It's on the Die Hard 3 second disc...

Die Hard 2 is the weakest because of its incredibly lame setup. A major weather storm eneveloping the East Coast and only Dulles is open? Ok, that stretches credibility a bit.

But when you realize that there are hundreds of airports within minutes or even hours (the planes are circling for a few hours) there is no reason they could not have gone inland or somehwere else. It makes no sense.

And yes, I know its an action movie and you are supposed to sit back and forget it. But when you have an entire movie's drama based on the fact, its hard to accept.

Die Hard is the best, followed by Die Hard 3. If they had kept the original ending, it would have been 10x better.

wow! i agree with exactly with your view.

In terms of enjoyment for me, I'd rank them 3>2>1
In terms of quality, I'd rank them 1>2>3

The first film was quite brilliant actually and there was a high attention to detail - the talent on screen was complimented by the talent behind the cameras. The second film had some problems, but it was a bigger film - as it set out to be - and it managed to one-up the first. The third film was just the most fun for me... it was bigger than the first two combined and I really loved the addition of Sam Jackson to the mix. I do recognize that it was the most flawed film of the three. I liked all 3 films in any case and can't wait for the rumored 4th film.

I thought the coolest scene from Die Hard 2 was the icickle (sp)through the eye. I was kind of surprised that the scene remained untouched by the ever critical MPAA.

The reason why I like the series is that the film's briliantly cast some great actors as the villians (sans Die Hard 2):

Alan Rickman
Jeremy Irons
Sam Phillips - when she sliced up that one guard, that was intense and vicious.

the highlight of Die Hard 3 is the fantastic 5.1 soundmix, that is retained and well duplicated from the OOP laserdisc. Notably the ending:

What switch?

Sorry, but I have to be one of the few nays. I absolutely can't watch this movie. Chanster mentioned the incredibly gaping plothole about how the planes could have simply landed elsewhere. And even if they couldn't, no one at Dulles could come up with a way to light up the runways?

But the thing that stretches my suspension of disbelief well past the breaking point are all the amazing coincidences in part 2. It just happens to be Christmas Eve again. The reporter from the last one just happens to be on the plane with McClane's wife. McClane is again the only one who can save the day. (Plus his character has changed. He's closer to James Bond jumping on top of airplanes than the reluctant hero we saw before.)

I'm convinced John McTiernan agrees part 2 is horrible as well. When he returns to direct the third one, it's as if part 2 never happened. McClane is back in New York City. He's separated from his wife. He's basically an alcoholic loser. And it makes more sense - there is no amazing coincidence where he just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

(Unfortunately, part 3 is ruined for me by the ending. Both the theatrical version and the alternate one seem rather anticlimatic. Part 3 is enjoyable up to that point, but the first one remains the best for me.)

Nay

In response to the people asking "what switch?" perhaps I used the wrong word, I was trying to say it non-spoilerish. I'm talking about John Amos etc.
I got to agree with Giles about the 5.1 mix, watching this in DTS was beautiful, I don't know if you noticed the little bit of church music in the rear speakers when Sam the Man "crossed" himself.
Also Giles you are correct about the icicle scene, on the video and DVD release here in the UK the BBFC has it cut, thats why I went with the 5 star Die Hard boxset.
Does anyone know why they deemed it fit to call die hard 1 a five star disc and the others not, even though they have the same amount of extras? Or is it just because it was the first one?

I still don't know what switch you're talking about... John Amos? The guy from Good Times? What didn't I see happen? I'm really intrigued. Or do you mean that no matter what I say, I didn't forsee his character turning out to be a bad guy? Cuz I actually did. Not right away or anything, but certainly long before the reveal.

Oh - and I watched 1 and 2 yesterday and 3 today and for the first time I finally saw the alternate ending on 3. I have to say that the alternate ending was shit and I'm really really glad they didn't use it. I'm quite satisfied with the ending they used... the alternate one seemed like it was from a completely different movie. Even listening to the sporatic commentary from the writer during the scene, it seems like he didn't understand the characters at all - he tried to explain his vision or whatever, but even if I look at it his way the ending sucks. I mean, it was an interesting scene and the acting was good... I even liked some of the dialogue, but it just didn't fit and would've spoiled the entire series. All of the movies in the series take place on one fateful day and to have a tacked on ending that takes place months later just throws off the rhythm of the film and is just too much of a departure for the series - save that stuff for another film. I guess I don't see what was so wrong with the ending they used... it seemed fine to me... it was fun and explosive and everyone walks away happy. Only way it could've been better was if someone punched out a news reporter.

This is my problem with Die Hard 2, as well. "How can this happen to the same guy twice?" How indeed.

The third film works because it's tied in to the events of the first. The second just stretches things too far.

Also, I too am glad they didn't go with the alternate ending for 3. It did seem out of place. And, also, ? That's just hokey.

I liked DH2 mainly because I enjoy Airplane/Airport films in general.

As far as a film, I think that DH1 is a superior film, but I have re-watched DH2 more often. DH3 is good in its own right, but is a different type of film altogether, in my opinion.