Final Thoughts and Next Week

The year is nineteen ninety. J once regular normal Christmas Egna This tree ittle turkey No, I had to crawl around this mother fucking tin can. The movie Die hard too Hey everybody, Wlcome to Unspooled. I amm Paul Sheere, and this is a podcast about good movies, critical hits, fan favorites, Mussies, and in casey Missems. Normally I am joined by my co host, LA Times film critic, Amy Nichkolson to talk about the films that people consider the best ever made. But while she is away in can, we are leaving our best of lists and focusing on one person's list, O person's favorite underappreciated classic or left of center favorite, a film entially doesn't get enough love. This is Diller's Choice, a series where our guests get to choose what movie they need to talk about And anything goes and today we are talking about Die hardard two Let me give you a little context here. The year is nineteen ninety, twentih century Fox is looking to capitalize on the massive unexpected success of Dyard and they want to do it. in a big way, right? The original film which we did on the show a few Christmas ago, directed by John McTurnnan is this tight contained thriller set in Los Angeles, and it blends vulnerability, humor and brutality, and it makes it an instantly iconic film So the question becomes, how do you follow that up without just repeating it? And the answer comes from an unlikely place, a novel called Fty eightight Minutes by Walter Wager, which is a sequel to another book adapted into a Frank Sinatra movie, which if you don't remember, Diehard was also a Frank Sinatra film. Now, the script is reworked to center on John McLan slightly more seasonons, still very irritated New York cop who finds himself in another contained nightmare this time at Dullas International Airport on Christmas Eve. Now instead of one building, it's an entire airport locked down by terrorists who seize control of the air traffic control systems, trapping planes in the sky with dwindling fuel. The director this time is Rennie Haran, a Finnish filmmaker coming off a nightmare on Elm Street four He brings a much slicker, more explosive, and much more stylized sensibility than McTiernan's grounded approach Bruce Willis returns now with a lot more leverage. His salary jumps to about seven point five million, one of the highest at the time. signaling his arrival as a full blown action star. Bonnie Badelia is back is Holly McLan. though now she is physically separated from John for most of the film, Stuck circling above the chaos in one of those planes. The villains are led by Colonel Stewart, played by William Sadler, a colder, more militaristic antagonist compared to Hans Gruber's. Theatrical elegance, and there's a roogues gallery of character actors. Oh my go, I love these people. John Amos as a no nonsense Army major, Dennis Franz as the airport police chief, Fred Thompson as the air traffic control boss, and William Atherton returning as a SARmy reporter, Richard Dick Thornberg. The movie leans harder into scale, bigger explosions, more bodies, more chaos And it famously includes a sequence where an entire plane crashes in flames. Diehard two is released on july fourth weekend, nineteen ninety positioning it as a quintessential summer blockbuster rather than a sleeper hit like the original is a major box office success, making around two hundred forty million dollars worldwide, proving that John McCan isn't a one time thing. He is now a franchise. You're the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time and that simply becomes a genre shorthand, a pitch format that will echo through the entire decade Now, who is taking us to Washington, Dulles International Airport? This is a great one. He is one of the members of the Lonely Island. He is a writer, He is a director. He co directed Popstar, which is celebrating its ten year anniversary. He is the director of McGruber and Knuckles He has a podcast called The Lonely Island Seth Myers podcast, which is One of my favorite podcasts. His brand new film with Samara Weaving and Jason Siegel over Your deead body is on VOD right now Please welcome your Metaconi Yorma. ye. It' good to see hear you see you. Yorma, I'm so excited to talk about Die Hard with you, but I gott to ask you gave a list of three films. We did two of the three how does Die Hard two get on your your top three list? because I it was a surprise and a pleasant one at that Well, I can't even remember my other two films. it was Peeewe's Big Aventure and Shawhank. Yeah, show exact ye Yeah, yeah, wow, there. Yeah I'm a presty to Sawshank. That's very exciting. And I figured you no one would pick Dieard two was the real reason. I honestly gave you one that I figured that was just gonna be a shoe in U and you picked it. Now I love the film honestly. and it's one of those those films that I feel like people just because, you know, it's very easy to dump on a sequel. and I feel like it's very rare that like that a sequel executes as well as the original. I know that's going to be shocking and horrifying for most people to hear, but I feel like this is It's as you said, it's a heighten. Yeah, like there's more buys, there's more like, you know, but like it has all of the things that the original does and then they tweak things character wise, like just like in terms of the baddies, like all that like some of the deaths are like just as interesting as the first ones, you know, Iicle in the eye, being one of the major rememorable ones. But now like I just think it's an impressive bit of filmmaking and writing because You know, when we were making fucking Mother lover, sequel of Dick and Bar Yeah, a very easy comparison to an entire feature film. But it's always a scary thing to do to like follow something up that people like. And I think that this was an incredibly well executed film and on all counts Study and play Come together on a Windows eleven PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the unreal college deal, everything you need to study and play with select Windows eleven PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft three hundred sixty five premium, and a year of Xbox GamePass ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller ear more at windows d. com slash student offer. 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Visit neutrifful. com and enter promo code unspooled for ten dollars off your first month' subscription and free shipping Find out why Neutrifful is the best selling hair growth supplement brand at neutifal d. com that is spelled N U T R a F O l. com promo code unspooled That's neutifful. com promo code unspooled O school. kid I thought this is a better movie than the original Die Hard. I was like, this is just bigger, it's cooler. Like it just did you actually though? Did you actually? Yes, because it was It just felt like I was a Beverly Hills cop two is better than one. you know, I was I was the audience for this. I was like I was like, yeah, it's bigger like those movies they're talking too much. It has to do with your age though, too. R because I probably saw Die Hard. you know, it's like if you jump to like being able to see something in the theater, which I didn't, but like but I think that having seen Die H And then being so excited to be able to like sneak and watch this with friends when I wasn't supposed to do sort of thing. And you know like it's the first time. whenever it's the first time of like, I like something, I'm so proud that I like something that says something about me, die hard being that for every single dudear of this generation And then to like ingest this one to be like, holy shit it executed. I fucking like, you know, like I think that's the reason right? Yeah, and I think it's also like it's funny because you look back and now we're so into sequels and Diehard felt like, oh, I don't know how you do that again. or you're not expecting that movie to be a sequel, right? And so to get these characters back and see like I love Bonnie Badelia. I was like, oh, she's back and they really kind of great as far as like dipping back into like Al Powell. L he calls him on the phone just for a little moment and he's like, o yes, I'm seeing all my friends back together. And I think twy reference in there. Yeah yeah And it's like And there's so many like really funny little moments in this movie where they're all carrying this baggage of the first film. like I love that like they hate Richard Thornberg who happens to also be on this flight with McLan's wife and they have a restraining order against him it's like there's just a lot of like little things in this movie that I think it goes back to the well like the way that you're supposed to in a sequel, but doesn't overstay itss welcome. and everybody comes into play in a really smmart way, it doesn't feel like excess No, no, no, no. I mean and it has the thing that I think a lot of really good action movies, but honestly just big you know blockbuster movies have where the it's super concise. So each scene furthers the movie. There's always a bit of new information or a new kill. so he's