{"product_id":"die-hard-by-jon-lewis-9781839026522","title":"Die Hard","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUpon its release, John McTiernan’s \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e (1988) was met with immense commercial and critical success; breaking the $100 million mark at the box office in its first run, and resulting in four Academy Award nominations.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJon Lewis’s study of the action classic closely examines the film's novel and script adaptation, highlighting the influential role of producer Joel Silver. He delves into Silver's ground-breaking ‘whammy theory’, which redefined script structure by organizing scripts around timed ‘beats’ rather than traditional acts or scenes. This innovation had a significant impact not only on \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e, but also on other iconic franchises like \u003ci\u003eLethal Weapon\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePredator\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Matrix\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLewis goes on to consider the film's evocation of post-Vietnam male panic and its connection to the Iron John movement. He highlights \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e as a prime example of the ‘male rampage film’ genre, where white male protagonists express frustration with cultural antagonists such as feminism, economic regulation, government bureaucracy, and political corruption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, he reflects on how \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e resonated with its 1988 audience, who were looking for new antagonists in a changing world. The film's anticipation of European radical political groups and later terrorism rooted in North Africa and the Middle East foreshadows the era-defining ‘war on terror’ that would follow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PTY Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47362555085036,"sku":"9781839026522","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21250043482842.jpg?v=1772891866","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/die-hard-by-jon-lewis-9781839026522","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}