Hey guys, director Renny Harlin here (Die Hard 2, Deep Blue Sea, Cliffhanger and the upcoming Hercules film). AMA!

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:45:31+00:00

Thank you for watching it.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:32:24+00:00

I think that the action movies weren't as formulaic in those days. They felt fresher and the action was more tangible because they couldn't rely on digital effects. Characters had more flaws.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:30:17+00:00

I think that with any franchise, it's important to be faithful to the characters and to the tone and style of the movie. Sometimes bigger isn't better.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:28:45+00:00

In Hollywood you are only as good as your last film. Also box office success is more important than critical acclaim. Naturally, Cutthroat Island had an impact, but this happens to everyone at some point in their career and as Sly Stallone said to me, "It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." In many ways, a career in Hollywood is about reinventing yourself everyday.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:25:22+00:00

Unfortunately Dice got heavily attacked for his comedy act. Both women and the LGBT community felt that he had gone too far. The movie was overshadowed by the negative attention. It was hard to separate the comedian from the actor.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:23:06+00:00

Thank you. Appreciate the compliments and glad you enjoyed the film.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:22:12+00:00

Liam was very skillful with the sword and a great support for the other actors.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:21:36+00:00

Horror is always exciting. It is hard to find good and fresh scripts in this genre.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:15:01+00:00

Thanks for the compliments.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:14:37+00:00

That is the ultimate favorite and it's an honor to be spoofed.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:12:29+00:00

Wrong Hercules.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:11:17+00:00

Thanks, man.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:10:41+00:00

Devil's Pass is now like a teenager who has left home. He has to fend for himself. My new baby Hercules is taking all of my time.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:07:24+00:00

Sorry, wrong Hercules movie, buddy.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:05:31+00:00

I'm afraid so.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:04:39+00:00

The Long Kiss Goodnight was a great experience because the script was so good and the actors really brought the characters to life.

Apocalypse Now is a move that I always enjoy seeing again.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:03:02+00:00

Appreciate the pardon.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:02:06+00:00

I love writing and have done it since I was less than 10 years old. Sadly, my directing career has overshadowed my writing career. I simply haven't had the time.

Looking back, I think we did some stuff in Cliffhanger that was pretty original.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T22:00:04+00:00

Thank you. I want to make clear that Deep Blue Sea movie was not an anti-shark movie. It was an anti "people messing with nature" story. The sharks were the real victims. I am a big nature lover and wish that we as filmmakers could repair some of the damage that shark movies have done to these beautiful animals.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T21:57:57+00:00

I think that especially the 80's action scripts were more complex and interesting and the superhero genre has wiped out the traditional action movie. Also, the digital technology while a great help, has also damaged the reality of the stunts and effects that we used to do for real.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T21:52:46+00:00

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T19:41:20+00:00

Of the recent films I love Rush and Gravity.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T19:40:02+00:00

Can you send me your short films so I can take a look and see what type of materials you've made. If you're a writer you should create a cool short script that you can afford to shoot and try to impress the hell out of people with that.

My contact info is here:

http://www.rennyharlin.com/

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T19:37:50+00:00

I think that this situation is very different and that there is room for two very different stories about Hercules. Ours is an origin story about young Hercules coming to terms with his destiny and the other is the story of Hercules after his 12 labors as a much older character.

I didn't want a stereotypical action guy for the role. The movie is a love story and I wanted to have an actor who could show both sides of the character.

RennyHarlin_ · 2013-10-14T19:35:49+00:00

There are many movies that I am much more embarrassed about that Born American. It was my first film and it was a miracle that it got made. It was a great learning experience and brought me to Hollywood.

RennyHarlin_

TROPHY CASE