The Films of Renny Harlin

[Guestx]

I realized earlier that I've watched several Renny Harlin films lately and thought I'd see what kind of thoughts we can round up about his movies.

As I'm sure many of the more devout film fans around here know, he had his coming out party in 1990 with Die Hard 2. That film really put him on the map and he was the hot shit in Hollywood for a short while. But he eventually fell from grace and is almost irrelevant now.

What do you think of Renny Harlin's career? And what is your favorite film of his? Will it be Die Hard 2, which immortalized the words, "Yippee ki yay, Mr. Falcon?" Or will it be Cliffhanger, which gave us John Lithgow the Villain. Or perhaps you will go with Deep Blue Sea, or as some have called it "the Jaws of our time."

Here's your chance to sound off on the man, the myth, the Harlin.

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

Hanging from a cliff

 

[Guestx]

Hanging from a cliff

I'm so glad you changed your avatar from that awful shit you had before.

And Cliffhanger's a solid pick, but probably would be my third or fourth choice.

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

I'm so glad you changed your avatar from that awful shit you had before.

And Cliffhanger's a solid pick, but probably would be my third or fourth choice.

I had no choice, the mods have spoken.

I've only seen a few of his films so not much to choose from when my other options are Freddy 4, deep blue sea, die hard 2 and exorcist.

 

[Guestx]

I had no choice, the mods have spoken.

I've only seen a few of his films so not much to choose from when my other options are Freddy 4, deep blue sea, die hard 2 and exorcist.

LOL, they made you change that shit? That's hilarious. It really was disgusting.

And I'm kind of surprised you didn't go with Die Hard 2 over Cliffhanger, but I can see why you might not.

Personally, I think The Long Kiss Goodnight is the best film he ever made, but again, I could see why some might disagree with that.

 

[europe1]

He's a pretty mediocre and workmanlike director, all-in-all. Die Hard 2, Long Kiss Godbye and Cliffhanger are the obvious high-points. Mindhunters and Prison are also pretty neat, as is Deep Blue Sea (for watching Samuel L Jackson get eaten by a shark). Excorcist, Nightmare 4 and Cutthroat Island are servicable at best, and Driven is a bit bellow them. Covenant and Herculeas just plain suck.

On June 2016, it was announced Harlin will direct Legend of the Ancient Sword at Alibaba Pictures, based on a Chinese role-playing video game.[18] On June 16, 2017, it was announced Harlin will direct Hanging Coffins for Shanghai Film Group and Shanghai New Wave Films.[19] On June 18, 2017, it was announced Harlin will direct Operation Somalia. The film's story, based on true events, revolves around a rescue operation against Somali pirates mounted by Chinese special forces.[20]

So Renny has 3 films lined-up for the Chinese market. You know... of all the Hollywood directors that the Chinese studios could have snatched away... you'd guess they'd go for someone higher-ranked than Harlin.

 

[Guestx]

He's a pretty mediocre director, all-in-all.

I think that when he's on his A-game he can make a pretty good film. It's all about finding a way to bring the BEST Harlin out of him.

No one's managed to do that in several years.

Die Hard 2, Long Kiss Goodnight and Cliffhanger are the obvious high-points. Mindhunters and Prison are also pretty neat, as is Deep Blue Sea (for watching Samuel L Jackson get eaten by a shark). Excorcist and Cutthroat Island are servicable at best, and Driven is a bit bellow them. Covenant and Hercules just plain suck.

I've heard that Mindhunters is terrible, but it sounds like you're kind of recommending it.

I actually kind of like Driven and would say it's a little better than you're giving it credit for. It's definitely a better movie than Exorcist. Cutthroat Island we discussed recently.

Last night I rewatched Deep Blue Sea because it came in a Blu-Ray set I recently ordered off Amazon:

I was mostly buying it for The Long Kiss Goodnight, a film for which I've developed real affection, but I was also curious to watch Deep Blue Sea since I haven't seen it since it first came out.

It's a weird movie, because there is so much about it that is smart and well-made. The plot with the Alzheimer's research, and the performances, and the look of the film, and several of the action set pieces are all really good. But then there is just some stuff in that fucking movie that is DUMB and will make you roll your eyes. Also most of the CGI is sketchy as FUCK.

All in all, I'll give it a solid 7/10 but nothing more than that. I enjoyed it, but with caveats.

So Renny has 3 films lined-up for the Chinese market. You know... of all the Hollywood directors that the Chinese studios could have snatched away... you'd guess they'd go for someone higher-ranked than Harlin.

Damn, that's weird. I knew that he had made the movie with Jackie Chan and that he had that other Ancient Sword movie coming up, but I didn't know he had other Chinese movies on the schedule after that.

Has Renny Harlin just sold himself to the Chinese market at this point? Strange.

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

LOL, they made you change that shit? That's hilarious. It really was disgusting.

