#holly mcclane

[blog-of-reaction]

I’m wary of saying this as I have no idea what people think about the different Die Hard films. But honestly after watching the second one I’d say it’s The Empire Strikes Back of the series. As in the second one and also the best. I definitely felt more emotions and was more engaged in it than the first one. The ending, with all the planes finally coming in, was great. The soundtrack in that last scene was especially amazing. I was definitely more invested in this one than the first movie. I mean, I knew the main characters already and John was a lot more likeable due to him not being a shitty husband and needing a life and death situation with terrorists to make him realize that.

Also the stakes felt a lot higher. I mean I was sure that that first plane was going to make it but no. I figured they wouldn’t show inside the plane to really show that they are just a bunch of innocent people, a bunch of humans who didn’t deserve to die. Because then if the plane crashed it hits even harder than it already did. But I was wrong and the plane crashed. And it completely drove home the danger and that’s when the stakes jumped from bad to “oh fuck that’s a burnt doll on the runway they killed kids and their families oh fuck”

So I tried my hardest to not cry (it is very possible someone was cutting onions nearby because it didn’t work)

And with that it really drove it home and the tone of the movie changed from serious to alright all the characters who just saw what happened are crying in shock or both and that’s a lot of people that just died.

Holly on the plane was great. I love her. Also, the old woman she was sitting by is awesome. Just casually pulls out a taser. Like ma’am beyond the animal cruelty you’re great. And the reporter from the last movie being on the plane, causing a panic, literally everything that had to do with him was either extremely frustrating or very refreshing. (Like when the stewardess smiled and gave Holly champagne in response to learning Holly punched the guy.)

Also, John McClane progressively got more and more blood on him and had enough rough fights that he probably should’ve stopped at the ambulances on the runway at the end of the movie because yeah he got checked on a bit earlier but that was before he was involved in an explosion, fought two trained former-military terrorists and then got kicked in the face and fell off a plane that was going who knows how many miles per hour and onto the runway below. My whumper’s heart loved this movie so much.

Wow, this got really long. Initially I just intended to say yeah, calling it now, Die Hard 2 is the best in the franchise. And if not the best at least the most enjoyable.

[headlesshorsemanxiii]

"The only time you even see the people is when you look down to see what it is you're stepping on."

~ Holly McClane to Richard Thornburg, Die Hard 2.

[vertigoartgore]

Die Hard's Hans Gruber and his team of fake terrorists/bank robbers.

[aiiaiiiyo]

[sinema-karakterleri]

Holly Gennero McClane Kimdir?

Holly Gennero McClane, Bruce Willis'in canlandırdığı John McClane'in karısıdır.

Holly Gennero McClane, Bruce Willis’in canlandırdığı John McClane’in karısıdır. Bonnie Bedelia tarafından canlandırılan Holly, “Die Hard” (1988) ve “Die Hard 2” (1990) filmlerinde yer alır. Hikaye: Holly, California’da John ile birlikte yaşayan ve iki çocuğu olan bir ev hanımıdır. “Die Hard” filminde, John, Nakatomi Plaza’daki Noel partisine katılmak için New York’a gelir. Ancak parti, Hans…

[mattzerella-sticks]

Dean's favorite Christmas tradition is making his family dress up like John McClane as they marathon all the Die Hard movies.

[mzannthropy]

I don't argue about Die Hard being a Christmas film or not, because to me it doesn't matter, but it's all the not-Christmas elements that make it one of my favourites, i.e. all the action stuff. And the great lines. And most of all, Holly. Holly is a character that nobody ever talks about but she's the best. She's a working mother, she excels at her job, she's not afraid to approach Hans Gruber to ask for help for a pregnant colleague--and Gruber fucking RESPECTS her. "Who put you in charge?" "You, when you shot my boss."

And let's not forget her punching that creepy reporter in the face at the end!

Like, I find Holly in Die Hard a much better, stronger female character than someone like, say, Kate Winslet in The Holiday, who is a weak, pathetic failed existence. (I once tried to watch it and had to switch it off at 20 minutes. I can't deal with that much stupidity.)

