Cracking action movie with real depth and looks great too

Rating: 9/10 (7 July 2007)

I wasn't sure what to expect here. Fourth outing in a franchise ... and I saw part 1 again on TV and wasn't that impressed. But 8.1/10 was enough to get me to see it.
Well, what a cracker of a film. It is fresh and exciting and it adds a gritty edge to the franchise. Best of the series for me. Not too long, paced just right (I am easily bored in films but I was hooked), it looks great, it has characters with emotional depth (unlike the flat characters in so many action films). It doesn't suffer from the clichés of the genre (e.g. the burned out cop with estranged wife). Superb action set pieces.
Willis has loads of charisma and holds the lead well, but he is well supported by a great ensemble cast, including a few actors I didn't recognise. The father-daughter relationship between Bruce Willis and the actor playing his daughter works well too esp at the beginning when he hauls the boyfriend out the car! Nice touch.
Digital effects quality is superb - I work a lot in digital 3D and can spot it very easily, but I couldn't see the joins in most places.
Cinematography is great too - they've given it that slightly grainy bleached look that's become popular e.g. in "300" - deep blacks, high contrast with a slight bluish tone.
The relationship between this film and parts 1-3 is similar to the relationship between "Casino Royale" to the rest of the Bond franchise - it's updated and edgy, and in no way a tired rehash to drain it of its remaining commercial value.
I was sorry it finished! Go see it now.