like slowly, you know making progress offing the baddies as he goes There's twists. The twist of John Amos is like really great. It's really good. you do that for the first time because playay it so You're not in on it and he and he's a real good adversary to John McClean, like everybody else. and it's When when he slices that guy's throat in the back of the truck, I remember just being like, whoa and because he is a good guy. like you know him as a good guy. It was great They do a really good job of people always being irritated with John McLan. Like he still when you first like they first helicopter in, he's irritated that like like McLan's a piss ant, but he respects him R Like like there's is a really good red herring with that And then and then they do they further the red herring with him talking to Fred U Hon Thompson, thank you like right after that saying like, did things just get better, they get worse. L and you're like, o shit, like like he doesn't trust anybody anymore, which is like, oh, okay, well, he's clearly wrong. This guy's like But like it's just there's so much good execution in this movie. It's very impressive. It really and and it's lean too, even though it's like it's There's so much going on. It doesn't feel I know it's contained in the airport, but he has a lot of motion in this movie. likeike there they really kind of dig out all these spaces. It doesn't feel claustrophobic, but I feel like It was a really smart way to expand. It feels very much like aliens to me versus alien, right? Like they they are working on the same frequency to a certain degree What is the book that this was based on that you like started the pro It was was called fifty eight Minutes. Now as a kid, I loved Diard an older kid. and I read this book fifty eight minutes. No you did Yeah, really. No, I was because I wanted to like into the world of Die Hard so much. I read both books. The first book for Die Hard was written by this author Brodrick Thorpe. and it's that's nothing lasts forever. Yes. And so I read that so I read minutes. but they're very They're not Oh fififty eight minutes definitely not like this at all, but they were just so fun to read because, I'm getting I'm getting some inside scoop, even though they're not stories about John McCain in any way. It's just like You know, a Dime store paperback kind of action book. You guys I assume you talked in depth on the Die Hart episode about that book and how sad it is. Oh yes. I mean like. It's a very like It's funny because I remember, again, growing up, like those are the books that you would kind of like just see on this like this little paperback stand. you grab them and you never knew what you were going to get My grandmother once took a book away from me because I was reading it and I was in the back of the car and I go, what's a blow job? And she's like, What are you read? It was like' like this guy like Mac Boland was getting a blow job on page five. And I was like, wow. did what did you think after she told you? Well then she She's like, I'll show you some videos. But I just remember like getting a book taken away and I' like I't like I get that Mac Bolen book again, but it was like's so funny that for a long time People were writing like John Wick novels. L that's basically it. It was these guys who fight and fuck and drink you know kill her. I only got albums taken away. I got my fat Bys album taken away because I got my poison album taken away and my LL CoolJ album taken away. Okay, so what song The Fat Boys one was a song called Between the Sheets And my mom took She took the album, she like very kindly., she reedited it. so she removed all the songs and gave me a tape back with like a censored version, a mom censored version of the album. That My dad used to do that for movies. My dad would edit out Nudity. so I would be able to like watch Beverly Hills cop. but for the longest time, I never knew there was like a strip club scene in there, ' my dad just was like Dual VCRs. Oh my God. Dude your life was cinema Paradiso. So at the end your dad you found all the deleted scenes. just like really beautiful. It was My mom was not as good. We became born again Christian for a little bit. and so there was a list of just What Re? Y, yeah. we were like wow. My mom was like speaking in tongues and we were going Oh yes. Yeah and we were getting we were going to long church ceremonies. It felt like church was like all weekend long and My mom's getting dunked in a tank and you know, there's a lot of shit I kept like just as soon as you mentioned it, I was like, this is good improv. but you know, he's not he's not fucking around you guys No no, I was we were we were there and but yeah, so I think LL CoolJ might have just been on the list, but I think the song Candy might have been the song. It was is like a sexual song. My mom's like, what is this? And my mom would have a very dramatic way of destroying my things. It was like the record album of Poison was broken over her knee and the LL CoolJ tape was broken in half. couldnt Retrieve it from the trash. dude. Yeah That's like exactly what poison wanted. They were like, Ohh, yeah. Fuck devil! The devil's in this record. Where're so cool! Where' the best? I'm surprised you didn't think like if she broke the vinyl that the devil might come out of it. Well, I mean, that's that and that's the whole They want you to break it so the devil comes out and and haunts your house. againg like that Bask the backward masking thing where you're like you play like Led Zeppelin you wouldd be like, we worship the devil. Like Do you remember that? L Yeah it was like it was like didid your mom try that? She did. We did that in that, but that was more of like a party trick. She's like, let's try it. And then this is after she got over the boran. Yeah My mom will play with the devil, but she won't let me listen to deevil. It is veryy surprising, Paul. I did not know. Yes. When we were shooting the Wolves scene in Popstar. We didn't talk about that. Let me tell you. I told the Storte recently A I made a slight parental mistake, which is my kids love comedy. We talked about this a while ago. My kids love Hot Rod, they love Popstar. They you know where this is going,. Yeah, so we've watched Popstar now Dozens, dozens of times. and And I'm like, you know what? I think they can watch Mcruber And And I don' And I had they are ten and twelve. and I hadn't seen a Grouber in a while. And I just like, well, I know it's super funny, but I was like, I knew it wasn't appropriate before But we're watching a lot of SNO and I'm like, they can handle it And of course, it's very, very dirty. and I'm like and then I'm like in this zone where I'm like, what do I do? Do I I'm fast forwarding moments, you know, ten second skips and stuff. But I just like if I make too much of a deal out of it, then it will feel like I took it away Anyway, long story short They are obsessed with McGrouuper. We watch that And then we watch the peacock series right after that And you know, I think that you are such an amazing director And I think they're nice Just watching McGrrouuber and then watching this I was also like, Beause you you direct And I think with your newest movie too, like you just, you are hell of a director. like it looks good. I think a lot of people talk about like, oh, things don't look good anymore and the lighting is bad and this like you actually shoot these things that really just pop and I was thinking a lot about the McGrubber TV series because there's a lot of warehouses in it And there' and this in Dieards a lot of like there are a lot of like he's, I don't know, always run into places where a lot of steam is coming out. Like this airport is run on steam.e the scene in the hallway where you introduce the Baddies in Diehard to, how I hope everyone appreciates my English baddies reference. but as they're going into the hallway You're like, the fucking hotel's on fire. Yes, like there is so much atmosphere there. It's the same as like the first like I think it's the first lethal weapon that youre like meet in a parking garage and you're like it's an open air parking you're like, hell fuck? This whole building's on fire. They need to get the fuck out.sike so much smoke, so much like everything Everything was either ice cold or just steaming hot in those movies. because it's like the moment we made McGruber, like Branda Trost, my my buddy who shot that who's now he's shot he's shot fucking amazing shit. Yeah, I'm sure you've worked with him many times, but like he worked with Seth and Evan, a shitl' just came off of the last two Sonic movies. And he was like Everything outside is a wet down, everythingthing inside is smoked out. And I'm like, yeah, that's exactly like, you know like the moment we started talking about, actually die Hard was a big reference for us for Dieard.ike I mean, you like when we were making McGimur, we were referencing things like Commando, Die Hard. There's actually like so a couple little fun facts about McGimber, the binoculars that when they're looking at the end, like they they're scubing out the compound That is