[hopelesswritergall]

a Jake x fem!reader and the prompt is that Jake introduces the reader to the whole squad

YESSSSSS!!

Let me know what you thought of this in my ask box or in the comments! Feedback is always wanted!

"So, Y/N I know that you want to meet the sqaudddd so I did something" this was the first thing Jake sad when you woke up next to him on Friday. "What did you do Jake?" You asked despite knowing that it would probably be something stupid. "Wellll, they don't know that I'm dating anyone, but you know who they are so that obviously has to change, you know?" "I don't like where this is going Jake, next thing you know you say that you want to pretend that I'm a criminal and introduce me in the interrogation room!" Jake quickly looked at you and very very quickly erased something from his notes on his phone. "Alrighty then, not that plan, falling through the roof? Knocking on the window? You come dressed up as Holly McClane and start to make out with me?" "No and it is Holly Gennero remember? They divorced." Jake just looked at you with those puppy love eyes. "How about I just walk in with some coffee and lunch for you? You can say you forgot it at home babe?" "Fine, boring but it came from you so it's great." He looked at the time and went to pick out clothes. Cue the whistling from your end, "My man is looking fine today, hurry up and go to work ill come around in the midday." He blew you a quick kiss before bolting out the door.

It was a pretty normal day in the precinct nothing out of the ordinary. Scully had another 'small' heart attack and holt didn't smile. Just a normal friday you would say. But Jake couldn't hide his excitement from his best friend Charles. Well Charles just assumed, and Jake spilled that there would be a surprise this midday. Let's be honest Charles couldn't keep this a secret very long and soon enough the squad all knew something would happen just not yet what would happen. Although they prepared for the worst believe me, the fire extinguisher close to Rosa was just a minor detail.

As you entered the building you walked towards the receptionist who just asked some routine questions and directed you towards the floor you boyfriend was on. Hearing the sound of the elevator Jake peeked to see if it was you, and there you were. With a cup of coffee and a sandwich from subway. Your eyes scanned the room and saw his fluffy hair which you could recognize miles away. "Jake there you are! I noticed you didn't take your food with you this morning so i thought I would visit you at work." You said while smiling at him, not noticing the eyes his colleagues gave each other in surprise that Jake had a girlfriend. "Thanks BABE! How much I LOVE you for doing this!" He almost yelled the words to make sure everyone heard it. Amy came up to him and took him away to have a small squad meeting, leaving you there to sit at his desk and sort the files why not.

"Who is that Jake? Did you kidnap her?" Terry asked worried for you. "No, that is my girlfriend from 8 months." Jake admitted to the squad. "8 months?!?!" "How did you keep this a secret?" Gina genuinely asked. "It was never a subject of conversation, at least not a serious one." You had stood up from his desk and walked to the break room. "Uhm Jake I've got to go, so unless you're going to introduce me now, I'm leaving" "Oh yeah of course."

"The scary looking one is Rosa, the big guy is Terry, the one with the boring outfit is Amy, the one with the phone is Gina, the small one is Charles and the one who never expresses emotions is Captain Holt." Jake said while pointing at each one. "It was very nice to meet you all, I hope to see you another time!" you said while leaving the break room waving and smiling. "Well Jake, I've only just met her but if you hurt her, I'll hurt you." Rosa said while smiling weirdly. "I won't I Won't.

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Storm/The Eye, Pt. 4

Finally, the Genii arrive at Atlantis with Acastus Kolya at the helm. With Robert Davi acting, it's rather on the nose how much the events of the story follow the plot of Die Hard with Kolya as Hans Gruber and Sheppard as John McClane. And, as I mentioned the polysemic storytelling used by the series, the role of Holly Gennero is played by both McKay and Weir.

McKay and Weir are captured by the Genii almost immediately.

They're clever enough to keep their communicators on so that Sheppard can eavesdrop on the discussion. McKay is clearly frightened, even more so than Weir because he actually has experience of these people from before, but he's not about to give them anything that would jeopardize Sheppard (not even his own name, confirmation of which Sora provides for Kolya). Rodney is a brave little toaster but he's way in over his head. You can see by the minute tilt of his chin that he just entered What Would Sheppard Do? zone, he's trying to navigate the situation the way he thinks John would.

