MovieChat Forums > Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Discussion > Too similar to Die Hard?

Too similar to Die Hard?

posted 10 years ago by DonVito25
12 replies | jump to latest

There are countless parallels to the original Die Hard.
Terrorists take control of a building, take numerous hostages, try to obtain codes, their true intentions are unknown. A lonely not-supposed-to-be-there smooth-talking renegade hero who single handedly takes down most of the terrorists, knows one of the hostages personally and is in constant radio contact with both the terrorists and the officials on the outside. The diversions, the way the terrorists have a secret powerful weapon to deal with the navy seals / swat, the traitor etc...
Sure, you could call it a homage and admittedly it's an entertaining flick.
Still, do you think it is too similar to the classic?

[–] cr69-192-994706 10 years ago

Whilst it does admittedly have a great number of similarities I think that they are two extremely different beasts. Die Hard is a classic. Olympus Has Fallen is a classic (piece of *beep* - but I LOVE this film). Whilst Rick Yune is a wonderful baddie he could never hope to top the pure evil and brilliance of Alan Rickman. Similarly whilst I adore Gerard Butler's manly sweating he can't come close to Brucie's action man heroics. Also as great an actress as she is Radha Mitchell is nowhere near as emotionally affecting as Bonnie Bedelia.

[–] christiannyblom 10 years ago

Can something ever be too similar to Die Hard? I think not. ;)

[–] manbat33 10 years ago

The part where Banning realizes his friend knewthe bad hguy's name is reminiscent to when McClane realized Hans was faking it.

And when Banning is talking to his wife on the phone, felt like the monologue McClane gave to Powell about his wife.

I see tge similarities too, doesnt mean its a bad thing.

[–] goldenskies 9 years ago

This movie so completely like Die Hard but the part Banning has the conversation with the McDermott, it really made it obvious. Though they had the woman walk on the glass instead.

[–] simian_ninja 10 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg_5UYggefU

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Death is the standard breach for a complex prize.

[–] JaySherman7 9 years ago

there are many action movies that are referred to as "Die Hard on a (insert setting)". plane, boat, bus, etc. hell, that expression used to be a great marketing tool. the premise is not precious. One big difference between Die Hard and this, and may other imitators (Under Siege, Passenger 57), is that John McLane was an everyman, a reluctant hero, thrown into an extraordinary situation. he didn't have the training, skills, or means to tackle the villains. he didn't even have shoes! he was not an elite soldier like the heroes in many of the aforementioned movies and IMO that is what separates Die Hard from the rest and changed the way we viewed action heroes. they didn't have to be muscle-bound soldiers, or kung fu experts anymore. they could even have receding hairlines now

No way Bells is bigger than Waimea, bro.

[–] heelmaster2000 9 years ago

It was very similar, but so are dozens of action films over the past two decades. This just happened to be one of the better made ones.

[–] Darvidd 9 years ago

Much. much closer to 'Under Siege' in terms of the stakes involved and many of the situations, but this is such a dumb film that just gets more illogical as goes along, brain meltingly so. Also John Mc could hardly be described as an ordinary Joe, given he was a NYPD detective of great experience and skills.

"What is an Oprah?"-Teal'c.

[–] ibbi 9 years ago

Yes. Too similar, and yet inferior in every department.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-21AtiWV3TE

[–] brain_red 9 years ago

it's die hard meets air force one.

[–] batbhai 8 years ago

That too came in my mind. It was like Die Hard meets Commando!