Think Fast. Look Alive...

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2001)

After seeing two of these films, I thought that the third could not be any better than the first two. It was an original theme, with a great story and cast. But somehow they did it again, Die Hard with a vengeance is one the great action movies of our time. This is one of the biggest heart-stoppers that you will ever see.
Detective John McClane has seen his share of bad days, but this time, Simon says McClane is going to have a really bad day. A man calling himself "Simon" begins a reign of terror in the streets of New York: he threatens to detonate bombs around the city unless McClane and his accomplice cooperate in a game of "Simon Says". McClane has a bad hangover and a bad attitude, and isn't in the mood for games, especially this one.
Reprising the role as Police Detective John McClane is Hollywood superstar Bruce Willis. I love this character, because he has no care for the consequences for his actions, but does care that innocent people can be hurt or killed because of him. To help of set the insane character of McClane is the talented Samuel L. Jackson. He stars as Zeus Carver and I must admit that these characters were great to watch. The tension between McClane and Carver was another aspect to this movie that made it so fascinating. While they are trying to save the day, they question each others preferences towards one another. Yet in the end they accept each other for who they really are and become good mates. Some of the dialogue between those guys was very funny. Samuel L Jackson has had a fair career starring in some impressive films such as Deep Blue Sea, Star Wars, The Negotiator, Rules Of Engagement and lately Unbreakable.
When Simon says, McClane does. The main bad guy in this Die Hard is Jeremy Irons. Again I loved this character because of his accent it was great to listen to, especially in the scenes where Simon calls up and barks out his instructions. Bruce Willis said that getting Jeremy Irons as a Bad Guy' was great for this film and I tend to agree with him.
His character also plays a huge part in this movie to why it was so different and captivating for me. McClane and Zeus are sent on a wild goose chase all over New York City and have many different riddles and games to play and solve, with many of them having a do or die consequences attached. The credit for this in part needs to go to director of Die Hard, the original, and back in Die Hard 3, John McTiernan. He has a great sense of the unknown and brings it to the screen just nicely. I must also say that the storywriters did a fine job in Die Hard With A Vengeance. The games and the revenge parts of the script were cleverly written.
So, I must admit that Die Hard With A Vengeance is my favourite of the Die Hard films, if not one of my favourite films of all-time. Bruce Willis is one actor I will be looking out for. I want to finally say that this movie is full of sarcasm. Now it mightn't be that friendly to hear, but makes for interesting viewing. With it, it delivers great tension and at times some funny humour. I heard on the grapevine last year (2000) that Die Hard 4 was to be made, if it is I hope it can be as breathtaking as it's predecessors. The description by Clark Forbes of the Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun says it all about Die Hard 3:

"The best car chases since BULLIT, a better subway crash than SPEED, bigger blasts than any LETHAL WEAPON...the hardest toughest one of all."

Yippy Kay Aye, Movie Lovers!
Rating 4.5 Stars or 9.5/10