The fact that Weir responds verbally to Kolya's inquiry about his identity and McKay does not but is recognized anyway is exactly how the entire scenario plays out main text / sub text wise. We are verbally told: Elizabeth, from contextual cues we are able to interpret: Rodney.

We actually cut from Sheppard's reaction to what he just overheard to the storm brewing outside. Because if he was frightened of the storm and what it might do to this newly found home at the beginning of the episode, he's now terrified.

In the Genii home world when they were held hostage, McKay and Sheppard both attempted to keep the other safe in their own ways, and they continue doing just that here. Sheppard is using his military training, McKay is using his brain (and Weir is using her skills as a negotiator). McKay is trying to convey information that Sheppard could use by "accidentally" leaning on the communication panel but at the same time, he's letting him know that they are both still alive and unharmed. It's notable that all of the characters are lying to keep each other safe. They are saying counterfactual things in the hopes that the others might be spared.

Also notable: Kolya is smart enough to know that they are lying.

McKay seems to realize that he has no experience in dealing with the kind of sociopath Kolya is but he tries his best. He's being careful not to antagonize them unnecessarily and is also lying about the most important things.

Kolya has figured out that McKay is too important to be there. There must be a reason why he stayed behind. The Genii clearly recognize his importance on a lot of fronts, the least of them not being that he's the one that knows how to use the C4 to build an A-bomb which is something that the Genii don't know how to do. He would go as far as to injure McKay but it's doubtful he ever had intention of killing him.

But even under physical torture, he didn't give up Sheppard. The Genii only learn that Sheppard is in fact in the city through the radio he left in the armory himself. The only reason he gives out the plan to save the city is that he has such faith in Sheppard. This is why he looks guilty when Kolya and Sheppard have this exchange:

Kolya: Your offer is very generous, Major. Sheppard: Yes, it is. Kolya: However, Doctor McKay recently shared with me there's a plan in action to save the city. Sheppard: He did?! Kolya: He did.

Like, McKay overhears this and thinks that he's disappointed Sheppard; as though Sheppard is expressing surprise that he would do such a thing. The last thing McKay wants is to let the Major down. What their exchange is actually about is Kolya letting Sheppard know that he has hurt McKay enough to get information out of him, and Sheppard gets this.

And Sheppard's plan is to rescue them. He hides the thing that he knows the Genii care most about, the thing they can't do without, it being the C4. He's holding the most important thing to the Genii ransom because he hopes that this will be enough for him to get back the most important thing to him. Everyone is attempting to find the leverage and use it.

Knowing that Sheppard has walked into an ambush, even though he is afraid McKay tries to help him the only way he can which is by pointing out that something is invaluable (reminding them that they might break the only thing that can save the city if they start shooting at him). Likewise, Sheppard only went to the grounding station with the hope that doing what the Genii asked would keep Weir and McKay safe. And boy is McKay relieved to hear the Sheppard managed to dodge the ambush:

Note that it's McKay's reaction we get to this, and his alone.

Now, Sheppard makes the mistake of mentioning McKay because he just can't keep him out of his mouth. When you're thinking about something or someone, it's going to come out of your mouth. He tells Kolya that he's going to get "an earful from McKay for" his soldiers breaking the controls to the grounding station, and then this very thing actually happens. What he actually did was to demonstrate to a really intelligent sociopath that he knows McKay pretty damn well. Too well. And that he cares about him because damn, if that didn't signal familiarity between them.

Starting to play hardball, Kolya tells Sheppard "Say good-bye to Doctor Weir". But note that he actually looks at McKay just before he says this, thinking about something. Kolya and Sheppard are playing a game with extremely high stakes.

Now, it seems like Kolya threatening Weir is too much for Sheppard. It's the mention of Weir that throws him off the edge, right? Makes him threaten to destroy to whole city if he hurts her. Weir, and not McKay. Easy, heteronormative reading. That's what they say, after all.

