Directed by: Renny Harlin
Written By: Steven DeSouza & Doug Richardson
Cinematography By: Oliver Wood
Editor: Stuart Baird & Robert A Ferretti
Cast: Bruce Willis, Dennis Franz, Art Evans, Bonnie Bedelia, William Sadler, John Amos, John Leguizamo, William Atherton, Franco Nero, Reginald VelJohnson, Fred Dalton Thompson, Shelia McCarthy, Robert Patrick, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Mark Boone Junior
This film plaes in comparison to the original. Which is expected when the first one is a classic, But they could have tried a little harder for it to live up to the original. Here they go a little overboard with John Maclaine once again taking on terrorists and beignthe only level headed one opposing them.
This film lends itself more to counter military operations and espionage. It isalso shockingly more violent and hardcore. He takes out more terrorists then he evenhad to face in the original. though at times this movie still maintains a light tone. In termsof comedy mixed in with the action.
The original more had comedy involving the absurdity of the situation and towards the end a liught satire of governement agents. The thing this move also sorely lacks is a memorable villian. While there are twists and turns that reveal a conspiracy. The lead villian is not memorable at all since he lacks charisma. He plays it to strict and straight. He has hatched a multi-layer plan but doesn't seem as smart as Hans Gruber. It feels more like a plan by commitee, Then a individual who put it all together by himself.
Some things remain the same. At one point John gets a black sidekick for a little while, But that only lasts a half hour.
It's nice to see original cast memebers in this film, But they're characters are handled like after thoughts. Instead of being important threads to the plot.
The film is watchable yet still feels disappointing. I know it's hard for a sequel to live up to it's predecessor, Especially when it's a sequel, But that maybe the problem it seems the thought making this film was to double up everything. Where as this film leans into the unbelievable then the original and shows it's weaknesses more. If this had not been a sequel and just another run of the mill action film, I would have just thought of it as generic and it's grade would have been better. But as a sequel to a classic i expect a little better. While it makes you remember how good the original one was. It also stains it's legacy.
It Truly shows Renny Harlin's weakness as a director as he is more interested in camera moves and angles, not as interested in what get's us to these. So it's like a shiny empty box. He was a Replacement for original director John McTiernan who came back to direct the next film. He couldn't direct this due to his obligation with THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. Harlin was editing this film while also his other film he had previously directed THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE.
A Satisfying Rental
Grade: C-
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