Die Hard 2 (1990)

Ebert finds the sequel a skillfully constructed and well-directed thriller that carries momentum past credibility gaps, calling it terrific entertainment and as much fun as the Bond pictures. He singles out for praise the convincing plane crash sequence and an exhilarating shot of Willis being catapulted toward the camera.

Maslin praises the film as the fastest, scariest action film of the summer, highlighting lean, edgy direction, astonishing stunts, and Willis's magnetic, self-effacing hero who regrets violence even as he excels at it. She singles out the character's clever drawing and the way the story accommodates his wife's career.

The critic calls it a hugely entertaining slice of action hokum. Director Renny Harlin piles on grand explosions and set pieces rather than recreating the original's battle of wits.

The piece frames Die Hard 2 as a self-aware sequel that embraces its derivative, repetitive nature in the spirit of Nietzsche's eternal return, highlighting McClane's media-savvy myth-making and the film's Christmas setting. It praises the way it revels in absurdity while delivering solid action and character moments.

The critic notes the self-referential irony saves the film and praises Willis's one-liners and vulnerability. Harlin fails to match the original's claustrophobic tension but compensates with timing, speed and volume, succeeding magnificently as action.

Benson calls it the most cheerfully preposterous film of a jaw-dropping summer and a lively three-ring circus, noting Harlin's crunchingly effective direction and technical flair despite the lack of logic. She singles out for complaint the weak villain compared to the first film's Alan Rickman character.

The critic notes that Die Hard 2 loses some of the original's clever efficiency and soul but succeeds as enjoyable dumb fun with bigger action setpieces and zingers. Strong supporting performances, especially from William Sadler and Dennis Franz, help elevate the sequel.

The review notes that Die Hard 2 lacks the inventiveness of the original but compensates with relentless action, working as sheer entertainment with shootouts and fistfights. It credits Harlin with a creditable job on the large-scale assignment while noting he lacks McTiernan’s grip on action and sometimes uses slow-motion that saps energy.

Renny Harlin's sequel is an object lesson in sequel-making that delivers knowing nods and ramps up the explosions, though the villain falls short of Alan Rickman's standard. It is entertaining nonsense that does not quite recapture the original's magic but remains enjoyable thanks to Bruce Willis.

The critic finds it mostly a retread of the original lacking ingenuity and originality, with the biggest issue being a misunderstanding of McClane's motives and ignoring the conflict of saving his wife. Willis and the supporting cast are strong, and some new action sequences work, but the script is lazy and the film coasts on the first movie's success.

The critic finds it a fairly standard actioner struggling in the shadow of the original; praises Harlin's action direction and set pieces but notes absent emotional beats and a bland villain.