"Welcome to the party, pal." Celebrating Bruce Willis and his Career.

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Comments

  • i feel sorry for the bloke but from what ive read he wasnt easy to work with..Big ego etc.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    Bruce Willis' wife shares moving message on husband's 68th birthday

    Belated Happy Birthday Bruce.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 4,440
    A true 'movie star' if there is such a thing.

    Die Hard is definitely his masterpiece. One of the greatest action films and a wonderful performance from Willis.

    The sequels were mostly entertaining and dipped in quality as they went along.

    My other favourites of his films are:
    The Last Boy Scout
    Pulp Fiction
    Sin City
    Unbreakable
    Looper
    Striking Distance
    The Fifth Element

  • Posts: 8,379
    A true 'movie star' if there is such a thing.

    Die Hard is definitely his masterpiece. One of the greatest action films and a wonderful performance from Willis.

    The sequels were mostly entertaining and dipped in quality as they went along.

    My other favourites of his films are:
    The Last Boy Scout
    Pulp Fiction
    Sin City
    Unbreakable
    Looper
    Striking Distance
    The Fifth Element

    'Looper' is a really good movie! I would also add '12 Monkeys' in there, Bruce is very good in that!
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 4,440
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    A true 'movie star' if there is such a thing.

    Die Hard is definitely his masterpiece. One of the greatest action films and a wonderful performance from Willis.

    The sequels were mostly entertaining and dipped in quality as they went along.

    My other favourites of his films are:
    The Last Boy Scout
    Pulp Fiction
    Sin City
    Unbreakable
    Looper
    Striking Distance
    The Fifth Element

    'Looper' is a really good movie! I would also add '12 Monkeys' in there, Bruce is very good in that!

    He is great in 12 Monkeys but that film has never really grabbed me like it should. And I love most of Gilliams work.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    Bruce Willis set to make poignant farewell in final ever movie...
    https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1794241/Bruce-Willis-final-movie-Tarantino

    The article contradicts itself in the first paragraph.

    This does not sit right with me.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,118
    I've been checking out some of Bruce's films I never got around to. While I had seen Lucky Number Slevin before, I forgot just how pulpy and twisty it is. I had a blast with it again all these years later. The Last Boy Scout was also a surprising amount of fun, with that opening football sequence being really unexpected and shocking.
  • edited August 2023 Posts: 1,394
    All the best to Bruce Willis.Honestly gave up watching his movies years ago due to him doing straight to streaming rubbish ( which were sold on his appearance but really he only worked a few days on them each ).

    However,it’s now known of course he was taking these easy gigs due to his declining health which is understandable.He certainly left his mark on action cinema but was also a top class actor when he made the effort.

    Just goes to show that money isn’t everything.Your health is your wealth.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    I want to see Moonlighting get on Netflix (it isn't in Canada) or even a disc set of Moonlighting. Some great TV! I recall watching that show and it was like no other show on TV. Willis was David Addison! The line was blurred for me.

    There was a good WWII drama with Colin Farrell and Bruce that was quite entertaining. Drawing a blank on the name. Striking Distance was a good movie. Last Boy Scout is a time capsule of the 90's. Cliches and tropes galore but what a ride!
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,118
    thedove wrote: »
    I want to see Moonlighting get on Netflix (it isn't in Canada) or even a disc set of Moonlighting. Some great TV! I recall watching that show and it was like no other show on TV. Willis was David Addison! The line was blurred for me.

    There was a good WWII drama with Colin Farrell and Bruce that was quite entertaining. Drawing a blank on the name. Striking Distance was a good movie. Last Boy Scout is a time capsule of the 90's. Cliches and tropes galore but what a ride!

    Is that Hart's War? I've seen that cover plenty of times over the years but don't believe I ever saw the film myself. And yes, The Last Boy Scout was a riot. Willis and Wayans together were a really great duo.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    Thanks @Creasy47 that's the one. A combo of courtroom and Great Escape. It was well done.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    I've been checking out some of Bruce's films I never got around to. While I had seen Lucky Number Slevin before, I forgot just how pulpy and twisty it is. I had a blast with it again all these years later. The Last Boy Scout was also a surprising amount of fun, with that opening football sequence being really unexpected and shocking.

    I have seen the majority of Bruce's films up to the last Die Hard movie, some films only once, The Last Boy Scout is definitely one I should revisit I am pretty sure Tony Scott did that one. I have a lot of Bruce's films on DVD.

    I have not watched Glass all the way through I think that was his last high profile movie, not seen the remake of Death Wish all the way through either.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    I will always admire Bruce for trying different projects and characters. Yes he settled mostly into the action genre but films like Hart's War, Color of the Night, 12 Monkey's, Bandits, and even Hostage were all interesting choices for him to make as an actor.

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,118
    thedove wrote: »
    I will always admire Bruce for trying different projects and characters. Yes he settled mostly into the action genre but films like Hart's War, Color of the Night, 12 Monkey's, Bandits, and even Hostage were all interesting choices for him to make as an actor.

    And his balance as an action hero and a comedically-timed perfectionist in The Fifth Element is one of many reasons why it's one of my favorite sci-fi films.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    MaxCasino wrote: »

    Very sad news it sounds very aggressive, I have had dementia training and worked with people who had aphasia many years ago. From what I have read Bruce has a great family and no doubt he will be getting the support he needs.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    I remember wondering what Willis was doing starring in all these direct to DVD movies and the like. Now knowing that he was trying to bank money to help with the future of this terrible disease it wrenches my heart more.

