Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Die Hard is perfect, part 2


This is a continuation of my post on why Die Hard is such a perfect movie. I suggest starting there.




Dialogue, Character, and Plot



Every line in the movie adds to the film.  Nothing is wasted. And if there is something, I can't see it.  Yes, there's a reason I'm not breaking this up, mainly the dialogue feeds into both the character and the plot ... and because character adds an extra dynamic to this plot.



The first scene alone does so much, it's stupid. Remember, the scene is John McClane talking to the passenger next to him on an airplane.  It gives him a reason to be shoeless during the movie, and establishes his profession, and is already adding to his character by both giving us his CV in a smooth, effortless way. It establishes his anxiety about flying, giving him a cute character trait.  Also, it already shows us just how much of a smartass he can be... McClane's shoeless wardrobe "choice" in the film leads into a brilliant, brilliant moment that deeply hurts him later on.



We've already covered how the Rolex adds to the plot, and that was all covered in three lines of dialogue -- it both underscores Ellis' pursuit of Holly, struts it before John McClane, and dangles this metaphorical gun in front of the audience's face without anyone realizing how integral ANY of it actually is. Ellis, who has few lines in the movie, serves many functions. One, his presence gives a counterpoint to McClane's actions throughout the film -- no matter how many gunman McClane takes out, he's still only one person. Ellis is one of the many realists in this film, but the only one who is among the hostages.



Ellis' strutting egomania, his coke problem, and his focus on Holly all culminates in the pinnacle of his arc. His egomania and his drug problem drive him to try and negotiate with Hans and company -- he thinks he can talk them down, give them what they want, and they can all go home. And while he gives them McClane's name and occupation, Ellis makes it a point to spin the story that he brought McClane to the party, and there is no mention of Holly. For such a minor character, Ellis provides a lot.... even though giving up John's name will eventually lead to Holly.  And his death is one of the few things that hurts McClane.



And that's a secondary character. Maybe even tertiary.










Dialogue establishes a lot in this movie. It establishes Mr. Takagi's character and backstory with Hans' first speech, and adds an emotional blow to Takagi's death.  The offhand lines about needing the FBI, and "it's all part of the plan" feed into the turning point of the film, and a mystery that is on par with any twist by Mission: ImpossibleLeverage, or Jeffery Deaver.  In fact, I would say that Deaver was warped by Die Hard.



A lot of things in the second half of this movie are almost perfect mirrors to stuff from the first half.  The conversation between John and Holly in (what I think is) her private bathroom leads directly to a conversation that is the turning point of the film... which is also in a bathroom.  McClane is at his lowest point. He's been wounded physically and emotionally. It's the flip side of the earlier conversation with Holly, and while it's depressing, it has a point, and also accomplishes much.  McClane's relationship with the LAPD Sgt. Powell, outside of the building comes to a head, and it leads directly to the punchline.





Dialogue, and the Little Touches





And there are aspects that are not major, massive plot points, but are little things. It was Michelangelo, I think, who said that trifles make perfection, and that perfection is no trifle.  In the case of Die Hard, it's the small things that add a surprising amount of character to people who serve some very basic functions.





Heck, just look at the character shown in Hans' merry band of killers, and the LAPD, who are most assuredly the most basic part of this endeavor.





For example, look at "Karl."  He's the Bond Villain sidekick of this film.  But the first time we see him is carrying a chain saw, about to cut the phone cables for the building...and he's competing against another gunman, who's trying to either bypass the alarm for the building, or cut the phone system via a more elegant, less brutal fashion, I could never tell.  But you could tell from that scene alone that the two gunman are brothers, and that the death of the younger brother by McClane (the first gunman he kills), drives Karl throughout the film, giving him solid reasons for actions that are detrimental to Hans and his plans.





Then there's the terrorist who sets up shop in a confection stand, bringing out piles upon piles of gun magazines .... and grabs a candy bar.





Then there's Theo, the Hacker. Who gambles, likes sports and sports analogies, and takes his computer job seriously, yet treats everything else with a sense of levity.  He's dour and serious about breaking into the computer and the building's vault, but cracks jokes as he coordinates the gunmen to shoot and blow up a bunch of cops.





And then there's the chauffeur, Argyle, whose presence in the film is almost comic relief -- whether we're laughing at his obliviousness to the situation, or his line to the stuffed animal to "shut up," and even his little victory over Hans' hacker.





