? Can you think of any more recent movies that took some tips from the Die Hard playbook?
- How does John McClane both uphold and challenge our cliché notions of what it means to be an American hero? How does his characterization contribute to this dynamic? Consider his clothes, dialogue, relationships, general attitude, and his utter lack of shoes.
- How does Die Hard use comedy to advance the plot and its themes? Is humor always mere comic relief—a brief break from the violence and destruction—or does it play a more key role in McClane's objectives?
- What does this movie have to say about the role of law enforcement? Are they the good guys? The bad guys? Somewhere in between?
- What's Die Hard's position on high culture versus low culture? Should we make something of the fact that the movie's central villain loves fancy suits while its central hero is barely wearing a shirt? In other words, do we have a bit of a cowboy-and-the-dandy scenario?
- In what ways is John McClane a modern-day cowboy? Why is that label so important in the movie?
- What role does the McClane marriage play in the movie? Is it simply a backdrop, meant to lend a little emotional weight to McClane's antics, or is it more central than that?
- What do you make of some of the movie's subplots? There's the reporter, Richard Thornburg, the FBI guys and their macho egos, and Argyle in his limo. Do these subplots add anything to the main plot?
- Why Christmas? Don't forget—this movie was released in July.
- How would you describe the visual style of Die Hard? Does it resemble other action blockbusters you've seen? Does it have any noticeable stylistic quirks or techniques?
- Are Hans Gruber's henchmen distinguishable at all? In what ways do their actors attempt to give them standout characteristics? How much of that is the actors and how much is the script?