And I'm kind of surprised you didn't go with Die Hard 2 over Cliffhanger, but I can see why you might not.

Personally, I think The Long Kiss Goodnight is the best film he ever made, but again, I could see why some might disagree with that.

Die hard 2 was weak. I will watch the long kiss goodnight whenever I get the chance.

 

[SFMMA]

They're almost all shitty other than Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2 (which was the worst of the series), and A Long Kiss Goodnight.

 

[Guestx]

They're almost all shitty other than Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2 (which was the worst of the series), and A Long Kiss Goodnight.

You thought Die Hard 2 was worse than more recent installments, like Live Free or Die Hard where John McClane is suddenly a superhero jumping on the wing of a harrier jet?

 

[europe1]

I think that when he's on his A-game he can make a pretty good film. It's all about finding a way to bring the BEST Harlin out of him.

No one's managed to do that in several years.

Filmmaking is one of those proffessions that calls upon you to invest yourself personally in your work a lot. Therefore, it's easy to burn out. Your nerves get frazzled and you set-into going through the motions. I get the impression that Renny is in that stage.

I've heard that Mindhunters is terrible, but it sounds like you're kind of recommending it.

I confess to remembering next-to-nothing about that movie except finding it pretty watchable.

I actually kind of like Driven and would say it's a little better than you're giving it credit for.

Nah, to sappy going through it's plotpoints. The drama between the young people just does not work.

It's definitely a better movie than Exorcist

Great, now I'm scrambling my mind trying to figure out which was the Renny Harlin one. Unless you haven't heard, there are two Excorcist 4, one by Paul Schrader and one by Renny Harlin. The studios hated Schrader's version so much that the hired Renny to completely reshoot it, despite the film already being completed. The scripts were even almost identical.

 

[n...not crazy]

Die Hard 2 is a good movie. It does have some stupid shit that you can pick at, plus a grown man's buttocks and zero titties. It has good characters though.

 

[Guestx]

Filmmaking is one of those proffessions that calls upon you to invest yourself personally in your work a lot. Therefore, it's easy to burn out. Your nerves get frazzled and you set-into going through the motions. I get the impression that Renny is in that stage.

Maybe so. I've long wondered what the deal is because you can't escape the conclusion that SOMETHING changed.

It's like he had this ability to make a fun, watchable, entertaining film and then suddenly this ability just abandoned him.

I've tried watching The Legend of Hercules twice and can't get past the first 30 minutes.

Nah, to sappy going through it's plotpoints. The drama between the young people just does not work.

I'd need to watch it again to remember specifics but I know I liked it enough that I bought it on DVD many years ago.

Great, now I'm scrambling my mind trying to figure out which was the Renny Harlin one. Unless you haven't heard, there are two Excorcist 4, one by Paul Schrader and one by Renny Harlin. The studios hated Schrader's version so much that the hired Renny to completely reshoot it, despite the film already being completed. The scripts were even almost identical.

Indeed I did know that, and in fact I've seen both versions.

I actually prefer Harlin's version to Schrader's, even though Ebert managed to give the Schrader film 3/4 stars, and I think most other critics also preferred Schrader's version.

The film has a fascinating backstory, but neither version is particularly good.

 

[europe1]

Maybe so. I've long wondered what the deal is because you can't escape the conclusion that SOMETHING change.

It's like he had this ability to make a fun, watchable, entertaining film and then suddenly this ability just abandoned him.

I've tried watching The Legend of Hercules twice and can't get past the first 30 minutes.

I call this John Carpenter syndrome.

 

[Guestx]

I call this John Carpenter syndrome.

It seems its happened to a lot of directors and I don't really understand it.

As someone who would like to BE a director, it terrifies me. Because I have to think these guys didn't CHOOSE to lose their mojo.

So what can be done to avoid the same fate?

 

[Gangsters_Paradise]

Prison was good and Nightmare 4 is a classic

 

[SFMMA]

You thought Die Hard 2 was worse than more recent installments, like Live Free or Die Hard where John McClane is suddenly a superhero jumping on the wing of a harrier jet?

You mean Die Hard 2, the movie where a guy fights a bunch of trained mercenaries on the wing of a speeding airplane or jumps over a truck in a snowmobile?

 

[Guestx]

Oh, you mean Die Hard 2, the movie where a guy fights a bunch of trained mercenaries on the wing of a speeding airplane or jumps over a truck in a snowmobile?

LOL.

I didn't say DH2 isn't implausible, but it's easier to swallow Live Free or Die Hard.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Last night I rewatched Deep Blue Sea...

Never change, man. Never change.

 

[Guestx]

Never change, man. Never change.

You got a legit chuckle out of me.

Care to offer some thoughts on Renny Harlin? I've been waiting your arrival. I almost called you in but knew you'd find your way here.