Best Blockbuster of 2007!

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2007)

The original Die Hard is a masterpiece, one of my favourite movies of all time and I can re watch it numerous times and still never get bored. Die Hard 2 is about on par with Die Hard with a Vengeance, its a good movie and very entertaining, but now I realise they were really a mere cash in attempt on the success of the first movie. So when I heard Die Hard 4.0 was a PG-13 in America, I assumed the worst. I feared it would be another cash in attempt. I say the opposite now I've seen it, while Die Hard 4.0 was made for money, it also seems to put a franchise back in the right track. Its certainly the best Die Hard since the original movie, and its actually one of the most fun of the series. Its a big, dumb action movie, it never tries to be anything different. Its one of the most ludicrous action movies you could ever hope for, and yet it seems so far to be the very best Summer Blockbuster of 2007!
Part of the success of the Die Hard movies has always been Bruce Willis as John McClaine. He's your average guy, he doesn't want to be in these situations, but when he is in them he does whatever the hell he can. Its his down to earth attitude and world weariness that makes him such a great character to root for. Here his age actually seems to have helped him, sure he's flying about all over the place in the action sequences, but you appreciate the character more this time as he seems to have developed. He has his usual array of one liners, he does his great action sequences, and he's just a joy to watch. Its nice to see him finally back on screen playing McClaine, and judging by his performance he's clearly enjoying himself as well. Justin Long slightly surprised me a little bit, he's a funny person and I've never disliked him in any movies I've seen him in. But I never imagined him in a Die Hard movie. Yet here he seems right at home actually, he's pretty much taking over Samuel L Jackson's job from the last movie, of course you miss Jackson a bit because nobody can ever top Jackson. But Long gives it a damn good try and I still think he did a great job. He's got a very funny scene in the middle of the flick, and some great later moments as well. The villains of the movie obviously fall flat in comparison to the sheer brilliance of Alan Rickman from the original movie. But they're still passable. Especially Maggie Q who has an absolutely amazing action sequence that I cannot wait to see again!
But I suppose Die Hard is mainly about the action, that's of course what people are looking forward to, that and of course one line that I shall talk about a bit later. Well the action here is absolutely brilliant! The helicopter and car bit promised in the trailer is as thrilling as I hoped for, yet that sequence is nothing compared to the amazing action sequences that soon follow it. Maggie Q's big action sequence, involving an elevator shaft and a car is absolutely amazing. I really was on the edge of my seat during that sequence I couldn't take my eyes from the screen. And then a later sequence right near the end, which I cannot spoil because it really has to be seen for the full impact to register, just had me sitting back in awe. While there is a noticeable lack of blood they make up for it with huge explosions and great cool stunts. Sure Die Hard movies usually have quite intense violence, here we don't get that as much. Yet it never bothered me as it was so well made!
So now I suppose I have to talk about the one line millions of fans have been waiting to see whether it turns up in the movie. The of course legendary Yipee Kayay, so does it turn up? Yes it does, whether you actually here the last part of it though is debatable. I actually believe I heard it pretty clearly, others say you can't here it. But in my screening I'm sure I heard the last portion of it. There is a noticeable lack of swearing and at times it did irritate as I know that Bruce Willis must of been dying to see the big f bomb. But as a whole the action was more of a distraction for me and I personally don't think it bothered me too much. Die Hard 4.0 is too entertaining a movie to rely purely on swearing. The humour is generally great as well, I love the fact they don't take the movie too seriously. For every big lengthy talk on technological terrorism, we get a wisecrack from Willis that lightens the tone. The plot itself is pretty ludicrous, but the movie is just so well made you don't care by the end of it.
Die Hard 4.0 is a movie that will hopefully spell the return of even more of these styles of movies. Its good to see a good old fashioned action movie that doesn't purely rely on special effects. This movie is my favourite of Summer 2007 so far, and I actually highly doubt it will be beaten. I highly recommend it, its fun, its entertaining, its mad, but most importantly its a Die Hard movie.