The Bottom Line
First time Die Hard director Len Wiseman appears to have understood what it takes to make a successful Die Hard film: Go balls to the wall with the action and letting Willis' charm carry the movie over any lumpy spots. This Die Hard follows that formula and it works.
- The best Die Hard movie since Die Hard #1
- Bruce Willis still has it
- Justin Long’s perfect as the nerdy sidekick
- Jam-packed with high-powered action sequences
- Runs a little long at 2 hours and 10 minutes
Description
- Starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith, Maggie Q and Mary Elizabeth Winstead
- Len Wiseman previously directed the Underworld movies
- This is the first Die Hard movie that's not rated R
- Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual situation
- Theatrical Release Date: June 27, 2007
Guide Review - Live Free or Die Hard Movie Review
The Story
Bruce Willis returns as NYPD Detective John McClane, one of the toughest cops on the force and a guy you always want on your side when things get dicey. Die Hard 4 finds McClane off to collect computer hacker Matt Farrell (Long) who unknowingly involved himself in a cyber terrorist plot to disrupt the United States' infrastructure. Farrell's reluctantly pulled into McClane's pursuit of the mastermind behind the crippling cyber attack. The old school detective and the computer savvy geek are all that's stopping Tom Gabriel (Olyphant) from getting away with billions.
The Cast
There’s no doubt about it, Bruce Willis is still the man. Willis might be getting a little long in the tooth but you can’t tell it by the way he handles his fourth go at John McClane. Willis appears to be having a lot more fun in the role than he did with 2 or 3, and so what if he’s not in quite the same shape as he was when he first tackled the role. It doesn’t matter if his hair’s gone and his steps are a little less sprite; Willis recaptures the essence of the character he created way back in 1988 and delivers a completely entertaining performance.
Justin Long (the Mac guy) makes the perfect Gilligan to Willis' Skipper, and even handles himself nicely in the action scenes. Playing a new kind of Die Hard villain, Timothy Olyphant smirks and sneers his way through the role of a computer genius who hacks into the US government’s most sensitive files. He's so good at playing bad.
To Sum It Up
As the film progresses, the absurdity of the stunts escalate. But it's all fun and games, and fortunately the film never devolves into a campy parody of the original Die Hard concept. And when Willis whoops his signature 'Yippe-ki-yay' line, you know McClane's back with a vengeance.
Grade: B+
