1-800 henchman.

Rating: 9/10 (7 July 2007)

Was there too much pomp in LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD? There was bombast aplenty, but you can never say "too much" when you speak of a DH film or it's pedigree. What makes this work isn't Stanislavsky or any AMPAS-worthy moment. It's simply the John McClane-ian wit we are all accustomed to from the first film, and perhaps the other 2 sequels. And you get a feel of that same character when McClane is thrown into his same old, same old once again. The cheesy punchlines, the self-psyching soliloquy when he's about to do something that's a "very bad idea". Et cetera.
What almost feels like a fascinating juxtapousition is the contrast between the modern day sophistication of the cyber terrorists, and the gritty chaos out in the streets that are a consequence of their villainy. Felt by McClane and the millions who become undersiege.
May I also say Mary Winstead was very well cast, she may be an unlikeable character, but she has Bonnie Bedelia's eyes. (McClane's wife in the first 2 movies), and while there are some references to McClane's backstory and familial affairs, they don't intrude into this being a very entertaining stand-alone action film. I especially liked the dialogue in the car about what the consequences are of being a "hero", though On the Nose type of dialogue, it worked nonetheless and I felt an iota of genuine emotion. Possibly also because of the gloomy color scheme of that little reflective sequence.
This has plenty of its moments, the first steps of taking America hostage, the eery montage of U.S. Presidents used by the terrorists to broadcast their message, the fight scene with Maggie Q. And I guess 9mm cartridges don't do tissue damage all that much, but only do so after penetrating and obstacle - which might cause it's velocity to drop and thereby destroy what is next to it. Just see the movie to find out what I mean. It's the Yipee Kye Aye part. Live Free or Die Hard works for me.
9/10