Conclusion





Obviously, I can go on forever about this movie (as though I haven't already), but let's face it, it's a good film with lots of little things thrown in that make it a great movie. Notice, there are a whole bunch of things I didn't mention that are also writing moments.





Such as?





Hans and McClane, face to face, giving the audience a much-needed confrontation between hero and enemy... 





Enough C4 to Orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger..."Heinrich had the detonators"... all feed into the finale...





Why Hans is possibly the most quotable movie villain ever. He's cultured, he's educated, he's well dressed, he reads all the "right" magazines, and he's such a cold-blooded, callous murderer...





How Die Hard also has elements of parody, going after both the media and the FBI.





There's a lot here, but this article is almost two thousand words long already. Though I think there's no denying that Die Hard could be used to teach writing classes.


Why Die Hard is the most perfect movie ever: A Writing Blog


I've been meaning to do this for a while now, but Die Hard is a perfect movie.

Seriously, perfect. From almost every angle.  Writing-wise, it's a textbook marvel of how to write. Cinematically, it's perfectly shot. Acting wise, it's pitch perfect.

Let me show you what I mean.  At least writing-wise.  I'm not sure I'm good enough to do this for cinematography, but I may give it a shot later on.  I started writing this expecting to go over everything I mentioned, but I may not be able to.  There's a LOT to cover in one topic alone.  In fact, I'm going to break up this blog into two parts. Maybe three.  Also, there will be a Christmas short story launching today: Deck the Maul.

And obviously, spoiler alert.


Quotable Quotes

We all know that the dialogue is brilliant. If Die Hard is not the most quoted and quotable film out there, it's probably in the top ten list.  Tell me you can't see the exact moment, or fill in the blanks of all of the following...

In German: "Karl, schieß dem Fenster."

".... and father of five."

"Happy Trails _____"

"Boom! Two points!"

"I'm going to count to three. ________ there will not be a four."

"Rumor is that Arafat buys his there."

"What kind of _____ are you?"    "Who said we were ______?"

"No Relation."

"We're going to need some more FBI guys."

"I don't want ______ I want dead."

"HHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSS.  Why'd you have to __________?"

"That man looks ________."  "He's alive. Only John _________"

And, of course, "Yippie Kay Yay, _________"



We all know that.  However, what I mean is how well the Gun in Act One is utilized.  Don't know what I mean? Also called Chekov's Gun.





Chekov's Gun



Basically, if you're going to fire a gun in act three, you show the gun in act one.  Conversely, if you show the gun in act one, you better follow up on it in act three.  It's a basic plot point, and basic setting up said point. You take an item you show early on, and you whip it out as a plot point in the last round.



Agatha Christie did it a lot -- showing you something constantly, and revealing that it's of dire importance to the solution of the mystery.



In the case of Die Hard, small, little things impact the plot all over the place. Everything from the cocaine problems of Gary Ellis to a simple stupid Rolex watch.  Don't believe me?  Let's review a few things.



If you remember the story, NYPD officer John McClane heads over to LA to visit his separated wife Holly for Christmas at her place of business.  Using the computer that runs the building, he has discovered that his wife is going by her maiden name. He also finds that she has a sleezy suitor, Gary Ellis -- Ellis has a bit of a drug problem, and is lusting after Holly. Then terrorists take over the building.



And every single sentence of that paragraph is integral to the plot.



Obviously, the terrorists and McClane heading over to LA are the plot, but everything else feeds into it.



Holly using her maiden name seems like a petty relationship problem, but using her maiden name keeps her alive, even after the terrorists find out who McClane is. In a fit of frustration, early in the film, Holly slams down her family photo ... which is a good thing, because the leader Hans takes over her office, and doesn't realize who she is until the last act.



The fact that the computer runs the building is the only way that the terrorists can take total control over an entire skyscraper.



Ellis' drug problem escalates as the movie goes on, making him take a risky chance with Hans that will cost him his life ... but at the same time, his desire for Holly keeps him from turning her over, and Ellis even makes it a point to stress that he didn't give Holly up. Before the terrorist takeover, Ellis shows off that he gave Holly a Rolex ... which became the second-to-last "gun" fired in the entire movie.  If you remember the film, you might remember that Ellis' watch kills Hans, and saves the day.



If you don't remember how the watch saves the day, that's one thing I'm NOT going to spoil.



