Enjoy Summer in this City

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2009)

It's a pity 'Die Hard with a Vengeance' didn't make a bigger splash at the box office. This movie was great. I've seen this installment more times than any of the other 3 'Die Hard' films with good reason: hilarious dialogue – from both Willis and Jackson who steals every scene he's in, exciting plot, character development, original explosive scenes (way before 9/11, obviously – in fact, I'm sure, following the real life '01 terrorist attacks, New Yorker's had a hard time watching this) that held very little CGI – the real way to make films and a great archenemy, Irons, who also stole his scenes. It was great to see a 'Die Hard' film predominately in daylight, or any action film for that matter. And to add both enemy and hero alike suffering from massive headaches made it all the more real. Sure, it wasn't perfect: some plot holes were bigger than the wounds inflicted by Willis and some scenes were pretty laughable, even by 1995's standards – watch the water filling the tunnel, a la 'Escape from L.A.' But, still, watching John finally teaming up with the master of bad-ass – Jackson, was worth every minute. It was also refreshing to see an off-white racist for once, as they do exist, but rarely shown in cinema. Predictable, yes, and as part 2 demonstrated, if the big spoiler isn't obvious with the first viewing, it's painfully evident in this chapter. Finally home in NYC, McClane (Willis) is sent on a cat & mouse "Simon Says" deadly game with Zeus (Jackson) all across the city, ditching the claustrophobic atmosphere of the first 2 installments all the while Simon (Irons) sets traps, a plan and plays God. Fun, lighthearted, great action sequences, and definitively not to be taken too seriously, this is an absolute must watch.