a shot from Commando. I literally like freeze framed on Commando and recreated the binoculars in Photoshop for that like for that moment. And then the in the very beginning in the when the credits are going the bomb, there's a bunch of C four that McGruber is putting a little pin in. He takes out his gum, he sticks it in and's just like opening credits. and that prop We got it is the C four from Die Hard. Oh, that's amazing. I love that Oh ye prise and you know, that you didn't also embrace the the thing that Die Hard two does with Cando, which is the dictator in this movie is from that like fake country that like all the Joel Silver movies created, like they. it is called Valte So like they're always I just love that they created their own like fake. I did not know that. That's fucking hilarious. So you must laugh so hard. every time they put it it's always Valberverti ' then'm like it' from Valveri and so It's really I don't want to offend anybody, but you' vaguely South American dictator. No, I but there is so many funny things and I think I started laughing so hard rew watching this because as a kid, it was the most badass thing to see the bad guy in this William Saddler. you know, you're introduced to him naked, doing like Tai Chi in that hotel. You watched this with commentary, I assume no, I did not watch this with pmentary. great. And then I watched all the deleted scenes of patrees. patrets like like do yourself a favor, fucking all the extras on this are great.ord talks about that of how Rennie Hrlin was like when he was like he went to costumes and they didn't have a costume for him. And he was like what's the deal? And? he was like in his little finish was like, I was thinking that maybe you'd be nude. And he was like, o shit. So they did it at the end of the shoot because he was like, I want to be ripped for you Yeah ye like the partark. I mean, because he's so committed to. L it is like it's, you know, it's and like hilariously, it's like sort of a almost like you know, on on crack version of the apocalpse now, you know, like most depressing. But it's also it's a great way to introduce these villains and I think he does it and like like It's so stupid. It's it works like when he turns really quick and uses the TV remote like a gun to shut up the TV. Like it's that is dum But it is played so well It's such like an exercise in like, you can do the dumbest shit as long as people don't smile and wink Yeah like at all. likeike you can get away with we were just talking about U inherentvice like Paul you, PTA does this all the time where, you know, like the fucking reverse rape in the last one, which is just like Ale like said said completely it's a a comedically stupid line delivered by Sean Penn so and it becomes so funny where you're like, Jesus or the Moto Panakak' in in her advice by Boland, like they're just giving these like one hundred and fifty percent grounded performances with like ridiculous fucking lines. like Tally And' such an example of like, oh man, like you know, use the remote as a fucking gun. And that's the thing like and I feel like there's these moments, especially ion cinema where It was The movies weren't self aware in a way. likeike, yes, he's saying, you know, he says Yippy Kae at the end, but I feel like by the time we get to die hard the extra die hards like Yippy Kaaye is almost like you know, it's like a pullstring on his chest, you know, it's like, but I feel like earn but there is this earnestness that I do miss sometimes of like these movies. It's like You can get away with a lot more. You don't have to, you know, you don't have to justify it that much. You know, I feel like, Oh my God, all of the little one I mean, granted, like Bruce Willis, like what a tremendously he's so charming. as you said, like total commomudgon. I like you always love that part of character a parking ticket. It's a great way to start the movie. byy the way, I think that that's in the book, like that that one part the parking ticket and the carb being toad I think is in nothing lasts forever. and the one thing that got put into Die hard two is like the way it he's like it's a great, it's a great way to kind of, I mean, I know that term like is used all the time like the save the cat term, but like it's it's a great way to just kind of He's nobody again. He's just getting a parking ticket. He has no sway Uh, he, you know, and there is just like a blom com on the side. Yeah, user on the side one more time this is my mother in law's car, right? She's already med because I'm not a dentist Look, I'm a cop. LA. PD. Hving a little team spirit, huh? I was in L.A once I hated this. Well, I can understand, I don't like it much myself. Hey off, I'm doing my job. cut me some slack, Willam? Look, I used to be a cop in New York City. I only moved to L.A. ' my wife took a job there. Come on, what do you say? Here we are, Washington, D.C, the hardart of Democracy one hand, Washington the other. Bring your banks over here. Come on, man, it's Christmas. So where' Santa Clross to give you another car. Everyry Christmas, Pal. Oh, they go to the worldld so many times with this move, but it's certainly like I just love Tie hard in this movie like I mean it's in every one of them, but like but these two movies in particular, he's so good at being with the every m. like anybody below a captain in the police force is like like a salt of the earth, like like you know, like a dude you can trust blue collar, like like these guys get it, even like the guy who works at the baggage thing who helps him get into the door. He relates to that guy He relates to Marvin Marvin under like you know, like like like which is really like the thing that's interesting about Dyard though is that is that in terms of the S of the cat thing is that they also give you this really dark aspect of it like like him saying like in the first one saying like like I'm gonna make you squeal like your brother did when I b his fucking neck or like, you know like he says like horrible shit. Yeah. He's so dark. I mean, he's like McGruber level like disgusting Yeah sort of thing But And you but you like that aspect of him too because it feels like you're not being lied to. you're like, oh no, he's angry de He's like, he's got all these like And so there's a deleted scene in Die Hard two where He fucks with Marvin way harder and it breaks the reality of that of like him connecting with an everyman. What you find out in the deleted scene is that Marvin, you know, the custodial guy who helps him get like to the skywalk and like figure out the blueprints of the airport, like Marvin's character, he is been living he's homeless and he's living at the airport And John McCain to get information like out of him or like like get his help. he threatens to basically expose him and get him fired And it deal doesn't all without words, but like but it breaks that thing, which is like the tried and true like he relates to like every men like anybody who's blue collar is immediately on his wavelength, and he'd sort of understand you don't need that. but it was an interesting thing to like see them fuck up the formula. Well, like it was so interesting because I noticed there's a moment where when Marvin finds one of the walkie talkies that's decoded, so they can actually listen to the bad guys You know, he was like, can you give me twenty dollars? And he's like, whyy don't I let you live? Like I was like, Oh, Jesus I was like, I found it on the floor by the coat next to the luggage belt. What the hell you so excited about that foroor Codes still punched into this one. You like it, huh? How about you give me twenty bucks for it But I let you live And knows howam Bark. Oh, he does say that. You're right, you're right. Right So he like it's still like it's like God, man, like this I didn't take it all out. You know, there's still this little moment where you're just like, it's a little too rough on this guy' home It was worse when he was like like deciding whether he was gonna like like kick him out of his home Where are you off to this summer Stay trip weeekend trip? Wek long trip? Whether you're thinking staycation or destination vacation, check out the travel section of Quince to get going in style. Throw a napa leather duffle bag in the back of your car. You get this classic old school look going on, brown leather, black leather. very Paul Newman. 