Die Hard Bruce

It was in the early 90s when the Sterling Theatre one of the most impressive theatres in Mumbai both in terms of technology and ambience was screening Die Hard 2. Sterling  catered to a select and niche audience particularly to the elite in South Mumbai and screened only Hollywood films in those times. I remember very distinctly that before Die Hard 2 was screened Sterling was the first theatre in India to introduce the Dolby Sound System. There was lot of buzz around the film and so being a film enthusiast I paid a visit to Sterling, after requesting my parents not before a struggle for tickets of course.

I could sense the expectation of the House Full crowd, the chatter, the smiles, the fashion and the lovely Red coloured lay out of the auditorium. The atmosphere was riveting. We settled in our seats and as the casting was about to begin we heard the sound of a plane approaching and it grew and grew on us and then there was a massive roar of the engines as if the plane had just grazed our hair. The sound was scorching loud and it literally shook my heart and the entire thoracic cavity. Dolby Sound System had made a resounding, nerve jangling debut as Die Hard 2 flashed on the screen.

Cop John McClaine played by Bruce Willis in this slick, edge of the seat, racy airport thriller had become a worldwide craze and for me too the film became one of my all time favourite action films. With the first two editions   of the Die Hard series, Bruce Willis had established himself as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood and after the success of the third film ( Die Hard with a Vengeance ) of  the Franchise in 1995 Bruce Willis was propelled to the top slot amongst action heroes in Hollywood. The first three films of the Die Hard Franchise had grossed over US$700 million internationally.

 The brave, gritty, unrelenting cop John McClaine kept coming back at the bad guys and eventually had them in the end. Bruce Willis essayed the character with such finesse that John McClaine, Die Hard and Bruce Willis became synonymous with each other and whenever I heard or read about Bruce Willis I remembered Die Hard. For me and many around the world Bruce Willis and Die Hard just could not be dissociated. Further his films like the award winning Pulp Fuction and Sixth Sense bolstered his acting credentials and brought him legendary status.

Life has the ability to spring surprises which sometimes may be painful too. Bruce Willis’ health condition has deteriorated and he has been diagnosed with Aphasia, a cognitive disorder wherein one fails to properly communicate. This has led to the legend announcing his retirement from Films. This has saddened me a bit.

I m certain he would have tried hard to fight the disorder considering his determined demeanour, his flashy brilliance, his courage and gumption  which he so effortlessly displayed on screen, but unfortunately as of now it seems the Hero has been subdued, though not for long I seriously hope.

Just don’t write him off yet,  because he not Bruce Willis alone, he is Die Hard Bruce…who just keeps coming back.