MovieChat Forums > Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) Discussion > Things that bug me(nitpicks, I guess)

Things that bug me(nitpicks, I guess)

posted 6 years ago by The LA Baker (971)
8 replies | jump to latest

In the subway, once the bomb had mixed, why did John leave the case open and stare at it instead of just closing it up and running?(very minor)
Also in the subway scene, why did Simon even bother calling the payphone? Not only is it made clear he had given them a task that was impossible in Simon's eyes, but the bomb was shown to be triggered by contact between the train wheel and the rail. That means Simon had no chance of stopping it even if they did show up. That makes the phone call even more bizarre, and further more, wouldn't that bomb trigger have to be placed on the rail between trains arriving and departing within the previous few minutes so a different train didn't trigger it?
Speaking of that phone call scene, what exactly was that cop doing? First of all, I'm quite sure cops don't pull their weapon out on unarmed men who simply jumped the subway turnstile. Second, what the heck was he doing? He just stands there pointing his gun at him saying "hands up!" but never calls for backup or attempts to cuff Zeus. It makes no sense.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) 6 years ago

Simon wanted Mclaine and Zeus to be blown up in the subway but John foresaw this and it didn't work. Also I am pretty sure he might think closing the case might cause it to go off sooner. I think the cop thought Zeus had planted a bomb.

[–] Sandman81 (1509) 6 years ago

Why would it matter if the case was open or shut? The bomb was going to do just as much damage either way. John was only concerned with getting people to the front of the train, while throwing the bomb out the back.

Simon called just in case John and Zeus actually made it there (he didn't think would though). Remember, revenge on John was just a distraction so the police wouldn't notice his intended target, the Gold Reserve. If they both made it to the phone on time, and Simon didn't call, then John would realize that something else was going on. By calling, Simon guaranteed 3 possible outcomes: 1) They don't make it in time, bomb detonates, everyone thinks it was part of the game. 2) They reach the phone on time, but don't follow all the rules, bomb detonates. 3) "Oh, you're both are there???!!!!! Ummmm ok. Simon says get on that train that is approaching right now. BOOM!!!!!

The Cop was probably just watching the station. And there might be some people who would disagree with your opinion that cops don't pull their guns on unarmed black men who have committed a minor non-violent offense.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) 6 years ago

The bomb was going to go off no matter what. If they both went to the train station as Simon said, John, Zeus, and everyone else in the train station would have died.

[–] The LA Baker (971) 6 years ago

Three replies and zero good points or rebuttals.
No one seems to have even read it all. "wouldn't that bomb trigger have to be placed on the rail between trains arriving and departing within the previous few minutes so a different train didn't trigger it?" was never even addressed.
This really is the new IMDB.

[–] Sandman81 (1509) 6 years ago

It wouldn't matter how many trains hit the trigger. If the liquids weren't mixed, then the bomb wouldn't detonate. The liquids mixed right before the train got to the station, which is exactly when Simon wanted it too. He probably had it timed out so that the train with the bomb would be the next one to hit the trigger.

[–] orangeflava (1858) 6 years ago

now that is a good answer

[–] bobbydallas (8515) 6 years ago

The only thing we know for certain is that bomb was meant to go off because it lead to the heist.

The cop looked like an uber-rookie so I believe he just didn't really know how to handle the Zeus situation..

[–] millsey72 (10244) 2 years ago

You should put spoilers in your headline