It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since the release of the now classic action movie “Die Hard”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the film during the years following its release. It uniquely captured the popular 80s action feel of the time while also paving some wonderful new ground in the genre. It also gave us some signature moments that I’m sure all of us remember. So to honor an action classic I’m looking at five phenomenal things about “Die Hard”. Now obviously with a movie this good and with such history it’s impossible to call this the definitive list. But no one will doubt that these five things about “Die Hard” are certainly phenomenal.

#5 – DWAYNE T. ROBINSON

It may seem like an odd inclusion, but I love Deputy Chief of Police Dwayne T. Robinson. This pompous, cocky, and often times incompetent officer was in charge of the scene at Nakatomi Plaza, at least until the “FBI guys” arrive. He was wonderfully played by the late Paul Gleason who in many ways was recapturing his role as Principal Vernon from “The Breakfast Club”. He gives us several hilarious lines and watching his stupidity being exposed by both the terrorists and John McClane is simply priceless.

#4 – THE JUMP FROM THE TOP

“Die Hard” is a film with one spectacular action sequence after another. Director John McTiernan is no stranger to action flicks and he has always known how to film a pulse-pounding scene. Such is the case with the great moment when John McClane jumps off the top of Nakatomi Plaza. With terrorists seconds away from blowing the roof and an FBI chopper mistaking him as a bad guy, McClane finds himself in a real pickle. Explosions, a falling chopper engulfed in flames, and a free jump with nothing but a fire hose to keep him from falling to his death all make up the amazing scene that follows. I love it!

#3 – BRUCE WILLIS: ACTION STAR

“Die Hard” is the film that catapulted Willis into super stardom an launched his career as a bonafide action movie star. In the 1980s that was a big deal. The genre was in its heyday and breaking into that scene wasn’t that easy. There were musclebound guys like Schwarzenegger and Stallone along with martial arts stars like Norris, Van Damme, and Seagal. But in “Die Hard” Bruce Willis showed us a more grounded action hero. Sure some of his stunts were spectacular, but he was just a regular guy. This is something that was symbolized in most of Willis’ action roles that followed. And it all started with John McClane.

#2 – HANS GRUBER: THE QUINTESSENTIAL TERRORIST

Throughout the years we’ve seen a number of terrorists on the big screen. Most are your cookie-cutter variety bad guys with similar motives and characteristics. I think that’s why Hans Gruber stands so far apart from the crowd. He’s suave, sophisticated, and he certainly doesn’t share the same motives as the others we’ve seen over and over again. But the biggest reason he works so well is Alan Rickman. Talk about a great performance. Rickman is mesmerizing as the highly intelligent terrorist ringleader who always seams one step ahead of everyone else. And that cool charisma he brings to the character is simply impossible to miss.

#1 – THE CONCEPT

There are so many wonderful things that contribute to “Die Hard” being such a fabulous action movie. But for me, I always come back to the concept itself. The entire terrorist takeover of a skyscraper idea has always stood out to me. Then throw in one lone “fly in the ointment” moving and battling from floor to floor and you have the concept for a truly remarkable film. And to prove the concept was genius, there have been tons of knockoffs throughout the years. Of course the concept ultimately proved to be strong by the finished result. “Die Hard” has gone on to become one of the most well known and well received action movies of the 1980s. And it’s a movie that will undoubtably be held in high regard for years to come.

So there are my 5 Phenomenal Things About “Die Hard”. I know you’ve seen the film. What do you agree or disagree with? I’d love to hear your thoughts and your favorite things about this great action picture.

It’s been waaay too long since I last did a Phenomenal 5 from my year-by-year series. It’s time to correct that. Several months ago I started at 1980 and now we have reached 1984. Talk about a HUGE year for movies! 1984 featured so many films that became pop culture classics. In fact, the strength of the year’s movies will best be realized by looking at the great flicks that didn’t make it on this list: “Ghostbusters”, “Sixteen Candles”, “The Terminator”, “Romancing the Stone”, “The Killing Fields”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, and “Top Secret!” just to name a few. Like I said, talk about a HUGE year for movies. So considering that, it would be foolish to call this the definitive list. But I have no problem calling these five movies from 1984 absolutely phenomenal.

