Willis’ Die Hard character was notable in that he casually gathered weapons and ammunition from his fallen adversaries. Traded up for better weapons. And grabbed other useful items like radios and explosives. As if, that is the way real guerrillas should do it.

Hollywood had been going through this bizarre phase where a hero announced his intentions to the enemy, then marched straight into battle with some distinctive and whimsical quirk such as a sawed off shotgun or Bowie knife clenched in the teeth or fists and feet, and fought all adversaries with that. Left all useful items where they lay. And won anyway.

Die Hard brought some credibility back into the equation.

And sometimes — Bruce Willis even missed his target. Unlike Barnaby Jones.