Movie Reviews
Live Free or Die Hard
Rated R, 2:10 (2007)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Direction: Ken Wiseman
Production: Michael Fottrell, Stephan Eads
Screenplay: Mary Bomback
by Vincent St. James
John McClane 4.0
The fourth installment of the Die Hard series had quite a bit to deal with prior to its release: living up to a popular, iconic, and financially successful trilogy; handling action sequences with an aging lead man some consider too old to play officer John McClane (Bruce Willis); and attempting to entertain a summer movie-going crowd that has already had a fair intake of explosions and special effects. Suffice it to say, then, that director Ken Wiseman has pulled off the hat trick..if just barely.
The fim begins with a technological bang: due to a lot of [insert techie mumbo jumbo] the electronic infrastructure of the entire country has been compromised: no traffic lights, no cable, no network security (no money in banks), no nothin'. Enter McClane, who must work with computer hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long), who knows enough to be of use to the good guys in catching the mysterious bad guys. Of course, as usual, McClane must save the country while struggling to come to terms with a family member, only this time, instead of wife Holly it's his daughter Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)
The movie manages to entertain, despite some flaws and weaknesses. Timothy Olyphant is passable as cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel, but can't really hold a candle to any of the other Die Hard villains (especially the Gruber brothers). It's hard to tell, however, whether it's because of the acting or the writing. In any event, we must keep in mind this is Die Hard.; character depth is not of utmost importance. Hence, we get to enjoy the delicious Mai Lihn (Maggie Q), who is literally ass-kicking in this movie and rounds out the supporting cast.
As for the good guys, while Long and Winstead do their respective parts and are marginally interesting, it's all about John McClane. Unfortunately, Bruce Willis isn't given as many memorable lines as in Die Hards of the past. He's reduced to laughs and chuckles as things are blown to smitherenes; funny at times, but it runs the risk of getting old-- quickly.
Thankfully, Wiseman knows how to blow stuff up on camera, real good. The effects, even for this day and age, deliver, not because of superior technology, but because Wiseman, who has directed a few music videos, knows the importance of good cinematography and cinematic buildup (see tunnel scene). One major gripe I have, though, is with
**SPOILER!!!! ***
the ending. There could have been more of a climax with the final shot by McClane. Instead, there is some commotion, he says his famous line (Yippee K....) and a gun goes off....buildup was fine, but the final delivery in one of the most important scenes left much to be desired.
****End Spoiler***
Overall, the movie gives its audience what it wants: an adrenaline rush with a familiar hero. It takes itself just seriously enough to not fall into camp, and offers an overall entertaining time.
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