Great films are often the result of an evolution in narratives and storytelling. Die Hard and Speed were refreshing representations of a new wave in action films. Containerized environments, lovable and relatable action stars, and touches of comedy. Kyle, Drew, and Phil didn’t let this podcast go below 50 MPH.
SPEED
FIlm Summary: Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) angers retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) by foiling his attempt at taking hostages. In revenge, Payne arms a bus with a bomb that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of spunky passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock), Jack and his partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) try to save the people on the bus before the bomb goes off, while also trying to figure out how Payne is monitoring them.
Rating:
R (Violence|Language)
Genre:
Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language:
English
Director:
Jan de Bont
Producer:
Mark Gordon
Writer:
Graham Yost
Release Date (Theaters):
Jun 10, 1994 Wide
Release Date (Streaming):
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA):
$121.2M
Info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/speed_1994)
DIE HARD
FIlm Summary: New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there's no one to save the hostages -- but him.
Rating:
R
Genre:
Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language:
English
Director:
John McTiernan
Producer:
Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver
Writer:
Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Release Date (Theaters):
Jul 15, 1988 Wide
Release Date (Streaming):
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA):
$81.0M
Info Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/die_hard)