Die Hard: Still Holds Up, But Let's Talk Pacing...

Alright film buffs, AndersonCuts back at it. Watched Die Hard again last night, you know, for the checks notes 100th time? Still a great action flick, no doubt. The late 80s just nailed that raw, gritty feel. But something I always come back to with this movie is the pacing, specifically in the beginning. I gotta admit, the initial setup feels a tad slow these days. Like, we get it, McClane's a fish-out-of-water, having marital issues, blah blah. The arrival at Nakatomi Plaza, the awkward limo ride... it's necessary for character development, sure, but I'm always itching for Hans and his crew to just bust in already. Does anyone else feel like the tension ramps up a little too gradually? Especially compared to modern action movies that just throw you right into the chaos. Now, once the proverbial s**t hits the fan? Forget about it. The movie becomes a masterclass in sustained tension, especially with the visual storytelling. But I wonder if a modern edit could shave off a few minutes at the start to get to the action sooner without losing too much impact. Would that improve the film overall, or is that slow burn essential to appreciating McClane's transformation from ordinary cop to one-man army? What do you guys think – too slow, or perfectly paced? Also, little thing that bugs me, Karl's brother. Did we honestly need that whole revenge subplot? It felt a bit tacked on, even back then. Just sayin'. Yippee-ki-yay, and all that.