The thing is, we've seen before that Sheppard is both a strategic thinker and (especially in Underground, S01E08) that especially when it comes to the Genii, he thinks that the less information they have about them, the better. He lied about the number of puddle jumpers they have. He was willing to let them know that they have a ship, but not that they have many ships. He stopped McKay from spilling the beans on how much weaponry they have. Each and every one of the characters have been lying through their teeth all through the ordeal to keep each other safe.

Kolya is likewise a strategic thinker. He's trying to figure Sheppard out. He has two hostages and he's trying to find out how he can use them for leverage. He knows all of them are lying.

Some people watch the episode and come to the conclusion that Sheppard cares about Weir the most because Kolya threatens her and he loses it. And like, he doesn't mention McKay so he must not care about him as much as he does about Weir. But it is precisely because McKay is the one he cannot and will not lose that he plays it out as though Weir is the one he cares the most about here. Giving the enemy that kind of leverage like revealing the thing you actually can't live without would be stupid. And Kolya figures it out anyway.

Sheppard tells him that if he hurts Weir, he would rather blow up Atlantis with all of them in it, indicating to him that Weir is the one he cannot afford to lose. Anything you do, just please don't kill her. And yet we end the episode with Kolya telling Sheppard that he is about to kill one of the two, and he's not telling him which. Having just glanced at McKay before he decided to test Sheppard out by threatening Weir by name.

Why would he do that? If Kolya believed that Weir was the one Sheppard cared most about like he indicated to Kolya, why would he not simply use the leverage Sheppard had just (on purpose) given him? Why suddenly be vague about which it's going to be?

Because Kolya can play 4D-chess too. And it's when Kolya tells Sheppard that he is going to kill one of them and he does not know which that is going to be that Sheppard actually capitulates, not when he threatened to kill Weir a moment ago. Notice that Sheppard was still relatively cool and level-headed when Kolya was just threatening her life; when her life was on the line, he was still negotiating with Kolya. But suddenly he loses it.

Note that while he's shouting throughout this dialogue because he's outside in the storm trying to get his voice heard, his tone of voice changes throughout:

Kolya: You killed two of my men. Sheppard: I guess we're even! [flippant] Kolya: I don't like even. Sheppard: I'm not finished yet! [bravado] Kolya: Neither am I. Say goodbye to Doctor Weir. Sheppard: The city has a self-destruct button. You hurt her, I'll activate it. Nobody'll get Atlantis. [still calmly negotiating, able to formulate a plan of action] Kolya: Even if it exists, Major, you need at least two senior personnel to activate it -- and I'm about to take one of them out of the equation. Sheppard: Kolya?! Kolya?! I'll give you a ship! I'll fly it out of here for you myself! KOLYA!! [suddenly desperate]

Sheppard is willing to do anything and say anything to keep McKay safe. The man he's fallen in love with. His home. The person he cares so much for that a stranger he's known for all of five minutes was able to figure it out and use it against him. Threatening Weir wasn't the thing that pushed him over the edge, it was not knowing which one the gun was pointed at and the fear that Kolya had figured him out, had his ticket.

This is when Kolya made himself into Sheppard's mortal enemy. And it's notable that in every one of their subsequent encounters, Kolya knows to use McKay to get to Sheppard.

Continued in Pt. 5

[starlingflight]

15 questions for 15 mutuals!

Thank you for the tag @themaraudershavethephonebox 🥰

1. Are you named after anyone? This story is going to tell you everything you need to know about my parents: my maiden name is Scottish and begins 'Mc' - my parents couldn't think of anything to go with it until Die Hard randomly came on the TV and they decided that 'Holly McClane' had a ring to it, and that's how I was named Holly.

