The Daily Tar Heel from Chapel Hill, North Carolina • Page 5

The Tar Heel Thursday, July 21, 19885 Cinema Third attempt from Bruce Willis proves he is 'Die Hard' James Mills fret that Willis has lost his sense of humor. The sarcasm and wit are still there, but channeled more into the character and the situation. McClane is a reluctant hero viewers root for and believe in. "Die Hard" is not your typical, cliched action-adventure flick. It's unique, exciting and fun, making for two hours of exhilarating film in 70mm, which will make the special effects even more outstanding and well worth the trip to catch such a visual treat. But the real star of "Die Hard" is Willis. Playing a macho, tough cop is just the right role for the "Moonlighting" star. His John McClane is an extension of David Addison, with more machismo and most of the sexist wise cracks taken out. But don't revenge-seeking terrorist, while Hart Bochner is a slimy coke-snorting hostage who tries to save only himself. Paul Gleason is a hard-nosed L.A. cop who tries to run the show without understanding the situation. John McTiernan is the director of this action-packed two-hour extravaganza, which pays homage to another skyscraper disaster flick, "The Towering Inferno." This director is certainly one to keep an eye on; with credentials like "Die Hard," it will be hard to ignore McTiernan. "Die Hard" has some of the best special effects to hit the silver screen in years. Some theaters will show the Don't Miss The September 1st Issue The Daily Tar Heel SIPOKSOIL DCTHE)li(girlY PEERS For Bruce Willis, the third time is the charm: His role in "Die Hard" is the action adventure to see this summer. Willis' two prior screen appearances were in Blake Edwards' comedies "Blind Date" and "Sunset." Neither film was very impressive, and neither did very much box office business. With "Die Hard," Willis should reverse that trend and break through as a major box office draw. It's Christmas Eve. New York cop John McClane (Willis) flies to Los Angeles to spend the holidays with his estranged wife and his children. After he meets his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at her office in a Century City skyscraper during an office Christmas party, they promptly get into a fight. Suddenly, a group of West German terrorists armed with machine guns and explosives storm the building and take the partiers as hostages. Except they don't really want hostages, and they aren't really terrorists. These people are just thieves, and what they're after is $600 million in negotiable bonds locked in an office safe. They only want the hostages to cover their escape. In all the confusion, McClane eludes the terrorists and hides out on an upper floor. He's only armed with his service revolver and is in his undershirt and bare feet (he was changing clothes in an office when the terrorists attacked). Soon he subversively begins to take out the terrorists one by one while waiting for the cavalry to arrive. In this case, the cavalry comes in the form of the Los Angeles police. Problem is, the police don't know the skyscraper has been seized. Everyone in the building is gone except for the 30 or so partygoers. The thieves have cut the phone lines and killed the security guards, thus preventing anyone from calling for help. So McClane has a double dilemma. Cinema He must try to knock out the thieves and save the partiers, including his wife. And he must figure out how to get the police to the scene of the crime. Slowly, McClane reduces the number of robbers and ingeniously signals the police. Once the police, and later the FBI, do arrive, they think McClane is a terrorist, so they don't listen to his appraisal of the situation (he's in radio contact with the police). Soon it becomes McClane vs. the terrorists and the police. McClane never before had to be so quick on his feet, which are very badly cut by all the glass broken in the gunfire. "Die Hard" contains some first-rate supporting characters. Stage actor Alan Rickman makes his screen debut as Hans, the terrorist leader, who matches wits with McClane. Alexander uodunov appears as ooo For a Workout. with our Universal workout station, sauna game room For a Swim. at one of our two clean pools you live. a I 1 fiease visit uur New neiau isiorei MEIMicro Center ZII-h Holly ark Shopping Center I Sj 3028 Old Wake Forest Road gEQteQigMMI Colored 5.25" Come Join Us For Tennis. at our 3 lighted tennis courts For a Jog. along our natural path or fitness trail DSDD Disks Datacases i- Printer Paper $15.95 Visit our new store 1 00 Satisfaction Guaranteed or 1 in Holly Park Shopping Center! YOUT Money BdCk GoDocH) (sitroESR? Park Shopping Center 3028 Old Wake Forest Road JV Raleigh, NC 27609 7 J7 (919)878-9054 J.L 8-9, Saturday 9-6 Play where iito a wnDD 1 2 3 bedroom apartments 141 Carrboro