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See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark O schoolool But I think you're right, like that idea of of he's a blue collar guy and you put him next to L the best blue collar guy which is like Dennis Franz, who I think he's so good in this movie. I mean Carmine is exceent. You know and there's so frustrating They're so at each other, like and the best line of the movie let me ask you a question. What sets off the metal detective first? You know, the you know with the legend brain the legeress? Come on, let me ask you something What sets off the metal detectors first The lead in your ass or the shit in your brains L like I also love that they give him an arc where he's been a pain in the ass. He doesn't believe him. he fucking shoots blanks at him wherere like thirty cops pull guns. He was firing blanks in a fucking control tower at Tennis Bronons. And then the moment it happens, they're like, oh, okay, cool, that explains it He's just been firing this automatic weapons fine. Guns down, you're good And then Dennis Frz has the turn of like, now I'm going to kick ass and I'm on your side. And you're like, Oh I guess yeah,'s like I'm his brother, which is like Ernie Sibabella, right? It was like or like some like other guy who look amazing. But the thing that I thought was so funny is they're trying to make end really nicely. So like, you know, now McLean is beat the bad guys the seven hundred and forty seven has crashed. And then, you know, and Dennis Franz pulls up is hey, McLane, did you get a parking ticket out inside of my place? And he's like, Yeahah. And then they hold it like Oh shit What's gonna happen? He's like,, it's Christmas. He rips it up and tosses it in here, but it's such a like It's like a lag like right. Dude, Imagine how funny it would be if he had just held up one of those old credit card swipe machines, like, you better bay it right now It is the rest of the movie was just as credits were rolling. He's just like it didn't go through it like like this just can you just I'm going to write down the number. I just got can do it on your back? I just damn it. But it is such a fun I mean, and this movie does these little moments like that. like I mean, because it's like It works. like when those airplanes are landing at the end mayaybe it's music or maybe it's that I'm a dad now, but I well up at moments like I'm like, oh here, these airplanes are landing It's great. All these people are safe movie kills. like a whole plane full of people and it's really like early second act. It's like it's very like And they and it's like, okay, that's bad But they make it even worse because when McLean's walking through the wreckage, findinds a baby doll in the snow. like Oh yeah, they don't fuck around. Yeah. I was like, wow, they really are I was very it's very impressive for a sequel in particular that I'm sure they were extremely protective of and scared that it was gonna to work and d d. L to be able to do something because I would imagine they were getting tons of notes of like, right can we do that? d d? Like being like, you know, scared that like this is too much It's so I was just rewatching it and it in my mind it happens really early second act. It's actually like almost midpoint. Okay. And so it is this heighten of like, holy shit, like these guys aren't fucking around. He's amazing. And then right after that is the introduction of Major Grant. Okay Right A ye get that like Yeah now become into like but in terms of like the screenwriting, you're like, fuck, this is so great. in terms of that too, like I always loved in like eighties movies and maybe you guys have like discussed this one, but nineteen eighty six Transformers the nineteen eighty five the animated movie of Transformers where they kill Optimus Prime. like when they like execute Optimus Prime and you're like, it was a different era of like, you're like, Yes, fucking kill your main character. This is like the thing I've noticed as, you know, and I'm sure you probably see this too, L when you're bringing your kids to movies, they're very like sanitized to a certain degree And I was watching the Muppet movie with my son and He was like, wait a second. they're trying to kill Kermit the Frog. Like they bring in a man to kill him and it's like they wouldn't even touch that. Like you get like they wouldn't make home alone, but in a movie with a puppet, there's a man that is like has a like a spear ready to fire at Kermit the Frog. I gott to say, I miss it so much. Like watching some of my kids, this is not like there's a lot of Excellent programs for one hundred percent young Yeah young kids. I have like a five year old, you know, Bluey is makes me cry. It's so beautifuluck and amazing. So so well written The music' incredible. But like watching some of the we were watching like PJ Masks or like it was like a sp spidey thing. and you were like, they' they're having to like can't even throw like a plastic like like Spidey's like working on like his web shooters with like plastic bottles and it's like it's all about recycling. and you're like, this is so boring. Like right you're like, we know. We know you're supposed to recycle. L all of the old like transformers. My kid watched ninety there's I think there's ninety nine, ninety eight, ninety nine episodes of the original like nineteen eighty five, like like that era of Transformers TV show and there's so much dark They're just like like it's so great. Oh so violent. There's so much there. I mean, even the end of the old GI Joe's, like the PSAs where like kids are like riding their bike over open power lines ande like, hey, hold on t that. Like you're like, wow And now it is all like just very simple. I mean, there wass a Rambo cartoon. I remember watching a Rambo cartoon I don't know if I rememember it as an adult doing it or a kid, but there was one Rambo cartoon where he would just go out and all the time I mean it's it's so funny because this is this a doubleed swort thing. you're like,, I don't know if I want that lesson learned nearly. I don't know if I made Rambo, but but I do want like yeah, I think it's always like You forget that these characters need like a moment. I think that that's like that's kind of Bruce Wilis' superp because In this movie, he's like on the wing of an airplane. he's doing some stuff. and the first movie it's like You can buy that this guy can do pretty much anything because he's just a guy and he's just using his wits This one, you know, there are some larger leaps to take, you know, and for sure for sure he does a great job of like, being of showing that scared Uh, and like I think that moment where they are shhooting at him in the cockpit Please scared And I feel like when you see a moment like that, you're like, oh I forgot, Yeahah, you can be scared in moments. like you can have right moment before that, right before that moment When he comes at like, you know, like a bad guy from fictitious country. you know dictatorug lord Dictator comes outays the great line of freedom. and then he punches in the face. says not yet. And then and then he goes in and he's like, he's like, I'm gonna to trade you for my wife. So you're like, one, that's sort of like this conniving like you're just a chess piece for me. I only care about my wife. But it's this reminder It's the PeW's bike thing. You're like this's this reminder of like, this is what he cares about. He cares about his wife and it's this reset that comes right before the fear fear thing. Oh now I'm back on his side of like like and he's like he's he doesn't even care. like like you know, it's like he will give that dude up right give him his freedom as long as his wife survives We're like so on like a bunch of different levels, you're like, fuck, this is this really? It's so in character with him. It maintains like his like sort of crash, like I only care about this one thing. He cares about his wife. and then straight into the fear thing into the like ingenious like paint yourself into a corner. It's such this awesome like reminder of like, don't ever let up, like paint yourself into a corner. How the fuck is he going to get Yeah out of this And he's gonna to throw the grenades back. None of that. you're just like he's gonna die. And they really do ratchet it up because like all these guys shooting and they show him inside and it's like really just And it's like, I wonder if that is possible to eject yourself from a stationary plane. I don't care. Obviously I think that's like the that's the craziest moment probably of the entire movie in like Um, but yeah, it's like it's, oh, yeah, you get he gets out and There is something though where You see that struggle when he's fighting and and he stabs gu at the ice scope. Great fight sequence. It's like sloppy, it's great. And and he seems like he's out of breath and he's tired and and he takes in like the death And in that sequence, like he's popped up, he's flown up into the air. He's parached down. We know that he's afraid of flight like air everything. And he's like, Hey, where's the fucking door on this thing? By the way, one of them you like you're like definitely in ADR line. but you're like, you know going on you. They needed something. like, yeah 'cause they're always doing that of like reminding you that like but it's fine. Like they stabed the guy e in and ey like but like it's always going back to like, it's fun, R's a fun dude, like you like whatever. By the way, that like that thing of like, which they do so well in the original die hard, of like, you know, glass shattering everywhere, the like, you know, like the starting the movie with like the feet of like like take your shoes off. now this one little thing in the beginning of the movie, like with you being barefoot is gonna become this major problem, which