Overblown Steven Segal-like sequel makes it a watch hard.

Rating: 4/10 (12 August 2012)

I've watched the original Die Hard many times and regard it as a classic as everything clicks with the story, the acting and the direction. I'd been hesitant to try it out due to it's harsh criticisms from some sources as a "rehash" and usually sequels destroy the original with unnecessary continuation of character/story that had run its course in the first place. This usually comes about with a change of director and this is the case with this film.
Anyway I got a Die Hard Quadrology DVD on the cheap and decided about over 20 years after it was released, to give it a go.
The plot line basically the Christmas after the first film with off duty New York Cop Bruce Willis waiting at an Washington airport for his wife Bonnie Bedelia's plane to arrive from Los Angeles to have a festive family holiday.
However William Sadler, a military terrorist and his gang come along and ruin his plans by holding the airport to ransom by gaining control of the airport equipment which puts the incoming planes in danger. Their mission is to free a South American dictator/drug lord heading for "justice".
Mr Willis, who has shoes this time, looks team up with loudmouth Airport Police Chief Dennis Franz, Communications chief Fred Thompson and his old pal Reginald VelJohnson (in a cameo) amongst other people to battle the terrorists and ultimately bringing his wife back alive.
It seems a bit promising at first but falls into "sequel doom" when it the plot line tries to outdo the original with ridiculous plot lines and comedic attempts. The constant reference to past events in the first film (with the annoying William Atheron returning as the invasive reporter who is used a comic relief on Mrs McClane's plane who keeps referring him as "Dick".) The acting also wears thin very quickly and Bruce Willis is pulled about all over the plane when the film tries to trick you with sub-plots. There is no villain in the film (and it turns out that there are a few) that are a patch on Alan Rickman's character in the original In conclusion it's not a patch on the first film and even as a stand-alone film it would be even rated amongst some of Steven Segal's mediocre movies. To be fair though at least Bruce Willis appears human and he feels pain rather than the silly superheroes you usually get in such movies.
At the end I was hoping Die Hard With a Vengeance is a big improvement (the original director John McTiernan returns).