Die Hard 2: Die Harder (R)

John McClane spreads vigilante Christmas cheer.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
5
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Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Renny Harlin
  • Cast: Bonnie Bedelia, Bruce Willis, William Atherton
  • Running Time: 124 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/02/1990
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 03/09/1999
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: Restricted

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film features constant violence. Both the good guys and the bad guys put innocent people in harms way. They use strong language and physical violence to get their points across. In addition, as with all of the Die Hard films, the protagonist McClane seeks justice through his own means that are contrary to rules of law.

Families can talk about issues regarding the media, the legal system, and national security. How does the film comment on the media, through its presentation of Thornburg and Coleman? How does each character represent the responsibilities of members of the media? The movie presents a complicated relationship between the military and the police. Both John and the head commando Colonel Stewart make choices that deviate from their actual job descriptions. What is the difference between the two? What makes one right and one wrong?

Message

Social Behavior:

The film includes extremely violent individuals, both on the sides of good and evil. It presents a very complex image of government, police, and civilians (traitors, incompetents, and vigilantes). All engage in excessive violence, but the film does not really interrogate the type of violence used by the film's hero. His role as savior for the innocent rationalizes his killings in the world of the film.

Consumerism:

Twinkies.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Murder of the innocent, lots of gunplay, freak accidents involving machinery, explosions, human stampedes, graphic executions of members of the police force, knife fight and graphic stabbing, throat slitting, dismembering, plane explosion, premeditated airplane crash (and death of all of its passengers

Sex

Brief (non-sexualized) male nudity.

Language

Repeated use of the f-word, frequent swearing out of anger and frustration.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kelly Kessler

After saving LA from the evil Germans, John McClane was hoping to spend a peaceful Christmas with his family in the nation's capitol. Instead, he finds himself in middle of a terrorist plot to blow up the airport. In his attempt to save the day and rescue his wife (who's trapped on one of the circling flights), he must negotiate military-trained commandos (led by William Sadler), inept police, and government forces (led by John Amos).

Is it any good?

5
DIE HARD 2 repeated the success of the first film and helped to continue Willis's rise to stardom. Fans of the first installment will enjoy appearances by Reginald Vel Johnson (Family Matters) as John's LAPD buddy and William Atherton (Ghostbusters, Real Genius) as an opportunist news reporter. This installment also features Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue) as the head of the airport police. Don't miss the thrilling ejection from the airplane, and though playing with a lighter saves the day, make sure the kids know that isn't a good idea.

Families may also want to consider that the main conflict of this film engages with the topics of terrorism and airports. In a post-9/11 America, kids may be particularly sensitive about any hostile combination of these two topics.

Other choices

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

Age 17+
5


Posted on 04/20/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

Another classic.

John McClane returns in part two of the four part series. In this one, there are 70 uses of f--k and other profane words such as s--t and a--hole. One use of c--ksucker. There is brief male nudity.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 04/07/08 by G3 Adult contributor

not as good as the first (or 4th) but still good

3


Posted on 06/29/07 by Curbspaget Kid contributor, age 16

Worse than the first.

The first movie is much better, but this one is still pretty good. There's a little bit of male nudity towards the start, but that's it. As for violence: some explosions, a fist fight, and several gun fights. It would probably earn a PG-13 rating overall. There's about 40 f-words, and other ones mixed in. Nothing else, really.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 17+
5


Posted on 04/20/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

Another classic.

John McClane returns in part two of the four part series. In this one, there are 70 uses of f--k and other profane words such as s--t and a--hole. One use of c--ksucker. There is brief male nudity.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 04/07/08 by G3 Adult contributor

not as good as the first (or 4th) but still good

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

3


Posted on 06/29/07 by Curbspaget Kid contributor, age 16

Worse than the first.

The first movie is much better, but this one is still pretty good. There's a little bit of male nudity towards the start, but that's it. As for violence: some explosions, a fist fight, and several gun fights. It would probably earn a PG-13 rating overall. There's about 40 f-words, and other ones mixed in. Nothing else, really.
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