MikeyB's Dear Movie Diary: 12 Hours of Die Hard


Hello everyone, and welcome to the test drive for a special new feature I'm calling "MikeyB's Dear Movie Diary". This is not going to be your average movie review, but more of a diary style blog of my thoughts, feelings and interactions during a film viewing. Without further delay let’s dive right in. I hope you enjoy!
Writer: MikeyB
Editor: Tariq


February 13th, 2013
  • 11:45 am
  •  Today is the day of the Die Hard Marathon at the local Regal movie house. My friend Rob and I have been planning on attending since it was announced a few weeks ago. I have to admit to myself that twelve hours in a movie theater is starting to sound none too appealing. Regardless of my fears though, I've made a commitment and either way it’ll be an experience to remember.
  • 12:07 pm
  •  After picking up Rob we arrive at the theater at 12:07 pm. We’re 7 minutes late for the start of the original 1988 Die Hard but aren’t worried about seats, because who the hell is gonna be here at noon on a Wednesday?
  • 12:10
  •  Well apparently more people than you would think. The theater isn’t full mind you, but there are at least 40 people spread throughout the theater.
  • 1:00 ish
  •  Halfway through the film I realize this is the perfect environment to see these films in. The fact that it’s a Wednesday afternoon has weeded out anyone who isn’t a huge fan of the series.  Everyone in attendance loves these movies and is here to see them on the big screen and have a good time.
  • 2:00 ish
  •  Well that’s one down, four to go. Time for a leg stretch and to grab some popcorn and a soda with the coupon we got for the show. Rob and I both upgrade to large sodas and I immediately start referring to them as our "buckets o' cola".
  • 2:35
  •  Die Hard 2: Die Harder starts and both Rob and I agree that this is easily the worst in the series, but is still extremely enjoyable.
  • 2:4o ish
  •  About five minutes in the old lady character that sits next to Holly McClane on the plane shows Holly her taser. Rob and I both laugh and remark how there is no way that would happen today.
  • 4:30 ish
  •  Die Hard 2 ends and now it’s time for dinner. Thankfully this place serves real food including burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, and miniature pizzas. The prices are actually pretty reasonable with a burger and fries only costing $7.50. I elect for a burger and Rob gets mini corndog bites and a refill of his bucket o' cola. We return to our auditorium and eat. The food isn’t bad and tastes on par with your average fast food joint.
  • 5:00 pm
  •  Die Hard With A Vengeance starts.
  • 6:00 ish
  •  Halfway through and I've remembered how much fun this sequel is. You've got Bruce Willis at the top of his game and Samuel L. Jackson is just starting to come into his own.
  • 6:50 ish
  •  Oh man this movie has a crappy ending. The entire movie is just an adrenaline rush right from the start, but for some reason just fizzles out in the final ten minutes.
  • 7:00 pm
  •  Rob takes a bathroom break and I have a conversation about the ending with a random couple sitting in front of us. Intelligent discussion is had and I bond with a complete stranger over cinema. If only all movie going experiences were like this.
  • 7:10 ish
  •  Rob returns and I check IGN and see that they gave A Good Day To Die Hard a 6.2 out of 10 and call it "the worst in the series". I then check Rotten Tomatoes to see its "fresh rating"......6%....what?!? How the hell can it have only 6%? I check Metacritic as well.....39 out of 100....really people? Rob and I are puzzled as to how part 5 could possibly be worse than part 2.
  • 7:30 pm
  •  Live Free Or Die Hard starts and Rob and I both agree that we never understood why it was a big deal that this was rated PG-13 instead of R. It’s a solid entry in the series and highly entertaining.
  • 8:00 - 9:30 pm
  •  Intermittently throughout the film Rob and I turn to each other and ask, “6%?”, still reeling from the reviews for the latest entry.
  • 9:30 pm
  •  Live Free Or Die Hard ends and we get one last leg stretch in and ready ourselves for A Good Day To Die Hard!
  • 10:00 pm
  •  Previews start and I remark that I wish the sound was louder as I wanted to feel the bass rumble in my chest. The movie gods apparently hear my prayer and halfway through the next trailer the sound gets noticeably louder. Amen.
  • 10:15 pm
  •  The film starts and after the opening car chase Rob leaned over and said, “That car chase alone was worth 6%.” I laugh and agree and we sit back and enjoy the ride.
February 14th, 2013
  • 12:00 am
  •  Rob and I both agree that critics must be taking themselves too seriously if they couldn't find enjoyment in A Good Day To Die Hard, or they must have been expecting a different film entirely.  We also conclude that we may have just spent all day at the theater but the quality of the films and the fun we had made it seem like only  3. Walking out of the theater I look around at all the happy faces of people that have just enjoyed 12 straight hours of Die Hard and had the time of their lives and I'm glad to count myself among them.

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