Die Hard 2 (1990)

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers (WGA):

Walter Wager (novel)
Steven E. de Souza (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 July 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Die Harder.

Plot:

John McClane is forced to battle mercenaries who seize control of an airport's communications and threaten to cause plane crashes if their demands are not met.

Plot Keywords:

Airport | Airplane | Plane | Fuel | Police

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Lt. John McClane
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Holly McClane
William Atherton	...	Richard Thornburg
William Sadler	...	Col. Stuart
Reginald VelJohnson	...	Sgt. Al Powell
Franco Nero	...	Gen. Ramon Esperanza
John Amos	...	Maj. Grant
Dennis Franz	...	Capt. Carmine Lorenzo
Art Evans	...	Leslie Barnes
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Trudeau
Tom Bower	...	Marvin
Sheila McCarthy	...	Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
Don Harvey	...	Garber
Tony Ganios	...	Baker
Peter Nelson	...	Thompson

Also Known As:

Die Hard 2: Die Harder (Philippines: English title) (UK) (promotional title) (USA) (video box title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (cut) (video premiere) | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | UK:15 (video rating) (1991) | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | Philippines:R-18 | South Africa:13V | Canada:13+ (Régie du Cinéma Québec) | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Canada:18A | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (re-rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | UK:15 (video rating) (cut) (1990) | UK:18 (video rating) (uncut) (1992) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Alpena, Michigan, USA

Company:

Gordon Company

Trivia:

The scenes with Bruce Willis running through tunnels under the airport were filmed at a water treatment facility near Los Angeles. The facility has miles of underground tunnels, and was also used in Live Free or Die Hard (2007), doubling as the Woodlawn Social Security Administration building.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Somewhere around the middle of the movie we learn that "there are 18 planes up there but only 5 of them have those phones". But isn't that enough? Can't the pilots tell each other that the airport is under attack and they shouldn't listen to the "fake" tower? They all listen to the same approach tower frequency.

Quotes:

[after Thornburg has reported that terrorists have taken control of the airport]
Trudeau: That stupid, arrogant son-of-a-bitch! It's all over the airport.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Pod People (#4.3)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

CAROL OF THE BELLS

It's No Die Hard 1...

...but other than that, there's very little going against the second in the series. It helps (but not enough) that the character realizes he's basically in a sequel. There are some minor variations in the formula, but basically the movie relies on the Bruce Willis' charisma and humor, and elaborate action sequences. William Sadler is okay, but no Alan Rickman (or Jeremy Irons in #3). It's still enjoyable, though.