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Die Hard 4.0 (2007)-

In some ways it feels that there has been too much time since the last film and as a result I didn't quite feel as connected to the character, like I needed a catch up of what he had been doing in the mean time.

It does have similarities to the third instalment though. As with that one, John has a civilian tagging along and I have to say I enjoyed the way that they bounced off of each other. Farrell gives John the knowledge to complete the task and John keeps Farrell alive to save the world.

There is also another team of experts back in an office trying to keep a grip on the situation and failing, so once again it does come across a bit like an episode of '24' (2002-10).

I did have to wonder if I was reading the map wrong though? How did McClane, a New York cop end up in Washington DC and then get to West Virginia and back to Baltimore and then DC again so quickly? It seems like it would take a lot longer than the time they had.

There's also a lot going on and if you're a bit technophobic, it's very easy to get lost. My advice would be to try and forget the jargon and just enjoy the action. I got completely set adrift, but still enjoyed the journey, despite some of the stunts being quite hard to believe, but that's the style of the film at the end of the day. However, it's also getting harder still to believe that McClane is the only one that can save the day.

With all of that said, I totally wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was, what with the 12 year interlude and it being a third sequel. I thought that I would be playing solitaire or sudoku half way through out of boredom due to repetition and a lack of interest. It's still got the fast pace though and you can't help but like the hero, despite and somewhat because of his faults.

The threat has been brought up to date even if John is still "Old School", but yet it still feels like something the character would react to.

If it wasn't for the technology, you could easily believe that the film was made more recently, as it hasn't really aged, but I suppose that could be said for the other 3 as well.

I really liked it. It's just what you want from an action film and with an established character that you know will win the day.

665.69/1000.

I have to say, I'm not usually a big fan of belated sequels to films made years ago - but I have to make an exception here as Die Hard 4 offers an amazingly good time and is surely the best of the sequels - possibly even the best Die Hard film period! The film is almost completely made up of relentless and heart pumping action sequences, and while it might not be life-affirming stuff, you wont care about much else while you're watching it - so it's safe to say that the third Die Hard sequel more than does it's job! As you would probably expect since this is the first Die Hard movie of this millennium, the plot this time round focuses on the internet. Most of the USA is controlled by computers, so naturally they find themselves with a big problem when someone hacks into the system and begins a 'fire sale' - in which all the essential elements of the USA (transport, communication, power etc) are systematically shut down to create confusion and chaos. Detective John McClane is dragged into this plot when he's sent to pick up a computer hacker wanted by the police.

One of the things I loved most about this film is the fact that it's just a straight action thriller and doesn't ever pretend to be anything that it isn't. There's no false patriotism or sentiment - it's all very straight up, just the way it should be! The film is directed by Underworld director Len Wiseman and it's clear that the man knows his way around an action sequence, as this film features plenty! The stunts involve all sorts from the standard trucks and cars to helicopters and fighter jets! It's not just the vehicles involved either that makes these scenes great to watch; someone has actually put some thoughts into them so they're not just merely the same old stuff. You've really got to hand it Bruce Willis too; he's 52 but fit as a fiddle and never looks out of place running round and fighting bad guys. He is joined by Justin Long, who is likable as the computer hacker who spends most of the movie running around with Willis, and Timothy Olyphant who is a surprisingly effective lead villain. Overall, so long as you don't go into Die Hard 4 expecting substance, there's no reason why this movie can't be enjoyed by all. Its pure action and entertaining throughout, and you really can't ask for any more than that! Just make sure that you see it in cinema.

"Live Free or Die Hard" is quite a refreshing piece of entertainment this summer in the wake of so many effects-driven computer simulated action/fantasy films. With its silly title, smart-alleck lead character (Bruce Willis as Bruce Willis doing John McClane), and loads of old fashioned stunts involving cars, SUV's, elevator shafts, big rigs, helicopters, fighter jets, and collapsing highway bridges, this flick is a great piece of shattered-glass entertainment--a throwback to the late 1980's and early 1990's when movies like the original "Die Hard" changed the face of movie action.

There is some frustration to be had when you start to realize how much they toned down to achieve the friendly PG-13 rating. There's far less profanity flying, and while the body count is astronomically high (the collateral damage in this film in terms of human life and damaged property is tres magnifique), there's little blood and guts to be found. Still, die hard "Die Hard" action fans should rest assured knowing there will be plenty of funny one-liners, hot chicks (a wonderful Maggie Q as the bad-ass female villain and the scorchingly feisty and cute Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lucy McClane), super smart bad guys (a very good Timothy Olyphant), and jaw-dropping death-defying stunts.

Director Len Wiseman orchestrates the complicated stunts very well like a masterful puppeteer, which is a shock considering how god-awful his "Underworld" films were. The hand-to-hand human match-ups still bear some of his annoying hallmarks, but he's learned how to blow things up really well and has learned a thing or two about scope and editing in big action set-pieces. The excellent pacing and preposterousness of the stunts (especially the climax involving the fighter jet and the big rig) certainly put a smile on my face.

There's a whole lot of computer hacking related mumbo-jumbo involved in the story, and there's a lot of downtime for male bonding and "explanation" of the finer plot points that slows the film down some but is actually nice to see in a world now ruled by Michael Bay-style non-stop action. Plenty dumb, plenty thrilling, and plenty of fun, "Live Free or Die Hard" is a pleasant surprise considering how unnecessary this sequel seemed from conception.

This series has it's silly moments, but you can't deny the action. Yes, it's over the top and ridiculous, but it's fun. The villain here is pretty good, and Justin Long brings some humour to it. Even the daughter is pretty good. If they keep making these movies, I"ll keep watching them.

I think the criticism this movie has received is a little unfair. Personally I think it's great.

Are there plot holes? Sure. Does everything seem to magically work out? Yes. Does that take away from the entertainment value? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I love that you have low-tech, luddite, badass John McClane trying to solve a technology based terrorism plot. McClane and the tech whiz kid playing off each other is wonderfully hilarious.

Stop thinking too hard and just enjoy the sarcastic quips and pretty awesome action sequences.