2. When was the last time I cried? Two weeks ago my husband and I had a fight, and I, as an only child, obviously can't handle conflict and started crying in the car lol

3. Do you have kids? No, I'm a grown woman who cries in the car

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Me? No, never

5. What sports do you play/have you played? I was never into team sports. I swam as a kid and I did ballet and tap dance into my mid-teens! Now, most of my exercise is in the form of dog walking

6. What's the first thing you notice about other people? Hair - you can tell a lot about a person's vibe from their hair imo

7. Scary movies or happy endings? Scary movies with happy endings! My favourite film franchise is scream (current terrible decisions not included)

8. Any special talents? I'm a qualified lifeguard, so I can save your life, if required, does that count?

9. Where were you born? Yorkshire, England

10. What are your hobbies? Writing (obviously), I'm also trying to learn embroidery but I'm bad at it lol

11. Do you have any pets? 3 dogs & a cat

12. All time favourite piece of media? The Haunting of Hill House - it's a masterpiece from start to finish

13. Fave subject in school? I have a degree in history, hands down my favourite!

14. Dream job? Literally everyone tells me to quit my job and become a travel agent/planner. I love planning trips, if you tell me you want to go on holiday, I will drop everything to find you the best deals and make you an itinerary. Sadly, my current job pays better 🥲

15. Eye colour? - Brown, which I hated as a kid but if it's good enough for Ginny Weasley, it's good enough for me 😂

Tagging: @lanaturnergetup @solongdaisymayy @merlinsbudgiesmugglers @artemisia-black @ginnyw-potter @sophie-hatter-jenkins @thelighthousestale @my-patronus-is-a-champagne-glass @corneliastreet28 @corneliastreet28 @ashotofogdensoldfirewhiskey @pitchblackveins @takearisk-x @fizzyginfizz @pocket-lilacs

[foxilayde]

Imagine spending Christmas with Nathan Bateman at The Compound.

You’ve decorated the house with warm twinkle lights (“honey these are TACKY. I can program the existing house lights to any stupid color”), balsam scented candles (“why’d you get these, we’re in the middle of a FOREST, the place already smells like tree sap”), Christmas music, tinsel, an ornamented tree in the living room (“Jesus, babe what’d I say? We’re SURROUNDED by these things. Did you really have to get Dave to helicopter in a Douglas Fir from Williams Sonoma?…. Yes I know what Williams Sonoma is, it’s on the fucking credit card statement, that’s how.”) You make hot chocolate with peppermint candy canes (“do you know how much sugar is in that cup you’re sipping? No thanks.”)

He’s a bit of a Grinch. He rolls his eyes when it’s your turn to pick the movie for your movie night and you choose “Elf”. He doesn’t laugh, doesn’t touch the caramel popcorn you made either. He folds his arms and grits his teeth when you laugh and quote your favorite lines along with the movie.

When it’s his turn to choose a movie he picks The Shining.

“The fucking Shining, Nathan? The Shining??”

“What? You love The Shining!”

“Of course I love The Shining, but it’s not a Christmas movie!”

“It’s Christmas adjacent.”

“How so?!”

“There’s… snow. And family.”

“You’re absolutely right, who could forget the great heartwarming Christmas theme of chasing your child with an axe through the snow? It’s practically Rockwellian.”

“Jesus. Fine. No Kubrick. How about Die H—“

“I knew you were going to say Die Hard. Fine. Die Hard. Great compromise Nate, really. Nothing says cherishing warmth and peace like C4 down an elevator shaft.”

You fold your arms and sit back against the couch stiffly in a very Nathan-like fashion.

“There is a love b-plot with Holly.”

“I said fine, Nate. Que it up.”

You don’t get up to make the candied pecans you’d been planning on. You seethe and use your frustration to push back your tears. What a jerk.

If it’s any consolation, Nathan isn’t engrossed in the film either. He looks cold, folding his arms for warmth in his thin henley. You’d usually wrap his grumbling ass up in a fluffy blanket, kiss his cheek, and offer him some herbal tea or hot cider (to which he’d unequivocally decline and request a beer instead). But you don’t. You both sit a cushion’s distance apart, unswaddled, unsnacked, and unhappy. Nathan glances over to you about every 10 seconds, his demeanor shifting until halfway through the film he pauses John McClane and asks, “I can’t enjoy the movie when you’re acting like this.”

