I expected Die Hard 2 to be nothing but endless car crashes and unimaginative machine gun deaths. What I saw was an entirely different movie.

   Die Hard 2 is a great summer movie filled with action, humor, and the right amount of suspense to keep the audience wondering about and worrying about what will happen next.

    The entire cast added to the enjoyment of the picture by working well with Bruce Willis’s character, John McClane. The friction between McClane and the actor playing the head of airport security was believable as well as funny. McClane is constantly where he doesn’t belong. His methods of getting into the restricted areas show the character’s creative ability to be in the most dangerous places at the worst possible times.

    Of course, the death toll was quite high. (What else would one expect with a title like Die Hard 2?) I counted a rough estimate of 23 people killed in fights, not to mention those that are destined to meet a "fiery" end. The movie contained more swears per minute than any other I can think of. No doubt, this contributed as heavily to the R rating as did the violence.

    The violence is balanced by constant humor which I think is put in purposely to make the repetitive dying seem less real and more acceptable. Accept it, the audience did. In fact, the audience, which ranged from age 12 to age 60, clapped a total of ten times during the two hour film! I’ve never experienced so much audience reaction in a theater. They loved it whenever Bruce Willis caused a villain to meet his well-deserved death.

 (This review appeared in The Evening Times July 13, 1990 p. E-6)

The top 10 things I hear most often in the course of my day as a teacher:

1) What do we do when we’re done?

2) Can I go to the bathroom?

3a) Is it time for lunch yet? (a.m. only)

3b) Is it time to go home yet? (p.m. only)

4) Why do we have to do this?

5) Do we have to finish this for homework?

6) It’s not fair!

7) Mrs. So-and-so doesn’t do it that way.

8) It’s not my fault. He started it. She did it first.

9) I don’t get it. I don't want to do this.

10) What? Huh?

The top 10 things I will never hear in the course of my day as a teacher:

1) May we work on extra math problems when we’re finished?

2) I’ll wait to go to the bathroom. I don't want to leave because I might miss something.

3a) I can’t believe it’s already time for lunch. I think I’ll stay in at recess and do some extra challenge work. (a.m. only)

3b) I can’t believe it's already time to go home. I wish the school day was longer. (p.m. only)

4) I’m glad we get to work on this. Thanks for being so thoughtful in selecting our activities.

5) Too bad we’re out of time. Can we take this home and finish it for homework?

6) I know things don't always seem fair, but I also know you’re doing the best you can, so I accept your judgement.

7) That’s much better than the way Mrs. So-and-so does it.

8) Yes, it’s all my fault. I started it. I did it first. I take full responsibility.

9) I get it! I tried harder and now I really get it!

10) Would you repeat that please? I didn't hear you because I wasn’t listening.