die hard 2 film analysis

1. Die Hard 2 Film Analysis
The boom short at the start of the scene shows the big Christmas tree at the
airport which gives the audience the thought that it is Christmas. This is also
shown at the same time through the non-digetic music which is of jingle bells.
This connotes that it is a joyful time of the year and backs Todorov’s equilibrium
as everything is stable at the start.
As Bruce Willis enters the airport the genre signifier is hinted through his
character as it being an action film, as Mr Willis is a known actor in the action
genre. The audience is also presented with the protagonist as he is well known
for being the ‘good guy’ in films.
The antagonist is introduced in the next scene and we are presented with an
enigma code as he stands naked and alone in the room. We are shown that the
villain is in close proximity of the airport and of where our protagonist Bruce
Willis is through the camera coming through the window and into the room. This
foreshadows the clash of the two main characters due to their close proximity.
The man in the hotel room is shown in a mysterious and narcissistic way which
is shown through the extreme low and high shots which show the villains waxed
body whilst doing Ti-chee. His sharp movements show that he is prepared for a
battle and signifies the action genre to the audience. The news on the TV gives
the idea of the villain being linked with the drug dealer Esperanza Gomez
through images on the TV of the villain with this drug dealer. This confirms to
any members of the audience who has any doubt if the man in the room is a
villain that he definitely is.
In the next scene we see a phone call between the protagonist and his wife.
Their conversation is an action code as they are discussing what they will do
when she lands and it moves the narrative forward. We are also given
information of the time that it is set in through the way they talk about the
outbreak of technology. The sun is coming through the window of the plane and
there is a more chill setting on the plane while the airport is more frantic. This

2. gives the impression to the audience that the chaos is more likely to climax in
the airport than on a plane.
The binary opposition of organization vs disorganization is shown through the
organization of the antagonist and his associates and their well structured timing
in contrast with the disorganization of the people at the airport who are in a rush.
This highlights the potential danger of the villains and how nobody will be
expecting their terrorist encounter as they are too busy.