A monumental sequel

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2006)

A year after the Nakatomi incident in the first film, John McClane is now an L.A. cop and he is expecting to meet his wife at Dulles Airport. Unfortunately for him, this Christmas isn't going to get merry with out getting bloody first - a team of mercenaries who plan to free a high profile prisoner, also soon to arrive, seize control of the airport and threaten to start crashing planes if their orders aren't followed. Too bad for them that John McClane is there to give 'em hell.
The monumental first film in the now classic series seemed impossible to top, and as far most people see it, that's the truth. This film doesn't in anyway top the original, but it's a great sequel. Bruce Willis does a great job at reprising his tough as nails, wise-cracking hero and a new director, Renny Harlin, really pushes him to new limits. Unfortunately that also means that a lot of logic is lost - or rather in this case, blown up. The original's plot was very clever and almost believable as a good thriller not just as a very entertaining action film and that is where this film falls short of its predecessor. The set-up, while very good by action movie standards and provides a very entertaining film, is just a little dumb in parts. The script could have been refined a little before shooting to get that cleverness back that made the first one so good.
However, this film is in no way a let down. The bad guys are a ruthless bunch that you'll love to hate (especially William Sadler), there are a few twists along the way that make very entertaining, and Renny Harlin's action scenes are pretty intense all the way through. 8/10
Rated R for strong violence and profanity