New York's finest : John McClane

Rating: Null/10 (6 March 2003)

DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE (1995) *** Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons, Sam Phillips, Graham Greene. Third in the "Die Hard" series with Willis reprising his role as unstoppable cop John McClane this time facing German terrorist Irons playing "Simon Says" with explosives in scorching summertime Manhattan with some truly explosive and imaginative action sequences bordering on the impossible a la Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner cartoons. Despite the seeming retread of the storylines past Willis is always entertaining to watch: a blue-color James Bond. Jackson steals the show as the reluctant and brainy sidekick civilian Zeus aiding McClane as the two try to thwart a seemingly too comfortable Irons who has more tricks up his sleeves than his predecessors. Directed by first `Die Hard' helmser, John McTiernan. Trivia note: Willis pays homage to `Pulp Fiction' with the line to Jackson, `smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo' (these were lyrics to song on his car radio before encountering Ving Rhames).