Not the best Die Hard, but the Funniest

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 1999)

First, the weaknesses of Die Hard with a Vengeance: what makes the first two so endearing is that John McClane's presence is unexpected: just being there sets off the bad guys' plans, and his cat-and-mouse game with the bad guys is what created the sub genre of hostage situation action films. This time, Simon Gruber requests McClane's presence and they switch roles, this time with the terrorist playing tricks on the good guys. Second, the "climax." We spend two hours watching some very exciting moments which lead to an uncharacteristically weak, disappointing conclusion.
That said, Die Hard with a Vengeance is nonetheless a fine conclusion to one of the finest non-sci fi action trilogies ever. The addition of Samuel L. Jackson as an unwilling partner gives humor to a series which was never short on character. And McClane's aquaduct sequence is one of the best and funniest of the series. This film is not for everyone because of a violent second half and almost enough profanity to put Willis' and Jackson's earlier project, Pulp Fiction, to shame. Speaking of which, did anyone else catch the Pulp Fiction reference at the beginning?
With plenty of thrills and comedy, Die Hard with a Vengeance is a must-see for fans of any one of the stars. I've read and heard rumors of a fourth project, and hope they are true.