is in the original book as well, which is cool. But like but the glass thing that comes back very much in the cockpit thing where there's glass everywhere.'s like it's the chaos of like, o fuck, I'm gonna die Is what we were going for in McGruber when he's getting the van shot out and they're they're panickings and it's just all the bullets ricking shang off the thing I think we don't know how they're going to get on it and then and then incred aop You know, it's just so funny because you're like, Oh, what's our what's the stupid really really stupid version. I mean that that like that sequence and that's what I really love about Th like you're able to when you're directing these action sequences, the the level up of the action and then it's also, you know, the hilar like it's hilarious to watch him just like screaming inside the car, but then also you're cutting to like wig in the coffee shop who's like repeating all that stuff been on the ground at the same time it's a but it's like The action never like I'm always impressed with that. like you can keep the action looking really good. And when I watch something and I won't even name a name, but there are these like ion comedies, the action is very like Wh it's just like very there's no stakes to the action it feels like. I can I a lot honestly. Is that like and in over your deead body, we do that as well where like it becomes this like very intense, like all this intense stuff has happened. The really violent, really gory shit has happened. And then there's a moment where one of our characters can't remember his name because he's been bashed on the head Super hard. And then I go we go to wide and it's the same thing, Ionly, it's the same move as Magrber of like going to Vicky in the coffee shop where you've been doing intense, you're showing that you can do intense d. And then as you know, like in being in comedy, like there's nothing lamer than a good wide. Yeah. And then so so to go from like intense, intense, intense pull out guy can't remember his name, everyone's waiting because like you know for comedy, it also requires an audience's judgment. And you don't have those characters in it who are just sitting and watching and judging. But it's so fun because I think a lot of my comedy comes from, it's almost like a mystery science theater thing of like having watched things, watching so many movies growing up and being like make almost making the commentary of, wouldn't it be funny if this happened in this very intense moment? And then you get to do that where you're like you create a moment Create it with music, create it with like the visual s like fuck Oh Literally looks like an action movie. and then pull up and then show how fucking dum it is from the perspective of like people in a coffee shop. Right? Yeah, just having this moment of just like you're right, that idea of like the audience judging it. L people around like it's happening in the real world because the movie feels so contained, right? So it is. It's like when you can pull wide, it makes it, it does just give you that extra moment because I think Every one of these things, like like I'm obsessed with like the Rosencrantz and Gildenstter and like world of these movies. Like I would love to just make movies around like a pivotal like pivotal scenes in these bigger films because it is, it's like something crazy just happened here. like let me just say one more thing about that Yeah please. I've always been obsessed with this idea. I hope someone can just do this in AI. This is a perfect use of AI I wanted to make like a short film gu like really like sort of indie slice the life Guy is trying to make good. He's had like like relationship has fallen apart. but he's trying to get his shit back together. He's like he's he's got a promotion at work. He works at a mall Yeah he's like, he's a very specific kind of like dude, he's like like janitorial staff in a month of He like you put all of this work into like, he's going to see his kid like he's got all these hopes and dreams, you know, like like and he's going to get like the diploma. He's going to go to college and make him like his life better pututs on his reds sus benders in the back. He's going to go out for one last shift Like at this mall. And then he goes into a hallway and he's the dude from in Tminer two when when they're in the hallway and he's like a dude with a Pepsi can like turns around and gets shot a whole bunch of times. and you're like, you put all of this energy into but I'm obsessed with that of this small little dude who's like like not even like a thought. He's just murdered like merciless like for no reason for it You know, his family's like, I don't know what happened. It was a guy in the mall and it was a shot Like was you doing something But like to that same point like when I watched the first John Wick There's this moment like they go back to John Wake's house, right? They's been burned to like, you know, it's like, you know, yet another nail in the coffin of like, how could you do this to this poor man who's like lost everything His dog's been killed, he go but like they go they do like another emotional reset, which is kind of like what like you live very good' and die hard of like reminding you like the wife like you know And and he's in this burned out house and he picks up this like locket from his wife or whatever. It's this reminder of like how much is he lost his poor wife And I was like, oh, this would be fucking amazing if they just cut to every single widow that he's just made for like like where you get stight every single man he's just killed and all of the sad wives who haveve had to say goodbye to their poor h. That is the honest like the best character in history because he is straight up evil Just because he's like, Hey, you know what? I'm stopping doing my killing now. You're like, oh, he's a good guy. Like he is mass a mass murderer. Like no doubt about it, easily you know, but we just didn't meet him. we just don't know him from that point of view. Like we just we didn't know him. But like a year at Joh Yeah, I'm surprised John Wig doesn't have one of them that's called twoo in the chest one that They just like every single dude Wells the realms of peril and glory explore the mechanically magical vistas of Vale Paranormal mysteries of Liminal London Cyberpunk Chaos of Cyborg Aed by our incredible guests from familiar shows like Ox Vventure and No Rolls Bar Search realms of Pil and Gory to find out more From the parents behind laaw and orrder Comes a mystery the whole family can enjoy Patrick Picklebottom Everyday Mysteries Step into the whimsical world of Patrick Picklebottom, a precocious eleven year old with a love for reading and an uncanny ability to solve mysteries Inspired by the beloved Children's book of the same name This podcast vividly brings Patrick's tales of deduction and everyday adventures to life as he unravels baffling enigmas and solves clever cases. Patrick Pickle Bottom Everyday Mysteries is perfect for kids. and is just as entertaining for grownups who love a good mystery The whole family can listen now wherever you get your podcasts. So I want to ask you about like just the way that you approach stuff because I feel like getting into it from a taught me your, you know, the videos with L only Island that you guys made how you started out like with the boo and stuff like that on channel one hundred one Yeah, you know, I think that And I'll just I'll put myself here if you agree. fine But I think we always start from the point of view of like, oh a parodyity or like how do we capture like a vibe of something that make it funny, right? And then like kind of you're you're like and so you're trying to ape certain styles, but it's for comedy, right? And And now I feel like watching your career, it's like it's so impressive. When I look at what you're doing, I feel like it's very specific and you are kind of leaning more and more into very interesting genres. I mean you did a musical, you've done an action movie, you're doing this like K of a horror like, but also they're all they all have comedy underneath them, but Like how are you approaching stuff? Or would you do something that's iceream? Th that I mean, like you know, we've now been in the businessiz for a minute, you and I And like and it's weird to even say that this is you know like when it becomes a career and you start to be like, I guess this is what I do. Right. But and I'm allowed to do hestly. but you know, you're sort of only allowed to do what people have seen that you can do in Hollywood, which is always a part because you're like, No, there's more sence to me than that. So I think that I'm always looking for things that like access another or showcase another side of me. like that's the that's the slightly more cynical way to look at it. I think those are the things that intrigue me not on a career level, but like but things that like are challenging and like, you know like for instance, this last this last movie, one, it's a challenge to like make a remake. That was like a vital terrifying thing. like especially