Slowly Going Bald

I favour Die Hard 2. Whether or not it's actually a better film judged on its own merits, the third one fits awkwardly in the Die Hard franchise. It just feels too much like a Lethal Weapon movie. Nothing against Murtaugh and Riggs, but John McClane is best as a lone wolf rather than as part of the "buddy cop" genre.

Is it wrong to like Vengeance merely because it has a great opening explosion to the sounds of The Lovin' Spoonful, and also because it has Samuel L. Jackson?

In a small side note, I caught Die Hard 2 on TBS late one night, and dubbed over the line "Yippee ki-ay, motherfucker!" was the absolute best censored line ever: "Bye Bye, Mister Falcon!" I was laughing for minutes I tell you, minutes!

Die Hard 2 is way better. I agree with Peter, Vengeance is it's own beast.

I haven't actually seen either (I know, shame, shame), but based on hype I would have to say Vengeance. The reason I'd been refusing to see the sequels was because I knew Alan Rickman wasn't in them, so what's the point? But Jeremy Irons is a more than adequate substitute.

I'm with you on this one Dan. Vengeance is my favorite. How can you not love a movie with the line, "Yeah, Zeus. As in father of Apollo? Mt. Olympus? Don't eff with me or I'll shove a lightning bolt up your ass? Zeus! You got a problem with that?" (edited for little eyes)?! Samuel L. Jackson is hilarious in that movie, plus it's jam packed with riddles and action.

I've been laughing about that "Mr. Falcon" line for years now. Usually, bowdlerization is for the worse, but this time, "Falcon" being the villain's code name, it's done so cleverly that it actually improves the movie.

My God, Die Hard with a Vengeance without a doubt.

It's never boring, you get to see John McClane in his element as a New York cop, you have the tie-in with the first movie as Jeremy Irons is Alan Rickman's brother (and you don't actually see his face until an hour in - "They bought it.") Samuel L. Jackson in that period when he was starting to get name recognition status, and most of all, John McTiernan back directing after Renny Fucking Harlin did Die Harder (which is still pretty damn cool)

I don't want to see the new one though.

Vengeance

Die Hard 2 was terrible, just terrible

All three are among my guiltiest pleasures and, while I can add little to the already excellent arguments in favor of Vengeance, I'll agree and say that it's far superior to 2.