You tamp down the urge to screech at him like a tea kettle, and instead speak to him in a level sarcastic tone he can relate to.

“I apologize, Nathan. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to want to enjoy something with the person you love, only to have them be rude and cold. Sincerest fucking apologies.”

You don’t look at him, you wrap your arms tighter around yourself and stare at the still frame of Bruce Willis in the air shaft, feigning engrossment.

“I’ve been a dick. I’m sorry, it’s just it’s fucking Q4 and the dev team launched the latest hardware so goddamn late in the fall it’s been a—“

“I get it. I’m sorry you’re stressed. and I’m sorry for foisting all this hokey shit on you.” You gesture around the room to the twinkle lights, tinsel, tree and snowflake paraphernalia. “I should have known you were stressed about work and it wasn’t fair trying to force you to be all Holly Jolly.”

Nathan scoots closer to you and takes your hand in his, playing with your fingers when he says, “work should never be an excuse for me treating you like crap. I’ve been bonafide fucking scrooge, spitting on tiny Tim and shit.”

“Am I tiny Tim in this scenario?”

“Nah. Jacob Marley, without a dou—“

“Shut up, ass!” You shove Nathan’s shoulder and you both laugh. He brings you in for a tight hug and pulls you down to his chest for a cuddle.

“You know what I did for Christmas last year?”

“What?” You finger the texture of his cream colored Henley.

“Promise you won’t tell?”

“I think it’s pretty clearly stated in that NDA that all your intellectual property remains a secret on penalty of death? or something equally dramatic?”

“I was here. Alone. didn’t even realize it was Christmas till I tried zooming Ted about something or other and saw everyone in the office was offline. When I put two and two together I left the lab, drank about a gallon of sake and Sapporo, watched ‘Its a Wonderful Life’, and… cried.”

“You did not.”

“I did.”

“Awww, Nate-y poooo, everytime a bell rings an Angel ge—“

You squeal when Nathan flips you over on the couch, hovering above you, he tickles your neck aggressively with his beard as he playfully peppers the underside of your chin with kisses.

“Penalty of death, remember?”

“Your tender side is safe with me, Ebenezer.”

Nathan looks into your eyes for a few beats. Really stares into them before glancing around the room at all the warm glowing decor.

“The place looks nice.”

You smile up at him, warm happy tears pricking at the corners of your eyes when you smooth your hand down his cheek and into his soft beard.

“Thanks.”

He continues to stare at you. You suspect there’s a secret vulnerable monologue going on in his head when he stares into your eyes. things he’ll probably never say, never admit, never profess. He’s like an iceberg this one. Most would disregard him as “cold” and move on. But you know better. Even if you can’t see it , you know the depth of him beneath it all.

“Merry Christmas” you whisper

“You filthy animal!” you both say at the same time, hugging each other in a fit of mild laughter.

“Oooh Home Alone. Let’s watch that one!”

“Sounds great.”

You grab the fuzzy blanket, prep the candied pecans, and watch the film; cuddled up all cozy with Nathan as snow falls silently outside the glass walls of your glowing little sanctuary.

[reiignonme]

STATISTICAL CHARACTER PARALLEL QUIZ.

take the linked quiz from the perspective of your muse(s), and share at least ten of your favorite results

PIPER HALLIWELL.

Holly Gennero-McClane (Die Hard): 91%

Lois Lane (Smallville): 89%

Nala (The Lion King): 88%

Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries): 88%

Iris West (The Flash): 88%

Deanna Troi (Star Trek: The Next Generation): 87%

Donna Paulsen (Suits): 87%

Bernadette Rostenkowski (The Big Bang Theory): 86%

Dr. Claire Browne (The Good Doctor): 86%

Kara Danvers (Supergirl): 86%

CAROL DANVERS.