have a remake that that I liked the original of so much. And then yeah, it's a threading of tones to me of like there's real scenes in it, there's real acting scenes, there's scenes that, you know, like on set, I I don't need to interrupt, I want to like actually see real emotion play out like rather than like youd be like, say this, you know, right, right, right would't be funny if Yeah, no, like And so like so like that aspect like really trying to see if I can make something that like people care about on a heart level I think that like, um, So that like there's there's that aspect to it for sure. I think that like It is fun as a quote unquote filmmaker, and this has been the case for us forever. like you know, going back to like things like Boo. I like, you know, you love these things, right? Like these are things that you want to put on a penestil. How we felt about the OC. I loved the OC as It was an overly dramatic like teenage soap opera, right They're putting music in they're making you feel something. regardless of like, you know, it has all the tropes of like he's a karate kid, he's a kid, you know, like who like out of town, who's being abused. And like but there are these tropes th that work forever. And I think that like that, you know, like it's So it's really fun to like dip into like the like genre, but like like things that you've seen and want to like I think I always say you like to love almost like to do it completely. And to do it properly. You like to love it. and I draw this line a lot between like there is parity and then there's genre, like like aping genre. It's like, I want something thats I'm going to make it funny in this world, but I'm not just doing like the one to one joke, right? Like it's like you're and I feel like that's the thing that's different. I don't know. and I feel like That's very very much, I mean, you're just, you're making these great films, but I also I don't even know if you remember this but I want to go visit you n the set of Land of the Lost. And I know how uncomfortable that that costume was. You were head to toe in this like fur it was an insane costume. you know, three and a half hours Yeah putting that on every day. Yeah. It was always funny when you got it four in the morning, put that shit on, they get to the end of the day and they're like, we're not gonna to use you. You're like, ye, cool, cool, cool Iember and I just remember like, oh, you're in that stuff. and with over your dead body, there's a lot of blood and there's a lot of stuff. And I also like as an actor and a director, do you also bring that into it, knowing like, okay These people are fucking covered in blood. I got to get through this quicker. or you like like I I always feel bad. I'm like, I know you don't want to be undernderwater now. I don't know but I need to get this shot like is there you push a hle Well, I think it's both. I think it's that you cognizant of people's time, I would say like things like that of like not wanting to call people in when they're not going to be used, But if you're on camera, then I think I'm Probably more abusive because I have done it. Yeah because I'm like because I know what I'm willing to put up with, right. And you've done it. Pain for me. I'm like, no, if that shit's, you know, like like you know, I always go back to like There's a moment in Hot Rod where me and Danny like we're doing this dance. We're like celebrating outside of like a seven hundred eleven andlance that my son now does all the time. Yeah. And I'm doing the Dalson dance. Like that was my reference. It' like Dalsson fighter. I'm doing Ds dance. And then and then fucking But Dany's like shoving me into this fan and I'm like And it's so much funnier. when I picture I'm outside my body and I'm like, o it's much funnier when you see someone's neck Snap back. And so I'm like, shove me up here Like to Danny, I'm like, shove me up here and then I'm gonna let my neck like pop And I'm like, it fucking hurts. Right. It does hurt, but I'm like that shit's way funnier. Yeah. So like because because I think I'm willing for comedy to go to those places of like Nah, it's way better if I like pless my fucking hamstring. like then I'm probably shittier with it. Having said that in over your deead body, Siegel's character goes like he's being pulled by a rope behind a boat point. and you actually see this in the trailer so it's not like a like spoiler or anything. But like but Siegel's doing it. He's he's caked in like, you know, a couple hours of makeup. He looks the shit. he's covered in blood and he's, you know, pulling himself. It's it's he's going probably fifteen, twenty miles an hour in a in a boat. I don't know what that is in Nots and's he's pulling himself up a rope. That shit is so hard. Yeah he's cabled, but he's pulling himself And it's fucking freezing cold water.. And then so so on the flip side of like me being abusive and being like, nah do it again. Yeah. Like like We have a camera crane rushing at him. We almost hit him with it. And then he's the kind of actor who's like Let's do it let's do it again. I got one more. and I'm like, dude, I can't lose you this right. So maybe so maybe it's self serving, and maybe it's like that I just want to kill my attgory because I want to get through the fuck shoot. But like what But when you got it And there on film. and you know you got it because you like you you've edited like shit looads in your career.. You know the moment you're like, it's in there. like I got it like you don't need to kill yourself. Right is And then you also have I haveve had the other experience where I'm like, oh, fuck, I didn't get it. I wish I would have just done it like in that moment one more time. Yes. when someone's rushing you and saying like No, we gota go we got to go. it's like, no, no, it' And it's important. You got to fight for these little things because You do know. You do know when you have it and you do and and when you don't have it, it is such It's like, well, that's it, it's gone and you will never it's really funny. I take it bring it back to Die Hard too. Yeah. Yeah, it's. I had aack So then, no, no, but like a thousand percent. And you only learn that as a director from being in the edit and kicking yourself and you're like the person that did this is me. Like I fuck this shit up. So I have to own this of like now you got to creatively figure it out in the edit. and like that moment of just like knowing like you're like that five extra minutes of like, yes, we're gonna to have to push launch, yes but like it is what it is. You have to fuck get thing And there's a but it's always weird to me when I see like I'm not going to name names, but I've seen bigger movies. I'll say this and you cante it. sureure. But I was watching R right that my wife was asked to give notes on. And you're like and to watch these scenes with these massive, they're spending fucking hundreds of millions of dollars on these things and you're like How did they not fix this on the day they just have they have ungodly money and they're just like powering through with this dialogue that doesn't work. I'm like, dude, if the dialogue doesn't work or the scene isn't working, likeike don't shoot it. And there's a so to bring it back to dire two. Yeah, there's there's there's a scene with him and Marvin and it's yet another obstacle, right The obstacle is that he needs to get to the skkywalker whatever. and he's got to get from point A to point B. and there's this thing and it's just like a touchstone. It feels like almost like an exact note like at the time. like what what's the thing where he's almost going to fall into a giant pit like the first one where the like elevor shaft And he's got to go like on this eye beam. From one place to another and and they're like they're like, there's a thing, you got to do, but like you gott to be an acrobat. And he and he's tentatively walking on an eyebeam, but it's so whack. It's like you don't want to see your lead character who's like a badass, you know, every man's man. And like then he's just doing the fucking like he's just right walking over an eyebeam like a child And you're like this but you're like the moment you see it, you're like, how did they even edit this scene? L right L like just watch it for like once, even if you're watching it on monitors, you're like, well, that's just out. right Like no going to work. It does. And sometimes you're just like, but I guess we just shoot it and then we move likeike he's like ye Yeah, yeah, we got it It got because like you're gonna cut it. you were gonna cut the lookny Renny's such a good director that I have to assume in watching that scene that you're like, this was someone's exact note He had to shoot it. So he shot it kind of like a like, this sucks man. There's no fucking away And then it was in one like test screening only with the studio and they' like, Oh. Yeah, we got it you got to lose the eye beam. M make them take the note back But like you should lose the eye beam. Oh, ye, great, great note. Yeah you gave it to me and then you take it away. I was going to say doing