John McClane must rescue his daughter and take
on a cyber-terrorist who attacks Washington D.C. ACTION
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Live Free or Die Hard (2007)Directed by Len Wiseman
Written by Mark Bomback Starring Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Cliff Curtis, Kevin Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead Sequel to 1995's Die Hard with a Vengeance Based on characters created by Roderick Thorp |
Well over a decade later, it seemed audiences would finally get another Die Hard movie. Granted, there was some concern due to the fact the film would receive the PG-13 rating as opposed to the prior R-rated shenanigans of the first three. Nevertheless, fans would flock in droves and critics would heap praise as this fourth installment became a huge commercial and critical success. Therefore proving that this franchise had successfully found its place in the 2000s, regardless of the rating. As for this reviewer, I remember watching this on TV all the time when it came out and thinking it was just a really awesome Bruce Willis action movie. Some research and DVR-ing later, and I quickly caught up on seeing the originals. So, this fourth installment has a special place in my heart.
I know I’ve brought this up a couple times already, but this is truly my only negative for the film. The PG-13 rating is off putting if you’ve watched the first three already. Especially considering the studio did this after filming had been completed to try to get more people into seats. As if the popularity of this franchise, and its star at the time, wasn’t enough. But, with that said, the action and Bruce Willis have never been better. This film is filled with several exhilarating action scenes which I will never forget. Scenes like the shootout in the apartment to the highway chase with a helicopter are some of the series best. As for Willis, he may not be able to drop any F-bombs, but he is still in top form. I still laugh every time during the scene when he’s complaining as he’s about to drive a car into a helicopter. He also plays incredibly well with the always reliable, Justin Long. I could be a little bias here since this installments was my intro to this incredible series, but it still stands that I find this to be the best sequel, hands down. While I wish the rating would have been left alone; the action, acting, and story more than make up for it. This is how you make a more modern Die Hard movie. |