To be continued in PART TWO.





Friday, December 18, 2015

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Christmas Music: Silent night


In case you're wondering "Why are you doing yet ANOTHER music blog?"  It's because I've been whacked by Jury Duty.  Yay.



Hopefully, updates are to follow.



Be well all.








Saturday, December 5, 2015

Coyote Christmas, a Story by Twitter


So, what's going on today?



Today, on the twitter feed, there will be a new short story.  It'll start at about noon, and end at four.  At the end of the day, all of the story will end up here, but if you want to know about it first, you'll have to visit twitter -- the twitter link is at the right side of the page.



So, subscribe while you can.  The party will start soon.



This story takes place in the twitter feed of Sean AP Ryan.  A security consultant, a mercenary, and someone who is possibly quite, quite mad. He has faced people who are NOT Fred Phelps of the WBC.  He has dangled someone off of the Empire State Building. He has bargained his way out of an LA jail.  And this is just in the short stories that have appeared on this site. (Linked to in the left hand column.)



The story is finished!  Read below the break





Coyote Christmas, a Story by Twitter



The following is from the twitter feed of Sean AP Ryan. Security consultant. Events occur in modified real time.



New client! Tiffany Stacker, Fullerton. She has $ and a problem with the neighbors. Sounds good to me. Muahaha



Humming Angels We Have Heard On High, mostly to keep from killing something. Tackiest gated community ever! Where are the pink flamingos?





Homes are pretentious. Big, trimmed in silver, columns in front of their doors … Drug dealers watching Miami Vice have better taste





Their gate has nothing No electrical shock, or motion sensors. If they think they need my expertise, they need to up their system.



Holy heck, is that a frigging coyote?





Yup, coyote. We had a brief stare down. I think we came to an agreement. Back to work



The door chime is a full orchestra Chorus of the Bells. Oh look, Christmas time, we have to show off who has the most toys. God save me.





Butler doesn't like me. Go figure. Can't guess how I infiltrated the community. after that supermax with the MS-13 guy, this is easy.





MS-13: Mara Salvatrucha. An LA / Latino gang that could give Al-Qaeda a bad headache.





This family has more dollars than sense. Foyer carpet too expensive to be near muddy boots / door. This may not be fun.





Jeeves looks like he wants to grab a can of Raid and spray me like the pest I am. Decided that would be uncouth. Gone to fetch his masters.





“His masters.” I would be better off if I cut back on the PG Wodehouse.





The client, Tiffany Stacker: bleached botoxed, augmented. Well past her exp date. She has as many original parts as 60s Disney animatronics





People outside the community are "picking on poor little boy.” Either TS spawned late in life, or hiding a middle-age loser in the basement.





Don't kill the client. I should charge her for gas mileage. Considering I basically drove an armored Hummer, that would teach her.





Calling me a rent-a-cop is like calling a mushroom cloud a really neat special effect.





Private security means that I protect against actual threats; threats that I can touch and get my hands on … preferably around their throats





Outside the house and halfway down the block. Calm now. Few people had ever heard O Come, All Ye Faithful hummed angry.





Ask me to play “pest control,” will you? Fumigate your own bloody children. Grrr.





Annoying little yappy dog that thinks it's a Doberman. New York street rats could take out this little ball of fluff and fury.





Coyote darted from bushes, grabbed dog in jaws, and RAN. I knew I liked that coyote for a reason.



At car … found someone else's car trashed. 90's Japanese POS I wouldn't be caught dead in. It would be crap against bullets. That'll hurt.





Ran into old friend: Fullerton author. Still cleaning up after that visit. Not my fault some people just leave their explosives lying around





Trashed car happens “Every once in a while,” when momma cuts off guy's marijuana allowance. The guy? Spawn of Tiffany Stacker.





Author & Friends can't join up and beat this sucker so hard, they find him detoxing in the gutter. Two reasons: one "my soul'd get sticky"



Reason 2: Car owner a (legal) immigrant. If anything happens to Mommy's Precious Little Boy, author's friend will be deported





Hmm … Are these people big fish, or is this a small pond? Author's answer: “I wouldn't say we're a pond, really. None of us are very coy.”





Considering that this is a standard POS model older than me, thus author's friend isn't well off. Also, a crappy car with a shiny radio. Hmm





Yes, I am all kinds of perceptive.