#5 – “GREMLINS”

Was it a comedy? Was it a family film? Was it a horror picture? Well I guess you could call “Gremlins” a little of all. Regardless of what category you put it in one thing is for certain – it was a huge success and a fun, fun movie. Directed by Joe Dante and with Steven Spielberg serving as Executive Producer, “Gremlins” was a unique mix of several genres. It starred Zach Galligan as a young man who is given a strange pet from Chinatown called a Mogwai. The cute little creature is named Gizmo but he comes with three very, very important rules. Of course every rule is broken and soon the small town of Kingston Falls is overran with the vicious and violent offspring of the cute little Gizmo. The movie received a lot of criticism for its violence and it was a key reason for the PG-13 rating being implemented. But I loved it as a kid and I can easily say I still love it today.

#4 – “RED DAWN”

Look, I know some will immediately start rolling their eyes at this pick and I fully admit that nostalgia may play a huge role in its inclusion. But I love “Red Dawn” and I still think it holds up today. Many people dismiss it but I still remember how well it worked back in 1984. Today the political landscape has changed therefore many younger viewers may not have the same attachment. But I still find it a compelling story that does a good job of creating characters you care about and putting them into an impossible situation. Unlike the horrible remake, the original did a much better job developing the emotions and relationships between the kids as they hide in the mountains after an invasion of their home town. They aren’t military savvy or skilled at weaponry. They just want to live. And that’s a key dynamic that worked so well for me. A great movie from 1984.

#3 – “INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM”

I realize that a large number of people had problems with this movie. I’ll also give you that this is the weakest film of the original three. But I still really, really love “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”. It has been criticized for numerous things most notably its violence and its attempts to gross out the audience. These things (along with Gremlins) were used to lobby for the PG-13 rating that we have today. But there are so many great moments and memorable scenes. I absolutely love the opening in Shanghai and the bridge scene close to the end is one everybody knows. I could go on and on. The mine car chase sequence. The room full of spikes. Harrison Ford is a blast as Indy and his sidekick Short Round actually manages to be funny but not annoying. Lucas’ story and Speilberg’s direction gel nicely and even though there are a couple of speed bumps, overall it’s an unforgettable movie.

#2 – “THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY”

If you have not taken the time to see “The Gods Must Be Crazy” you are missing out on what I think is one of the funniest movies ever made. Yes that’s high praise but I think it’s well deserved. This South African comedy written and directed by Jamie Uys is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever watched before. The story is actually composed of three stories that all come together in the end. Xi is a Bushman from an isolated tribe on a journey to throw an evil “thing” off the end of the Earth (it’s a coke bottle). Andrew is a bumbling scientist studying animal behavior near the Kalahari Desert. Sam Boga leads a band of incompetent bandits who are on the run. But the real star is the sharp script from Uys as well as his quirky style of direction. It all works perfectly to form an insanely funny film that shouldn’t be missed.

#1 – “BLOOD SIMPLE”

The 1984 movie year is known for a lot of things. For me it will probably be most remembered as the year Joel and Ethan Coen made their directorial debut. The Coen brothers are two of my favorite directors and “Blood Simple” certainly launched them on the right foot. In fact, it’s impossible to watch “Blood Simple” and not recognize the familiar traits and undeniable style that would go on to be signatures of the brothers in their movies that followed. This twisting neo-noir tale changes direction on numerous occasions and it keeps you glued to the screen. A brilliant script (written by the brothers) anchors the film and some fine performances from Frances McDormand, Ray Getz, M. Emmet Walsh, and Dan Hedaya just make it better. There are lots of great movies from 1984. For me “Blood SImple” is the cake topper.

So there are my 5 Phenomenal Movies from 1984. I know many will have their own personal favorites. Please take time to share them in the comments below. If you agree or disagree with my choices, I would love to hear from you.

To start off, this isn’t an indictment on anyone’s height. In fact you can make a good case that there are a lot more men across the globe who are under 6’0 than over. So take this for what it is – a meaningless but fun Phenomenal 5. And it’s more about how Hollywood has framed them in their movies versus reality.

