Third Die Hard is a race against time!

Rating: 7/10 (25 March 2014)

"Die Hard with a Vengeance" is the second sequel to one of the best and iconic action films from Hollywood, returning Bruce Willis as NYPD Officer John McClane, who tries to prevent terrorist Simon Gruber, brother of Hans Gruber from the first movie, from stealing billions of dollars worth of gold from the Federal Reserve. Along the way, McClane must follow Gruber's "Simon Says" games, or else he will set off a bomb after each unfinished puzzle.
Willis' witty and deadpan delivery personality continue in this movie, along with his Yippie-kai-yay attitude and relentless attacks on the bad guys. Graham Greene, Colleen Camp and Larry Bryggman play some of McClane's colleagues at NYPD Headquarters, each giving a memorable performance, and I liked how they each took on a large role in helping McClane with the mission. Samuel L. Jackson plays Zeus Carver, a Harlem electrician who happens to be caught in the chaos and ended up attempting to help McClane solve the case. I didn't care for his character too much; he's helpful to McClane but keeps on spouting annoying and endless racial references.
Jeremy Irons plays a formidable Simon Gruber - crafty, sly and skillful, and commanding with his wicked voice. I just wished the aspect of him being Hans Gruber's brother, and the climatic fight between him and McClane, were elaborated upon more, which would have made the revenge subplot more interesting. His henchwoman, Katya (Sam Phillips), lacks some descent acting skills and is too theatrical when wielding her weapon in an attack, as in the overbearing scene where the henchmen raid the Federal Reserve with the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" running continuously in the background.
Overall, it's another sequel full of suspense and thrills, with a chilling race against-time-scene towards the climax. It's another edge-of-your-seat ride, but just falls short of equaling or surpassing its prequels in entertainment value.
Grade B-