This is not a Die Hard film. has the die hard name, but is not DIE HARD

Rating: 6/10 (27 June 2007)

I just returned from the 2:00 show and while the rating issue did bother me I was willing to give it a chance. Chance given, film didn't deliver. Len Wiseman has pussified John McClane. yeah he still kills people, and tries to save the day, but Bruce Willis wasn't being John McClane. he was some toned down, anger management treated version of John McClane and to be frank it was really sad.
Bruce Willis always had a fire when playing the part of McClane and here in Live Free or Die Hard he plays a toned down version of him. There was no anger in him, no fire. It felt like he was just collecting his paycheck and moving on to the next project. McClane would never be calm with someone doing what Tim Olyphant's character was doing, especially when the guy takes his daughter. Instead John speaks to him in a clear and calm tone... maybe the battle hardened years of being an NYPD detective has caught up with him, I dunno, but the John McClane on the screen today was not the same McClane from 20 years ago, hell even 12 years ago. John is the type of person when he doesn't understand whats happening or its moving faster than he can think he usually blows his top and thats when he is at his best. Here you will find nothing like that.
This is a sad excuse for a film, it really was, I mean I wanted this to be good, and while some of the stunts and set pieces were nice to see they were totally off the wall, the entire F35 sequence was laughable. I'm sorry but even if this was Rated R I would have been slamming it for not living up to the Die Hard Legacy.
As far as the rest of the cast, Justin Long was pretty funny and very likable, even Mary Elizabeth Winstead did great... actually when you watch her you see the old John McClane just screaming to get out. Tim Olyphant was OK as the main baddie, but he will never live up to the villains of previous Die Hard films. I will say two things positive... Len Wiseman can do action, and the score by Marco Beltrami was passable and close to the original films style and vibe.
If you want action, you will get it. If you want John McClane... go to your DVD collection and Pull out one of the three original Die Hard films.
And for those asking, or curious... The Line is done as follows.
Yippie Ki-Ya Mut(Gunshot) He mutters MUT! then a really loud, I mean obnoxiously loud Gunshot rings out.
It makes me sad to write a bad review for a Die Hard film, they are a staple of action cinema. I truly thought this day would never come.
5 out of 10