Live Free of Die Hard (2007)

Rating: 7/10 (12 July 2007)

John McClane is back!
You'd think that after all these years, and after tragedies like 9/11, we'd be disinterested in movie like Die Hard. Fortunately, I'm wrong.
With that being said, this Summer seems more and more like the 90's more and more. McClane is back in theaters, the Simpsons are becoming big news again, Transformers hits the screen (I know it's more of an 80's thing), plus The Smashing Pumpkins, the kings of 90's alternative rock, are releasing their first album in seven years. It's a Summer of nostalgia, which probably makes it more interesting than previous years. Now back to Die Hard.
Now, McClane is back once again. His job is to take a Computer hacker (Justing Long), to D.C. Turns out, he unknowingly helped a Terrorist group (led by Timothy Olyphant), which plots to bring down all internet and government systems. It's up to McClane (who else?) to bring them down. Things grow much worse for him once they kidnap McClane's daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).
Now what makes the movie great is that it rarely tries to attach itself to the other movies. No one from the previous movies returns, just McClane. This helps the movie become its own and not some sequel.
Now the plot isn't nearly as good as the original, but I guess it fits well with the computer-driven society we live in. The lead villain, played by Timothy Olyphant, is neither well-written, interesting, or threatening as Alan Rickman or the other villains. But he carries the role well enough not to be a dull. The lead henchman, played by Maggie Q, is pretty much the stereotype of current films, the hot Asian chick who nows karate. Nicely, she dies half-way through to be much of a hassle (plus the whole idea she and Olyphant are lovers is just a stupid clique).
Another flaw is the role of the daughter. While she plays such a minor part in the film up to the kidnapping, her being thrust into the third act seems a little gimmicky (director Len Wisemen, though, is able to work with it well enough to not make it a problem).
McClane, however, is damn perfect. Bruce Willis returns to the role like he never left it. It's nice to see that even in his 50s, he can kick some major ass once again.
Despite some (minor) flaws, the film is a no-holds-par action flick that is able to be above standard action films of today.
Recommended.