something to to make sure you get it And I'm sure you've seen some of this on the DVD commentary and or the special features is like Renny Harling was not happy with the seven hundred and forty seven explosion When they blew up a real seven hundred forty seven in this movie it was like, M We got to do it again. And they're no, no, no, no. We just bilt a giant This is like the this is the biggest thing that we've done. We can't just like Do it again And this is like a big argument because it cost so much money And this is the this is the first crash the the Windsor the so that was like And they, you know, they couldn't build another plane. So they did all this like really cool like VFX and miniature work And this movie actually does that all over the place. like the final scene where the planes are coming in moment where the the plane comes through the fog like this is all like beginning like not beginning of Map, but like really impressive VFX mixing with miniatures before the CGI like really takeover. and it's And man, it looks really good. It really looks good. Do you remember like I remember like when first shooting Landed Lost and I don't know which sets you actually got the the the big giant one where it was like a temple set, I feel like I was on the. Yeah So like the temple one, like they flipped those like it had like there was like three sound stages at Universal and would flip them because they had these massive builds. So they would do like a redwood forest and you'd go in and they would like Crickets living on the stage and it became like it was alive. And I remember just talking to like some crew dudes who'd like, you know, been in the industry you know forty years or whatever. and they were like, they don't do this anymore. Like they remember being on these sets where they would build, you know, like each of those sets was like three million dollars. Yeah. And but you're like, and there's a little bit of CG in the background just for like set extension and things like that.'re It has this tangible thing that you don't get to see anymore. likeike when those explosions, like even if they're miniatures, right? Like when the plane, that first plane hits and I think it's a miniature like that explodes, But you're like they're getting great fireballs. like the whole thing is lighting up in this way that you're like, this is fucking And you get that from you you feel the difference. like obviously like things are progressing Right But like but there's something that's kind of lost without it being the thing. Like the biggest the easiest way to look at it is even with all the technology, when you see Yoda in the Ryan Johnson Star Wars versus the other CGI Yodas that have been and other things R like Ohh yeah, that's Yoda. likeike there is that is a and it just just feels more you can touch it. It feels real and I feel like This is like, I love movies in this because I feel like they're just like him on the side of the airplane, you can buy meanwhile, like think and die live free and die hard. like he's on the the the wing of like fourteen or like it's something now it's getting like super crazy. But but I feel like but it feels like Everything is manageable. and I remember at the time, it was like, well, you could never eject out of the plane. That was the most really like Thatber, you know. But it's But yeah, I no, I feel like there is something about it. And I think that movies like this really work like John Wick works. I think your movie works in that way too because you're in this house with these people and having these fight scenes. it's like it feels It's real it's so funny because like the movies that I always reference that are really good at this, right? Like that like and dyire's always the touchstone for people because you're like it was the first time that you're and like if people want to read a fucking awesome book and you probably read this, but the last action heroes Oh is so good and like and it's that it's that turn from One man army, you know, like ripped a shit dude who like can't be hurt, you know, like at all, which I loved all those movies. get like But like but to go from that to Mel Gibson in letath the Weapon who like wants to fucuckking kill himself. And like these these guys who have like darker pasts, but also like who are flawed, who are getting beat to shit like are wearing their arc on their body when in terms of like like, you know, like and every every single one of the gags even in Dieard two of like, He needs to get from the sky skkywalk like to get onto the runway. He has to push that grate up. Yeah the grates's crazy fucking heavy and now a plane' going to land on top of and And you know, it's it's ludicrous but you're like, It's hard to lift something. Y. You know what I mean? Like like and to go to that smallness and the first born identity How is that where you're like there's small, a man who has to like get through just using his wits and usually like losing a weapon or so he has to like with nothing I remember that there's that sequence in at the end of the firstborn identity, whereereas there's just a sniper and And you're like, it's hard to get past a sniper. He's really good at his job sort of thing. And like that shit True Romance is another one, which is like is sort of a side tangent one, but like but there's a smallness to that movie of like the shootout at the end like like there's always this threat of violence. and that was weirdly. true romance is sort of a touchstone for McGrrouuber because we didn't have that big of a budget for McGruber.. And so you always wanted to feel like actction is potential for action or a danger element that's going to happen, but you're not actually seeing that much action. So you might be sparing with like the way you do things. And like there's that scene in the middle of true romance that is you know like Christopher Walkin is going to kill his dad And it's like a, you know, it's an amazing fucking Quin Tarndino dialogue. so I don't want to like like say they Mse at all Tarantino's dialogue. But like, but it's an eleven, twelve minute scene and you're like the threat of violence. one, you care about the character, right? Like you care about both characters and they're fucking with each other and it's dangerous. L, but you're like, you get away A piece of information that happens at the end of the scene could have easily happened in the beginning. They just find a fucking post it. R Exactly. That's it and it's like it makes it I know you're talking about that is like it to me going back to even I was talking about torture scenes. and When you go out of the world where can't feel it as an audience member. I think it takes you out like I always think about Danny Glover having that open wound in lethal Weapon one, they're pouring salt into an open wound It's like Yeah It literally is like, you know, it's the it's the it's the maximum or whatever. it's like but you feel it. you're like, oh God that must fucking hurt, you know, and it's like And I think these movies sometimes have this ability where it's like, well, I don't know what's real anymore. I don't don't can't like, ooh, that hurts because it's like he's already I have never I have no connection to falling off a building, you know,, you know, or anything like that. Like it doesn't and I feel like no it's's it's choosing spectacle over human connection. And like and and you see it in like Die hardard like when he like, shoots a fucking you know, he rides his motorcycle into a helicopter and you're like I don't care. No. I don't care about that. Like it's like neat looking. I'm glad I got to see it. I if I saw it and I like ended like, but I wouldn't mind seeing that in like the water worldld extravag. one hundred percent I's fine to see it there. Yeah. Sh me. But like this is the funny thing. I knew that this franchise was a little bit doomed and I've always been a big fan of these movies, but Kevin Smith was interviewing Bruce Willis and it was on the set of Lve Free your Die H. It was like an EPK extra And this is like it's burned in my mind. Kevin Smith is like, you know, what do you think is like, why do people like Die Hard and Bruce Pillis W, New Jersey sense of humor I'm like, oh no, no, that' that's New Jersey sense of humor is not why we like die hard. And then you all of a sudden you bere like Oh as he gets more and more successful, he's like, ye, yeah, I'm this guy. I'm I'm this guy. and he ceases to become that other guy and ye and it's a little bit in it's a little it gets more it gets more and more amped up every single one. but The movies always start in a really good way. likeike Die Heard three has an amazing start. He's really beat down. it's an awesome It's you start to lose you start to lose the thread of who these characters are because like, well you got to top each other And then it's like, just make another movie and my friend who was on Diard, I think I could tell this story because it's fine. I'm not gonna to say who it was that Bruce Willis' go to was just like More blood, more blood and then would take the blood out of people's hands and