Live Free and Date Hard

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2007)

During my July 4th holiday, I got to see LIVE FREE AND DIE HARD the latest in the DIE HARD series.
I can usually watch BRUCE WILLIS in anything. He's funny in the TV show FRIENDS, great in action movies, science fiction like THE FIFTH ELEMENT, great in most comedies, but can he pull off being tough guy John McClane one more time at his age? Or will he be like Clint Eastwood, trying one time too many to be DIRTY HARRY in the lame DEAD POOL or Charles Bronson putting out way too many DEATH WISH movies.
Happily, Willis succeeds in this DIE HARD after a 12 year layoff as the character. The action is incredible, and it's not just all some movie technician computer-generating it from their cubicle somewhere, when they fly a car into a helicopter, they actually do it, and you can see and appreciate the difference on screen.
Of course the plot and stunts are outlandish, but the film makers keep it believable enough it doesn't spoil the movie. Kind of like the better James Bond movies where the villain is trying to take over the world, and instead of saying HOW STUPID, you pause and say MAYBE THAT COULD HAPPEN.
Willis jumps, punches, crashes and wisecracks his way through the movie. And he has a great cast to support him. Timothy Olyphant is a great menacing villain even though its hard to top Alan Rickman from the first DIE HARD. Justin Long, who is excellent in comedies like DODGEBALL, THE BREAKUP, and even Apple computer commercials, surprised me on how well he does in this serious dramatic/action role. And Kevin Smith and Maggie Q fans will love them in the smaller roles that they bring to the movie.
I wish I could say more, like what happens to a tractor trailer, the elevator scene, but then I would be spoiling the movie. But sufficient to say, action movie afficionados will love the new DIE HARD.
It kind of reminds me of the last JULY 4TH movie I went to see, which was Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to be the TERMINATOR one more time in TERMINATOR 3 JUDGEMENT DAY. He made it work, and BRUCE WILLIS you nailed it too!
KUDOS BROTHER, I'm OUUUUUUUUUUUUUT.