Time To Die Hard Again!

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2007)

I'm going to call this movie "Die Hard 4.0: Live Free or Die Hard" as far as I'm concerned that should be the title. Now I've been a big fan of this franchise since I can remember, In fact as I write their is a huge framed poster of Die Hard sitting behind me. I'm glad to see all the old school action heroes coming back get the nasty taste of Diesel and the Rock out my mouth.
What I was actually expecting from the trailers was a shallow action packed sequel and you know what, I was looking forward to that. I was however slightly shocked and for a while disappointed I didn't get this. That is not the film this is, in fact it's only flaw may be it doesn't know what it wants to be; a serious thriller or an action packed brainless sequel. It hovers between both fairly well most of the time coming off as a Thriller with ridiculous over the top stunts. A lot of people seem to say it's too over the top, I disagree in fact I think a few of the action scenes could have gone on longer. I think of all the Die Hards, Die Hard: With A Vengeance is still the biggest action film due to its constant action sequences it's like T3 and T2 although the chase in T3 is huge the constant action sequences in T2 make it a bigger film.
The plot is very Die Hard in my opinion, in fact more Die Hard than the 2nd film due to those Terrorists actually being what they said they where. (Not that I don't like Die Hard 2: Die Harder) Bruce is back, he is McClane he's a cranky sarcastic un-stylish cop and yes the vest is there be it under a green sweatshirt. Only slight flaw with him is yes the potty mouth is gone although their is some great "McClane" lines about Maggie Q the Asian Henchwoman. McClane's usual swearing is replaced by his unique laugh. Yippi Ki Yay, his famous line is said and in my opinion the best use of it not just some line thrown in after a vehicle explodes although I wouldn't rank the Villains demise as the number one way for a bad guy to go. Timothy Olyphant is a pretty menacing villain nothing compared to the Gruber brothers' condescending approach to McClane but still fun.
Oh the sidekick, yep he's a sidekick the is necessary for the plot. Justin Long is pretty good he could have came across as an over grown Short Round but managed not to.
Overall I'd rank this my 3rd favourite Die Hard, under of coarse the Original and Vengeance. I just like the Grubers thing.
8/10