Question about the movie Die Hard...

[battleknight24]

This is one of my all time favorite movies, but I have a question about it... why does the final vault door open just because the power shuts off? If the power is off, how is the vault door able to still function and open up? For that matter, why couldn't the buildings back up power keep it sealed?

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Because it is in the script.

The one answer to all your movie questions.

[battleknight24]

2. I guess your right...

... maybe I'm a little too nitpicky...

[Cocoa]

8. script?

I thought "Die Hard" was a documentary. :wow:

[Guaranteed]

3. The electromagnetic seal

took too much voltage for just the back up generators to power it. You noticed that virtually the only power in the building was the emergency lighting system.
However, there was probably enough juice to open up those doors.

[tarheel]

4. To the best of my memory

the last seal on the vault door was an electromagnetic seal. Thus, when the FBI predictably had the power to the Nakatomi building cut-off, the electromanetic seal was brought down due to no power.

And Hans Gruber said, "You asked for a miracle, gentlemen, I give you the F B I."


Not that I've watched this movie about a million times or anything Oh No !

[battleknight24]

6. When the power shut off...

... did the vault doors open as a safety procedure???

[Kellanved]

5. a lot more strange things in that movie:

http://www.moviemistakes.com/film361

[MrBenchley]

7. Great site!!

For that matter, it's physically impossible to fall even two feet and catch oneself with just the tips of your fingers, much less fall as far as Bruce does in the vent.

[jmowreader]

9. Because they bought the vault from Diebold!

The much superior Yale vault has a huge contingency lock that secures the vault the instant the power goes out, whereas the far inferior Diebold just springs open the second the FBI catches a case of the dumb-ass and tries cutting power to the building. But no!!!! Cheap bastards bought it from Diebold because Diebold underbid Yale by fifty bucks, and they got what they freakin' deserved.

Two things I can't figure out:

a) When the FBI agent was screaming at the PG&E guys that they wanted the building dar, they want it dark, we'll fire every one of you if you don't cut the power, why in hell didn't anyone tell this obvious Bush appointee that the National Electric Code requires a building that big to have both emergency lights and a diesel backup generator so it will never go dark?

and

b) When the SWAT team realized that the scumbags had locked the glass door, why did they try using a cutting torch to get in instead of just shooting the glass out with one of the shotguns they had?

And don't ask me (today, at least) what's wrong with Die Hard 2.

[damnraddem]

10. I once saw the movie -- on a plane.

I didn't pay for headphones, so saw it as a silent film. I thought it was hilarious. Why do happenings in a comedy have to make sense?