It’s funny, whenever this conversation pops up, Tom Cruise at 5’7 is often first mentioned. For that reason I’m leaving him off this list. Instead I’m looking at five other actors whose height may surprise you! Cruise may be the poster boy (and occasional punching bag) for shorter actors, but the five I’m listing are solid on screen and are known movie tough guys to boot. Now there are plenty of actors that fall into this category so this isn’t the definitive list. But these are five pretty phenomenal choices.

#5 – JASON STATHAM (5’9)

Jason Statham has steadily grown as an actor. And he’s probably the baddest buttkicker on this list. But it may surprise you to find that he’s shorter than some think standing at 5’9. But don’t let that fool you. Throughout his movie catalog, Statham has shown that height isn’t everything. In fact, I would call this martial arts guru one of the most charismatic and exciting action movie stars to come along in ages. He jumps, he kicks, he punches, he flips. And think about this – he does it all while only two inches taller than the singled out Mr. Cruise.

#4 – JEREMY RENNER (5’8)

Now I have heard a couple of references to Jeremy Renner’s height but overall it goes unnoticed. In fact, hearing that he’s only 5’8 may surprise some people especially considering the many tough roles he has taken on. He’s played a U.S. soldier teetering on the edge, a Marvel superhero, a tough as nails Boston criminal, and an on-the-run hitman. Yet you would never recognize his smaller size in any of his performances. Renner is someone who often flies under the radar, but I’m drawn to anything he’s in.

#3 – JAVIER BARDEM (5’11)

Perhaps my biggest surprise in putting this list together came when I found out that Javier Bardem is 5 foot and 11 inches tall. Again, that’s not what I would call “short”. But when you look at him on screen he’s usually depicted as a looming presence. In “No Country for Old Men” his creepy, brutal Anton Chigurh character came across as a large and menacing force. And in his role as a psychotic James Bond villain his smaller size is never hinted at. Who knew?

#2 – TOM HARDY (5’9)

Tom Hardy is one of my favorite current-day actors so his shorter size was well known to me. But some may not realize that the man who played the huge hulking DC Comics villain Bane is only 5’9. But his tough guy roles don’t stop there. He’s also played a hard-nosed Prohibition era bootlegger and a brutish mixed martial arts fighter. When Hardy bulks up for a role he really bulks up and his muscle mass does a lot to conceal his smaller frame. But the main thing to me is that he remains a phenomenal actor.

#1 – AL PACINO (5’6)

Al Pacino has been around long enough that his height may not surprise many. But he’s still a prime example of how a tough guy actor’s size can go completely unnoticed. And Al Pacino certainly qualifies as a tough guy. From mob boss to drug lord to police detective, Pacino has played each role with a realistic toughness that few others can bring. And regardless of the role, his stature is lost due to his fantastic performances and larger than life characters. So if you think about it, Cruise shares the same height with a true screen legend and an unquestionable tough guy. So maybe Tom isn’t so short after all.

So there they are. What do you think of the list? Do you know of another great actor who would fall into the “short” category? Please take time to share your comments below.

Okay, let me get this out of the way. I am a huge Star Wars geek. I grew up as a kid loving the movies. I saw them in the theater. I had the action figures, vehicles, storybooks, blasters, etc. etc. etc. Star Wars played a HUGE role in my childhood and over the years my love for it hasn’t waned. Heck, I even like episode 1 thru 3 although I fully acknowledge their inferiority to the originals. So I’m going to let my inner geek out and start sprinkling in a few Star Wars related Phenomenal 5 lists starting with the super cool villains. Star Wars has a number of great villains so I’m listing five of the coolest. Now obviously Darth Vader would top any list so I’m leaving him out. There are still many great ones in the Star Wars universe so I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But I think you’ll agree that these five Star Wars villains are nothing short of phenomenal.

