McClane is Back!

Rating: 8/10 (28 June 2007)

After seeing the preview, this movie looked interested, but a bit on the over-the-top ridiculous side. I saw this opening day at the 1st show at a nearby theatre and was completely surprised at how entertaining and well put together this movie was for a simple formula action flick. First, the story is definitive Die Hard. It matches well with the previous installments and comes with a cohesive plot. In addition, the FX aren't ruined with CGI garbage. The unrealistic action sequences that occur in this movie aren't warped with lazy computer work. On the negative side, there were two silly sequences in the film, one in a city tunnel with 4 lanes of vehicles on a collision course and another on the top of a marine fighter jet, but it is an otherwise well put together actioner.
The movie was also well cast. John McClane is the character Bruce Willis was born to play. This vehicle works so well for Bruce because he doesn't really have to act to play McClane, it's his own personality amped up a bit. Justin Long was perfect as Matthew Farrell, sarcastic, aloof, overwhelmed, and funny in his helter-skelter sort of way, and provided many well-timed light moments. Cliff Curtis was solid as Bowman, the Homeland Security g-man trying to sort out the mess dropped in his lap, Timothy Olyphant gets better film by film and really proved as worthy an adversary as Jeremy Irons's Simon and Alan Rickman's Hans. If you can survive Maggie Q's beauty yet flat rendition of Olyphant's right hand and the oddly placed cameo of Kevin Smith.
Overall, well done addition to the Die Hard family that sits between parts 1 & 3 and ahead of part 2.