John McTiernan was born in New York in 1951. At the age of 26 he wrote and directed a little seen movie that helped get his career rolling. From there he directed 3 of the biggest action films of the late eighties and early nineties. He continued making successful films through the nineties but just as the new century began his run of success came to an end.
Now I haven't seen all his movies yet. Over the years I have seen 8 of his films, either on television or in the theater, which leaves three that I have never had the pleasure of viewing. I'm excited for his debut film, after all this is what got him Predator, which led to Die Hard and then to The Hunt for Red October. That's the best Arnold Movie, the best action movie and the best Jack Ryan movie all in a row. Wow!!!
In 1993 he directed the under rated Last Action Hero, and followed that with the second best of the Die Hard films. In 1999 he directed the Thomas Crown remake, but in 2002 he followed it with Rollerball. Now I haven't seen Rollerball yet, but I hear just awful things about it. Following that he directed Basic, an absolute awful movie staring John Travolta. In 2006 he got into legal troubles and hasn't made a film since.
So now it's time to watch and review the cannon (so far) of John Mctiernan. Four of the eight that I've seen are distant memories now, so it'll be fun to watch them and see if my opinions have changed. The three I haven't seen I have high hopes for (okay, not Rollerball, but the rest). So come follow along as I immerse myself into the legendary world of a truly great action director.
To truly critique McTiernan's work I have to start from the beginning. And that beginning is March 7th, 1986. That's the day that Nomads is released. And so I bid you farewell as I am about to get comfortable on the couch, with a pillow behind me and a cool drink at my side and Nomads, loading up in the player...
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