#5 – TUSKEN RAIDERS (Sand People)

I just can’t help it. I’ve always loved the Sand People. These nomadic desert savages live in the wastelands of Tatooine and will attack anyone. Armed with clubs, longshot rifles, and a distinct honking cry, the Tusken Raiders first appear in the original Star Wars when they attack Luke Skywalker. They get a brief but awesome cameo in Episode 1 as they shoot at passing pod racers. But perhaps their biggest contribution was in Episode 2 where by capturing and torturing Anakin’s mother they set the young Jedi into a rage – our first real sense of the darkness inside of him. Sure the Tusken Raiders aren’t big players in the Star Wars universe but I still love them.

#4 – CHANCELLOR PALPATINE (The Emperor)

Star Wars was known for a lot of things but brilliant acting was usually not what people thought of first. But there were those performances that always stood out to me. One is the work of Ian McDiarmid is the manipulative and conniving Palpatine who gains political power, triggers a war, and forms the galactic empire which he rules as the evil Emperor. But the root of who he is was shrouded in deception. While posing as a politician he hides his true identity as a Sith Lord with evil intentions guiding him. In the first three episodes we watch Palpatine’s rise to power and see how he became the pale, scarred Emperor. But his most memorable moments will always be in “Return of the Jedi”. He’s devious, arrogant, and powerful. He also has to be on any list like this.

#3 – STORMTROOPERS

I want you to notice that I chose Stormtroopers and not Clone Troopers. Now don’t misunderstand me, I have no problems with the Clone Troopers of Episodes 2 and 3. But they can’t hold a candle to the greatness of the classic Stormtroopers from the original trilogy. At risk of exposing how much of a Star Wars geek I am, I grew up as a kid wishing I had a set of Stormtrooper armor. I thought they were so cool. The bright white color, the full body armor, the super cool helmets. There was never a certain Stormtrooper that stood out or that had a significant role. They were simply soldiers of the Empire but they were ever so distinctive. There were Snowtroopers, Tie-Fighter Pilots, and Biker Scouts and they were all great. But it’s the classic Stormtroopers that still bring a smile to my face to this very day.

#2 – BOBA FETT

You have no idea how hard it was to put Boba Fett at #2 on this list. I absolutely love this character. Young Boba appears in Episode 2 but it’s in “The Empire Strikes Back” where he really leaves his mark. We first see him along with a group of fellow bounty hunters hired to find Luke Skywalker and his friends. We find out he’s also been hired by Jabba the Hutt to capture Han Solo. He tracks them to Cloud City and eventually takes the carbon frozen Solo away to Tatooine and his bounty. That takes us to “Return of the Jedi” and the showdown in that fabulous opening sequence. Sadly Boba Fett doesn’t last long in the final film but in that short time he is awesome. I’m still not crazy about young Boba and his angle, but grown up Boba will always be super cool to me.

#1 – DARTH MAUL

It would take someone extremely cool to knock Boba Fett out of the top spot on this list. Darth Maul was extremely cool. Appearing in only one film, Darth Maul was hands down the best thing about Episode 1. We first see the shrouded Sith apprentice in action during a brief failed attempt to capture Princess Padme. But the real showcase comes at the film’s end when Darth Maul throws down with Jedi Master Qui-Gin Jinn and apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. The fight is spectacular – beautifully choreographed and intense all while John Williams’ brilliant “Duel of Fates” plays in the background. The great movie martial artist Ray Park played Darth Maul which is a key reason the showdown is so incredible. With a menacing look, a double-bladed lightsaber, and a butt-kicking fighting style, Darth Maul stole every scene he was in and in a short time was forever etched in Star Wars history as a truly great villain.

So there they are. What are your thoughts? Are you a Star Wars fan? Agree or disagree with my choices? I’d love to hear who would’ve made your list. Please take time to share your thoughts below.

I grew up on the 1980’s action genre and admittingly I still love many of those films. So in honor of these cheesfests I so adore, this week I’m listing 5 Phenomenal tough guy one-liners. Now on the surface that probably looks pretty easy, but it didn’t take long before the one-liners started stacking up. So I put the emphasis on “TOUGH GUY”. There’s a lot of great movie one-liners but this list is restricted to those sometimes cheesy but always memorable action movie one-liners that were a staple of so many films. As always, I wouldn’t call this the definitive list, but there’s no denying that these movie tough guy one-liners are absolutely phenomenal.

