deird1: Faith looking thoughtful, with text "deep thought" (Faith thought)
[personal profile] deird1
I think I've realised why I like Die Hard 2 better than Die Hard 3.


To start with, they're both sequels (obviously). But they don't approach "sequelism" in the same way.

Generally, I don't like sequels very much. That's why it took me so long to figure this out - because movie 3 is much less a traditional sequel, so I'd expect to like it better.

I'd also expect to like movie 3 better because it is a better movie. It's better crafted, it has better dialogue, and it's just generally... better. (But I still don't like it as much.)


The thing is... movie 2 is a sequel because:
- John McClane has a Christmas terrorist issue just like last time.
- Holly is stuck in a terrorist situation worrying about her husband again.
- McClane's reputation has preceded him.
- ...and not in a good way. He's been on tv and is now seen as posturing because he likes the attention.
- The reporter is there again - and now has a restraining order against Holly.
- The cop is there again - and is now good friends with McClane.

Whereas movie 3 is a sequel because:
- Bruce Willis is once again playing a guy called John McClane.
- Lots of stuff gets blown up.


Movie 2 is aware it's a sequel - and every part of the movie is affected by what happened in the movie before. Holly and John's relationship; Holly and reporter-guy's relationship; John and the cop's relationship; the arguments John keeps having with all the cops... plus, John McClane spends a lot of the case running around muttering about having to go through "the same shit twice".

Movie 3... is trying to capitalise on a successful franchise.




The third movie is a technically superior film. But the second one has much more to do with John McClane. And much more to do with Die Hard.

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deird1

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