The book Die Hard II was based on was not a Die Hard book.
III, as To says, was rather more distinct. The idea for the story 'Simon Says' had been going around for some time, and at some point someone noticed that it could VERY easily be a Die Hard movie what with the central character being so similar., and it didn;t take much re-working before it was born anew.
If they did it the right way, it might work. If Bruce drops the ball On Die Hard, he's a fool. And on action, he's a fool.
DH 1 was the bes, then 2, then 3, Only because Mctiernen has a sligh problem with special effects. And needs to bring it up a notch, for these times.
I dont Like how, in his thrid appearance, Mctiernen, Diminishes the histor of Mclean a bit, by, splitting him up with his Wife AGAIN!! Used an Association to Hans, Like Mclean cant be in ANY OTHER types of Die Hard Situations.
Eventhough action wise, 3 was good, it with just 1&2 they both had a better chance of keeping it more of a series. But 3 kind of hurt it. What about his kids?? He has kids.
My Idea for the Die Hard Series is, they should use the Character of John Mclean, in another movie, where John can be Seen in another setting besides Die Hard. Just so we can see him live out his day by day Functions of how he is as a cop. This movie would also give him, and the Audience a chance at, working on his terrible relationship with his wife. THIS MOVIE WOULD NOT BE LABLED "DIE HARD", yet another title. It can even be about something else, like a homocidal killer. A long Case, not One Day of action.
Then after this movie, they can make ONE MORE "Die Hard" Movie, to end ALL Die Hard's. It would be in one Day, just like the Other's, but perhaps he dies this time, But in the Hardest way. This way, he would save the day..AGAIN, but also cause much sympothy for him, just like he did in armageddon.
You see, for him to just shrug off a great character, (THAT HIS ACTING STYLE CREATED) that has been copied by EVERY other action film, would be a waste. If he want's to end the action series, he should work on Ending it With some diginity.
There was a story they were going to use for another Die Hard.
Spoiler:
McClane is in a helicopter with some of his cop buddies. Somehow, as they always seem to do in movies, the copter crashes. And the whole movie was about how he and his friends escape from the jungle. There was to be no guns, no explosions.
Why they don't do this, I have no idea. That sounds pretty damn cool to me! It was to be called "Die Hard Again"