#5 – “YOU’RE A DISEASE, AND I’M THE CURE” – MARION COBRETTI (“COBRA”)

Sylvester Stallone’s 1986 cheese-fest “Cobra” is a guilty pleasure of mine. In many ways it epitomized what the 80’s action genre was all about. It had the tough-as-nails hero, over-the-top action sequences, and plenty of corny but fun dialogue. In the opening scene, Cobretti (aka “The Cobra”) is called in to take care of a lunatic who has taken hostages inside a supermarket. The two have a standoff inside where the maniac rambles on about how he is a new world hunter. The Cobra simply replies “You’re a disease, and I’m the cure”. He follows that by wiping the guy out in typical 80’s tough guy fashion. Sure it was cheesy, but even today I still get a kick out of it.

#4 – “I’M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY” – DOC HOLLIDAY (“TOMBSTONE”)

One of the best things about 1993’s “Tombstone” was Val Kilmer’s performance as Doc Holliday. Since then Kilmer has fallen off the map but looking back he had several memorable roles including this one. In this particular scene a drunken Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) is stumbling through the streets of Tombstone when he comes across Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and his brothers. Ringo decides to pick a fight with the Earps. After Wyatt turns down his challenge, Doc steps off the porch and utters the memorable line “I’m your huckleberry”. Ringo’s gang rushes in to lead him away which certainly shows that Doc qualifies as a tough guy. Kilmer’s huckleberry line is simply unforgettable.

#3 – “LAUGH IT UP FUZZBALL” – HAN SOLO (“THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK”)

Ok sure, Han Solo had a soft side. But he was also the quintessential tough guy. The one-time smuggler became an important part of the rebellion but he never fully shed his tough guy personality. After rescuing Luke on the ice planet Hoth, Han and Chewbacca drop by the medical ward to check on him. Also there is Princess Leia and Han immediately begins to give her a hard time. Leia fires right back at Han causing Chewie to let out a hearty laugh. Han gives his furry friend a look and utters the great line “Laugh it up Fuzzball”. Obviously this one is quite different than the other one-liners on this list, but it’s a tough guy line nonetheless and I still love to this day.

#2 – “HASTA LA VISTA, BABY” – THE TERMINATOR (“TERMINATOR 2”)

You could do an entire list of great Arnold Schwarzenegger one-liners. In almost every film of his you could expect an assortment on them. So for the sake of variety I chose one Schwarzenegger one-liner. It was hard to leave off classic cheese such as “I’ll be back” from the first Terminator film, “Stick around” from “Predator”, and “Let off some steam Bennett” from “Commando”. Instead, I chose a one-liner that is a classic in every sense of the word. After being chased, shot at, and beaten up by a newer Terminator model, Arnie finally gets the upper hand, pulls out his pistol, and says the now famous line “Hasta la vista, baby” before shattering the frozen T-1000 into pieces. It’s the perfect mix of toughness, humor, and cheese and it’s a line that almost everyone immediately recognizes. How could it not be on this list?

#1 – “GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY” – HARRY CALLAHAN (“SUDDEN IMPACT”)

Could any other tough guy one-liner honestly top this one? It’s a Clint Eastwood line that people know and recognizes even if they’ve never seen the movie. Just as he does each morning, San Francisco police detective Harry Callahan grabs a newspaper and walks into his favorite cafe for a cup of coffee. He leaves, takes a sip of his coffee and finds it to be loaded with sugar. This tips him off that something is wrong. The cafe is actually being held up for several armed gunman. Harry comes in the back way with his buddies Smith and Wesson (aka his .44 magnum) and takes care of business. The one surviving robber grabs a hostage and tries to escape. Harry meets him at the door, points his .44 at his face, gives him the Clint squint, and utters the famous line “Go ahead, make my day”. Classic! Eastwood delivered several memorable movie lines especially with his Dirty Harry character. But when it comes down to it, this is the one that will always stand out.

Like my list? Dislike my list? See a one-liner that I left out? Disagree with one I included? What’s you’re favorite tough-guy one-liner? Please leave a comment or share your own favorites below.