just pour it all over himself. Like he was just just drenched in blood at all points. It's like, gotta just have it on there and it was like, ye I don't know. it's nothing now. It's just nothing. Yeah, M is M is not always more. you know what I mean like And when it got into like it's so interesting that it Like the lesson learned from like the Last action heroes of like people kind of wna see this grounded version rather than like you know superhuman muscle. And by the way, I got no problem with like, you know like fucking fast the Furious goes back to that of just like, you know, you land on a car and you're like, thank God, a car was there. Youre like a fucinking car. L I wanna kill anyone And like you're like, I just I love that logic too because I'm just like great all in right you're all that point And it's consistent. It's consistent ridiculous. It's deviated from the first one in that play. That was like that was basically point break with cars, right? And like and like and then but when they get into this world where it's this in between where I'm like sort of supposed to believe the original character, but now he's a superhero That's when it loses it to me. Yes. likeike like, you know what mean? like I I do not mind like like like the Fasa Furious franchise changed into like now everyone's just like this gigantic gym membership dude. Right. like they're they're having a fight on a parking garage and they're like their punch is breaking the building. L it's like, all right. Yeah, sure. Like it's fine. and I think you're and there's two different things with that. I feel like you can have both. It's just like, but what is it? You can't start I mean, I guess Path Fast and Furious did it, but this is so Like it's every man. he's an every man. and when you cease to become an every man, is he I think that's why died the die franchise is a bit disappointing because you watched something that you really liked and the reasons why you liked it is not necessarily I mean, everybody liked the New Jersey Sense humor. But you liked that this dude was having a hard day and was like like deeply flawed and like he was gonna win. and you know and it was hard for him. was like taking out each one of these guys. and that was another touchstone for us like making McGuber is one, we didn't have enough money, right? So like he's not going to be taken out like armies of guys necessarily. I mean, we have that one little like dumb shoot out and d like there's like, you know, like, but we're playing it all for. But like you're like these are my top guys. It's these five dudes. they all need to be methodically taken out sort of thing and like like and, you know, granted incredibly stupid version of everything. But like but you know, if these were the touchstones and honestly Most of it's toooo much money You're just like, if you have this much money then you're like, yeah, fucking shoot, like like you don know have motorcycles hitten helicopters. sure. I mean, and that's the thing like Dard one, not supposed to be success. This one obviously they know they know they have a lot to prove. And I think that, you know, It's just hard because I think that when you talk about aliens Uh, it's like that's the what a sequel is and I think that it should be put on that level in the same way. like it it pays off. Yes, it's Dum it's like it's got bigger and dumber, but at the same time, it's actually really well done. It's beautifully shot It's got all the stuff character wise. they have to go bigger. They couldn't just put them in another spot. Yeah. So I'm like, this this really works. I think that I don't know why And it may just be in comparison to the first one, evenven though the third one gets a lot more love than the second one, I feel like in rewatching it and I knew every line of this. I've watched this so many times as a kid that I've watched it even more recently, but it was funny because I watched this with June who never saw Die hard, my wife and And we watched Dieard two and she was like, o, but it's different. I don't like that he's changed. Like she was like she really took it in real time. She was like, that was I was like, o, then we should maybe stop the franchise here for you. But it was like to watch her in real time goes so. She when we watch the second one, she never wants to like watch the second one and she was so upset ike which part which parts like did it for her like because I am curious that I think it's around I think that she really liked it up until the crash of the of the first plane. It she's like, okay that's, you know,, it's all working when they kill. And then I think I think it's around The ejector seat. I think it's a right like I think let's get to ejector seat. I think it's, you know, I think it have just broken. and I think what she really just missed was Oh I just like the character stuff. And I think that this movie does still have it. like he's got the little partnership with the guy who's like just I guess he's like the tech guy of the tower who's like, you go fix it. You fix this code. You do this. He's, Hey look I figured it out. It's the church You know, um I don't think you're as grounded, you're not connected. And I think as much as you were to like Reginald Vele Johnson, I think that that's such a big part of the first movie U And I also Yeah, I mean, I think I think some of the smallness of that is is like just what works about the first one so well. I mean, I'll never, I'll never say this is gets the first one, but it's more like it's just impressive to have made something that like works and has it has a lot of different little plot lines and things that' like to cut to and the fact that they all work and it's not surprising that it's a Dua, right? Like yeah But like I mean, works the same care. I'm very fine to be like they're very different movies, but they both work and I think that they are both really, really fun, just in different ways. And yeah, like there's like there's nothing like I'm cringing at in this and that's what I think is great. I'm glad that we got a chance to talk about this and also just talk to you because I feel like Uh, it was a great. It's this has been the most fun to talk about these movies that I do think like live in your head. for a long time. Like this movie is like, it was all there. I was like, o yeah, I remember this and this and this. and And I remember as again, other thing as a kid is like, I really just wanted to see him more John McCan stuff. I wanted to see him uncomfortable on the nightline. And I think that that was such a great line. like It' pretty cool what you did over there, but you look pretty out of your league on on nightline. I was like, wow, that was a fucking slam. They also slam Willard Scott for no reason. Like they call him like a porker, like that porker Willard Scot. I'm like, Jesus, whyy is Willard Scott taking strays? like this old lady is fucking slamming Willard Scott. But really It's really it's really funny to like think about that line on nightlight. like that line being like, oh, they are taking into account that he has been put into a Hollywood world and like take him down of like he's not that guy. rightight? Like you know what I mean like like so they had enough wherewithal to be like, D' worry, don'try nobody like Some people might know him and some people might not. they need to just because of course he would have been on TV, but maybe not John McLan policeman hero who saved the Nakatomi hostages I read about your peopleeople magazinine. You seemed a bit out of your league on nightline, I thought. Heyolnel, blow me. So Yorma, we can listen to your podcast, which I love. the Lonely Island Seth Myers podcast, which is So good. It is always I love all of your podcasts.. Yeah, so great. loveove seeing your wonderful face and hearing your voice, Paul. You, Motherfucker. Thank you, Yorma. Over yourour deead body is on VOD right now. I know that Popstar has had some limited runs celebrating its ten year anniversary And if you can't get enough Yorma, I mean, and how can you, make sure you are checking out his podcast, which is the Lonely Island and Seth Myers podcast. It is one of my favorite podcasts out there. Thank you once again to Ya Takonei, and you can follow him on social media like we all do. By the way, did I mention that unspooled now has brand new merch. That's right, cheheck out our merch store and continue this conversation about die hardard two on our substack, which is completely free. All right people You're probably wondering, Paul, what do you have next week? Well We got a real treat for you It's Dammy Nicholson, usual co host of Unspooled Barging in here right at the end to say, I am coming back next week I miss you guys. Thank you for your patience. Thank you to all of the amazing co hosts who have jumped in U But yes, next week, you know what I really think we should do We have got to do close and Cs of the third guy by Steven Spielberg I've been thinking about this movie with Disclosure Day coming up. so koo boom. You can rent that wherever and let's talk about it next week. Bye guys,ee you then.