My point: wrecking a car steals most of her food money for months. Author's friend doesn't have two nickels to rub together, & he stole one.





Yeah, I'm pissed off now. When I'm done, he'll wish that he HAD been left in a gutter somewhere.





Righteous indignation? No. I drove all the way out here, might as well do something fun. Yes, my "fun" is some people's "mass murder." Heh.





Author looked me up. Asked if I'd blow up the whole community, or just small parts of it. I must find those leaks and plug them





Stacker's 1st reply on seeing me? “Don't rape me!” Please, I have standards. Give her my "hostage negotiator" smile. See if that'll work





I'm a 5'6” in Hollywierd, she thinks I approve of bullies? I want her kid arrested, in jail, then rehab, and not the Lindsay Lohan plan.





Detcord around Christmas tree = awesomeness. And property damage. A Lexus and an Aston Martin dead. Score! She said do my worst ....



Saw author again. I ruined one of her takes A trailer for her book. "Actors" paid in tacos, apparently



I ruined her trailer filming because “That explosion was you, wasn't it?” Heh. I don't self-destruct. Don't believe the internet rumors.





Curses, video on Youtube. Damn, now I need to threaten someone who owns YouTube. Google, isn't it? Hmm, did they get my good side?





The author's answer: “Well, it was hard to tell. You were covered in ash at the time.” Ah, that one. Good times.



Apparently, it's not a Christmas tree. It's a 'holiday tree.' Gated communities have planning committees. Grr.



Oh look, cops. Gee whiz, I wonder what caught their attention.



 I'm out. Payback time.



Author suggest cat treats. They are “coyote crack.” Good to know, but why is she telling me?



Her answer: “the more I help, the less property damage you'll cause.” Yeah, keep thinking that



Charlie Stacker (the son) looks like he's from an Occupy Wall Street rally: college age neo-hippie, all of his clothes bought from Old Navy.



The Son on one side of a fence, smothered in cat treats, bound in Detcord. Coyotes finally showed up. Time to chat



I “wouldn't dare” touch him. His' mommy'd sic the federal government on me. Maybe if I hadn't handed Israeli's a terrorist plot recently



He doesn't want to go to jail, or rehab. I knew the family was stupid; but this is qualifying for a Darwin award. It's feeding time!!!



Darn coyotes won't eat him. Fun fact: coyotes don't eat the bodies of meth users. And, he has an empty house on his iPhone address book



Fourth coyote is staring at me while the others lick the cat treats up. Okay, he can tag along, but can't eat anyone unless I say. Period



Meth labs smell to high heaven, thus many are in rural areas, where other people can't take a whiff; and they can very easily be blown up.



A foreclosed house in the middle of a cluster of foreclosed houses = meth lab.



Found house. It has a guard. Tossed cat treat at guard's feet, and coyote won't go. Looking at me like I'm stupid. Thanks a lot.




Took out meth lab guard myself with the tactical baton. He has MS13 tats all over him. WTF have I gotten into THIS time?



Apparently, using illegal female sex slaves to make your meth cuts down on your risk of being blown up or poisoned by the gasses. #HulkSmash



Half a million dollars in property damage later. I feel better. Illegals cut a deal. Arrests soon now. Current tune: O Come All Ye Faithful.



The author likes my armored Hummer. She's taking notes. She's cute. Though I'm not in the market to train a new girlfriend.



Yes, I said train! Training someone to handle a gun proficiently takes work. I can rely on my girlfriend for cover fire.



Crap! People are shooting at me. MS13 has a good response time. ARs with barrel drum magazines. 200-300 shots per. God bless armored cars.



I have enough weapons in the trunk to level the surrounding area. I don't think I can talk my way out of a collateral-heavy counterstrike.



I hope this next trick works. Before you throw grenades, you throw rocks.



I tossed a bag of cat treats. Coyote jumped one gunman, I shot the other in the knees. Bad gangbanger. Sit. Stay.



FAQ: Yes, I threw someone off the Empire State Building, attached to a bungee cord. He's just lucky I remembered to attach it this time.




Hmm, apparently, a terrorist attack in Bethlehem – only a Palestinian Authority security guy had been killed.



Always nice to do a favor for someone.




Current tune: Angels We Have Heard on High, at max volume, to counter the noise of pounding from the trunk.



The MS-13 shooter in the trunk is getting annoying. When I find out who sent him, he'll be home for Christmas. In very small boxes.