Die Hard 1988

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: McTiernan, who directed last summer's Predator, composes the action cleanly and logically, making good use of Jackson DeGovia's elaborate post-modernist set-the building becomes something of a character in itself. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: As a grand flourish of cinematic technique, it is awesome; as a human drama, it is disgusting and silly, a mindless depiction of carnage on an epic scale. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Die Hard is an action picture with a capital A. In fact, you might as well go ahead and capitalize the whole darn word. Read more

Caryn James, New York Times: The scenes move with such relentless energy and smashing special-effects extravagance that Die Hard turns out to be everything action-genre fans, and Bruce Willis's relieved investors, might have hoped for. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: A serviceable if rather overextended and overblown adventure thriller. Read more

Chris Chase, New York Daily News: There are good performances from everyone in this long, often funny, very violent but exciting melodrama. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: For what it is, this is the top model -- flash, bang, and witty one-liners all included. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Inappropriate and wrongheaded interruptions reveal the fragile nature of the plot and prevent it from working. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: In the first half of Director John McTiernan's movie, Willis wears an undershirt. In the second half he gets rid of it. And that's pretty much it for his performance. Read more

Nigel Floyd, Time Out: A hi-tech thriller with a human heart. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Die Hard is as high tech, rock hard and souped up as an action film can be. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: It gets your heart pounding, then makes you hate yourself for it. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: It's good, dumb fun. Read more