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cmmosher t1_j2aw209 wrote

Reply to comment by LukeKellysLoveChild in Was Bruce Willis in Die Hard the ushering in of the modern everyman action star? by SquatOnAPitbull

It's a relative thing. For most of the 80's Arnie and Stallone were the big budget action heroes. Willis was best known for Moonlighting. The big action hero persona Willis has came about because of Die Hard. John McLane first kill in the movie was an accident.

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drelos t1_j2b971k wrote

>John McLane first kill in the movie was an accident.

I always pay attention to the stunt guys in this movie, that guy got blasted against every wall in the Nakatomi, McClane has zero easy fight in the first movie.

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cmmosher t1_j2bgz0c wrote

Not saying it was easy but I he first baddy to die happened after they fell down a flight of stairs and the badfu broke his neck. John was just trying to survive not kill him.

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LukeKellysLoveChild t1_j2awqdg wrote

Even in the context of film I don't think this is what you call an everyman. It's definitely not in literature and theatre. I would have heard the term first studying literature. I didn't finish my degree thoughso take what I say with a pinch of salt

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cmmosher t1_j2ay7vv wrote

Like I said it's more of a relative thing for the time and genre. There was some negativity because Willis was not seen as a super tough guy not even like earlier action stars like Steve McQueen. He was also typecast as a goofy guy. He certainly is not an everyman by reality's standards but action movies aren't reality. The decade started with Harrison Ford as the big action hero but bulky muscle men replaced that ideal. Willis was probably more of a return to form.

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