Ah, man, this is timely because I literally just watched Die Hard about an hour ago for the first time in like a decade and it was really fun but I finished thinking “Everyone in that movie is terrible.” Not to mention many aspects, like a pregnant woman being encouraged to drink, just screamed 1980’s. So, I was really looking forward to a Marxist analysis tearing it apart.
But I have to disagree with the author. Hans & co. aren’t Communists. I say this because I initially thought they were too and thought it was based but the movie points out they were just “exceptional thieves”. At least it seemed pretty clear to me that they were affiliated with some political West German group, no doubt supposed to be a nod to the RAF, but Hans at least was kicked out of the group—maybe because of his lack of ideology or actual desires to just get rich. We should all know Parties and groups attract these types of opportunists all the time and they’re (ideally) kicked out all the time too, no one would say those opportunists were also true believer communists. His demands to the LAPD/FBI about “comrades” being released from prisons all over the world was just a ploy to buy time and mask real intentions, he clearly doesn’t give a fuck about politics even though he’s knowledgeable about it. He even derisively explains to someone that he just read in “Time” about the members of Asian Dawn he demanded to be released, like he just stumbled upon that struggle unintentionally and just decided to throw them in with the demands for the fuck of it. What kind of a Comrade would first hear about struggles from fucking Time magazine? I’m guessing Hans & co. used their political connections to get weapons and then went rogue for their own gain. They aren’t Communists, they are just after money—several characters mention this explicitly when it becomes clear all they wanted was just money.
Anyway, the movie is clearly a reactionary gem but I don’t think it’s nearly as anti-Communist as this writer interpreted it to be. Otherwise I agree there was constantly a ton of shit at every turn. That cop admitting he killed a child playing with a toy and then McClane comforts him like he’s the victim, fucker should be in prison not doing desk pig duty. Jesus. Still enjoyed it though.
Well said. Just watched it last night for the first time in at least a decade, too, so it was practically brand new for me. Don’t have anything to add to or take away from your analysis.
Ah, man, this is timely because I literally just watched Die Hard about an hour ago for the first time in like a decade and it was really fun but I finished thinking “Everyone in that movie is terrible.” Not to mention many aspects, like a pregnant woman being encouraged to drink, just screamed 1980’s. So, I was really looking forward to a Marxist analysis tearing it apart.
But I have to disagree with the author. Hans & co. aren’t Communists. I say this because I initially thought they were too and thought it was based but the movie points out they were just “exceptional thieves”. At least it seemed pretty clear to me that they were affiliated with some political West German group, no doubt supposed to be a nod to the RAF, but Hans at least was kicked out of the group—maybe because of his lack of ideology or actual desires to just get rich. We should all know Parties and groups attract these types of opportunists all the time and they’re (ideally) kicked out all the time too, no one would say those opportunists were also true believer communists. His demands to the LAPD/FBI about “comrades” being released from prisons all over the world was just a ploy to buy time and mask real intentions, he clearly doesn’t give a fuck about politics even though he’s knowledgeable about it. He even derisively explains to someone that he just read in “Time” about the members of Asian Dawn he demanded to be released, like he just stumbled upon that struggle unintentionally and just decided to throw them in with the demands for the fuck of it. What kind of a Comrade would first hear about struggles from fucking Time magazine? I’m guessing Hans & co. used their political connections to get weapons and then went rogue for their own gain. They aren’t Communists, they are just after money—several characters mention this explicitly when it becomes clear all they wanted was just money.
Anyway, the movie is clearly a reactionary gem but I don’t think it’s nearly as anti-Communist as this writer interpreted it to be. Otherwise I agree there was constantly a ton of shit at every turn. That cop admitting he killed a child playing with a toy and then McClane comforts him like he’s the victim, fucker should be in prison not doing desk pig duty. Jesus. Still enjoyed it though.
Well said. Just watched it last night for the first time in at least a decade, too, so it was practically brand new for me. Don’t have anything to add to or take away from your analysis.