For those of you concentrating, it may have been obvious from the very beginning. I'm tempted to use the excuse that I was giving the film chance, in reality I was just enjoying myself. When you get 30 to 40 minutes into the film however, if you hadn't already made the Die Hard connection, you get a big fat 'I'm just Die Hard set in the White House' slap in the face.
**If you haven't seen the film yet, spoilers lay ahead**
Let me set the scene for you.
A techno-geek by the name of Tyler is brought into the White House secure bunker by the bad guys. Here he proceeds to get himself set up, opening up laptops, logging into systems, laying out a cup holding several lollipops (one of which he unwraps and puts into his mouth). All the while getting giddy with excitement, much like a kid at Christmas. A triumphant crescendo of well known classical music (when I say well known, I mean that I recognised it but couldn't tell you the name) volumes up in the background.
Ladies and Gentleman, I give you...
Hopefully for those of you who have now seen Die Hard in the White House, you will know which seen I am relating this to.
Even though the Die Hard link has now been made in my mind, my enjoyment of the film has not been diminished at all. I am, however, now entering into a game of which White House Down character relates to which Die Hard character. I came up with the following:
Let's get the most obvious one out of the way first. Where would Die Hard be
without a variant shade of white vest clad Bruce Willis?
White House Down comes complete with Channing Tatum. Don't worry,
although he starts off looking dapper in a suit. He soon discards this for every
heroes favourite, the white vest. What better way to single handedly take on a
group of highly trained paramilitary types?!
Next up we have our vision of Aryan perfection, fan favourite Karl. His failed attempts
at killing McClane frequently reduced him to a gun toting rage. Impervious to pain,
practically indestructible.
Our White House Down replica is Jason Clarke's 'Stenz'. Equally tough, equally angry.
The only thing we're missing is a final hurrah whereby Stenz rises from the rubble of
the White House in one final attempt to kill Cale.
That brings us to Sgt. Al Powell, whose final act is to overcome his fear of firing his gun.
Thereby saving McClane and finally killing Karl. His plucky, witting, and sometimes
heartfelt radio chatter keeps our hero going through some of his more difficult moments.
White House Down sees Sgt. Powell replaced by the glamorous Finnerty, played by Maggie
Gyllenhaal. And whilst a radio is replaced by a satellite phone, you can expect the same
plucky, witty and sometimes heartfelt chatter.
Holly Gennero McClane, hostage who is then discovered to be our heroes significant
other. Then dutifully used as bait to draw McClane into a trap. Holly and John have a
frosty relationship at the beginning of the film to say the least. But the events at Nakatomi
Plaza bring them back together.
....Surely you're starting to get the picture by now?!
Don't worry it doesn't stop there. Die Hard's antagonist Hans Gruber, is replaced in White House Down by James Woods' Walker. The villainous techno geek Theo seen in the video clip above is replaced by Tyler. I'd even go as far as to say that limo driver Argyle...
(you know, the guy who spends all his time with the teddy bear?)
...is re imagined as Donnie the Guide.
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I loved Die Hard. So they could do far worse than to flatter such a great film.
They'll be no Oscars, but you'll enjoy it.