Daisy 'Skye' Johnson (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.): 93%

Letty Ortiz (Fast & Furious): 92%

John Connor (Terminator 2: Judgement Day): 92%

Max Mayfield (Stranger Things): 92%

Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy): 91%

Robin Buckley (Stranger Things): 91%

Tris Prior (Divergent): 91%

Kate Austen (LOST): 90%

Lip Gallagher (Shameless): 90%

Arya Stark (Game of Thrones): 89%

TAGGED BY : @historiavn ( thank you <33 )

TAGGING : @innchanted / @acourtcfmuses / @illbringthechaosmagic / @bcbliophile / @w3atherwitch

[adamwatchesmovies]

Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

“How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?”

You’re right, John McClane, Die Hard 2 is improbable. When the results are this entertaining, who are we to complain? It’s got the hero we love back in full form, big action set pieces that’ll knock your socks off and a worthy adversary of a villain. It's a sequel that satisfies.

Two years after the incident at the Nakatomi Plaza, LA police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) is waiting for his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) to arrive at the airport. As her flight approaches, former U.S. Special Forces Colonel William Stuart (William Sadler) and his men hack into the airport’s traffic control system, take over all communication and hold the flights above hostage. They demand General Ramon Esperanza (Franco Nero), recently arrested and on his way to the United States, be delivered to them - or else.

I often see Die Hard listed as “the best Christmas movie”, which I'm almost certain is a gag answer. It’s not really about the spirit of the holidays; it’s merely set during the season. The same applies to this underrated sequel. McClane is back. This time, he feels less vulnerable than he did before but that’s ok. He’s once again out of his element and forced to use his wits to outgun and outmaneuver opponents who outnumber him about 12-to-1. Like before, his wife is being incidentally held hostage. Throughout the film, you’re always worried the villains will find out and that she’ll be used against our hero. You believe Stuart would sink that low. He’s as ruthless as he is good at the whole bad guy thing. The stakes feel even higher than they did last time. We’re not talking about a couple dozen hostages. It’s entire planes full of innocents who don’t even know they’re in danger.

The situation's intensity is cranked way up because of the villains’ plan. They’re not in the airport itself, but they have to be close. While navigating the corridors of red tape put up by the bewildered and panicked airport security, McClane has a mystery to solve. A mystery with a time limit. For now, the planes are circling above but their fuel won't last forever. The stakes and time limit keep the plot moving from one big action scene to the next. The stunts and special effects dwarf everything we saw previously. That’s the right way to go about it. If you can’t be as smart and tense as Die Hard, double-down on the spectacle. It adds up to the same results.

There’s just the right amount of one-liners and jokes to ease the tension before director Renny Harlin puts you through the wringer again. The side characters - played by Dennis Franz, John Amos, Art Evans - are memorable. Their little arcs add a lot of life to this twisty thriller. Just when you think McClane’s gotten a break, some new obstacle pops up. When he does manage to overcome one, the big set pieces will have you pumping your fists and cheering. You just hate those baddies so much that seeing them get riddled with holes, blown up or otherwise taken down makes it feel like a proper Christmas wish come true.

While you might raise an eyebrow at Die Hard 2 initially, in no time at all, it’ll have you nervously stuffing your face with popcorn, wondering how our hero will make it out of this dire situation alive. Here's an idea. In the same way that you should occasionally swap out Home Alone from your holiday roster with Home Alone 2 to keep things fresh, why not do the same with Die Hard and Die Hard 2? (On Blu-ray, February 7, 2020)

[frannyzooey]

but where is the hans gruber/holly mcclane fic

[sundaywithoutgod]

you ready to fight???? Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie 😌

I'm sorry your back hurts. You HAVE to hold this L for me, though.

The film follows John McClane as he works to rescue his wife/her workmates from Hans Gruber, the radical German terrorist, during CHRISTMAS EVE....during the company's CHRISTMAS PARTY. Santa makes a guest appearance, albeit in the form of a dead terrorist. John McClane's wife is named Holly (Have a Holly Jolly Christmas), not to mention the countless Christmas songs used in the film AND SO MUCH MORE.

So, you're mistaken LOL.

[fauvester]

trying to think which member of garashir is john mcclane and which is holly. both options are extremely good because neither are john mcclane macho men but either could conceivably take out a building full of terrorists