    Such a fan of this man and his actiing. I even remember enjoying Hudson Hawk because of his charisma on screen. A true movie star in every sense of the word.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    I first saw Bruce in Moonlighting, great show back in the 80's he had the charisma to be a big star right from the start.

    Die Hard is an obvious choice though Twelve Monkeys is one of my favorite Bruce Willis films, The Fifth Element is a lot of fun also I rewatched that recently on 4K.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 14,617
    I first saw Bruce in Moonlighting, great show back in the 80's he had the charisma to be a big star right from the start.

    Die Hard is an obvious choice though Twelve Monkeys is one of my favorite Bruce Willis films, The Fifth Element is a lot of fun also I rewatched that recently on 4K.
    Add Unbreakable for me.

  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    edited July 23 Posts: 716
    Bruce's movies are something of a mixed bag for me, but there were plenty to enjoy.
    A few late period efforts I haven't seen mentioned above are

    16 Blocks, an old school cop movie, which allows Bruce some acting room to play a "veteran cop with personal problems", it could do with a better ending, there are two on the DVD I have, but neither was quite satisfying to me

    Hostage a lurid but effective suspense / thriller

    Surrogates Sci-fi action, the first half is very good, but disappointing in the second half, when it doesn't follow up or properly explore some potentialy interesting ideas and takes some very lame options

    Red likeable comedy / action with an ensemble of aging stars

    Once Upon A Time In Venice (Beach) crime fiction / comedy. not really that great, but I appreciate the attempt to rediscover Bruce's fun persona or yore

    Death Wish putting aside any comparisons with the original, or considering the greater impact or relevance of the original to it's own time period, or questioning the point of a remake, this is a decent effort on its' own merits

    Glass the conclusion of M Night Shymalan's loose "superhero" trilogy, with the usual strengths and weaknesses of an MNS film and Bruce's last lead role in a theatrical release.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Back to Joe Don.
    Posts: 7,231
    I want to watch True West.
  • RyanRyan Canada
    Posts: 764
    The Last Boy Scout has long been a favourite of mine. A highly entertaining film with that Shane Black wit, Tony Scott's excellent action, and great chemistry between Willis and Wayans.
  • Posts: 8,379
    Another one to watch of Bruce's, is 'Last Man Standing' which was yet another reworking of 'Yojimbo' or 'A Fistful of Dollars' for those unfamiliar with the former! Walter Hill directed,which is why I like it a lot, and it has a great cameo from Christopher Walken!
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,193
    Recently rewatched The Sixth Sense the film still works well and Bruce is great, the ending hits hard.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    If you want to see how some sequels are pointless watch "The Whole Nine Yards" and then watch "The Whole Ten Yards". Talk about a pointless sequel. The first movie is a funny entertaining romp. Willis the hitman trying to stay out of trouble and Matthew Perry as the dentist who gets drawn into the whole mess.

    The second film is a trainwreck. Shows that Hollywood often greenlights projects thinking they will catch lightning in a bottle a second time.
  • Posts: 412
    I've always been a fan of Hudson Hawk since it's release. The problem with the negative response to the film at the time was I think one of perception. It was sold as a Bruce Willis movie produced by Joel Silver so people were expecting another Die Hard style film and what they got was a surrealistic comedy. If it had been sold as such I think people may have got it
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited July 26 Posts: 18,682
    Hudson Hawk is an odd one. I do kind of like it and its style, but also I think there’s quite a lot of it which doesn’t work! I’d still rather have it than not though, it’s certainly never boring.
    One slightly sad thing is that its failure seemed to mean that we never saw that goofy comedy, Moonlighting-ish side of Bruno again.
  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    edited July 27 Posts: 716
    Bruce's big screen comedic outings have been rather "Hit and Miss" to say the least, with often sharply divided love / hate opinions, perhaps because many of them are satires or black comedys which often fail to connect with the mass audience

    Blind Date is a mixed bag

    Look Whos Talking I like it, but Bruce is only a voice

    Bonfire Of The Vanities isn't well liked, despite also having the beloved Tom Hanks

    Hudson Hawk to silly for my taste

    Death Becomes Her again, not my cup of tea, but plenty of others liked it at the time

    North ...North has been called one of the worst films ever made... it earned Bruce the "Stinkers Bad Movie Award" for Worst Actor, but he lost out to Kevin Costner at the Razzies.

    Broadway Brawler...is an unfinished romantic comedy film... The implosion of the production was largely attributed to Willis's actions and behavior...

    Breakfast of Champions
    Original author Kurt Vonnegut's described it as "painful to watch."

    The Story of Us ...received generally negative reviews.

    The Whole Nine Yards ...is OK, but by no means a classic of the genre

    The Kid another passable effort

    Bandits apart from the opening truck escape / chase scene I thought it was awful

    Cop Out not good

    RED enjoyable

    Lay the Favorite Lays an egg

    Once Upon a Time in Venice ...has a little more of a spark than typical late-period Bruce Willis tough guy movies, but it's still a steep, disappointing tumble from his best work
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,999
    Yeah Bandits is a bit of a head scratcher. With that cast I expected a much better film. Bruce's comedy sequels are not a good aspect of his career either. Both the Whole Ten Yards and RED 2 were not stellar. A couple of great examples where they should have stopped at one.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 4,440
    I always found Striking Distance (1993) to be pretty underrated.

    Had a troubled production history, but it's a decent Police thriller.
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