Old Dog Tricks Don't Die Hard

Rating: 9/10 (18 May 2009)

What better line to describe 'Live Free or Die Hard' (or Die Hard 4.0) than "You're a Timex watch in a digital age" for "old" and "old-fashioned" John McClane. I do admire book (or computer) smarts, a la Justin Long and a band of new-age terrorists. But, honestly, I'll take someone just simply smart, in survival, the streets and in reading humans over someone simply focusing all their talents in one area. I feel that can take you further in life. Enter the perfect reawakening of John McClane 12 years after his last adventure in NYC. He returns to DC (from Part 2) with a new unwilling partner, his young cyber-connection to post-9/11. And speaking of which: yes, the previous films were before 9/11, and were almost blue prints for real life terrorism. This one embraces it. I loved the new script. I loved seeing McClane doing what he does best despite his so-called "old-way of thinking." The action was intense, the lines were hilarious, Kevin "Warlock" Smith was awesome, as was his and Long and Willis scenes, and another great villain from a very favorable actor, Olyphant, who I've admired since 'Broken Hearts Club.' Olyphant's lines were also hilarious, especially when dealing with a certain female hostage. Sure, as any 'Die Hard' film, you'll have to suspend your disbelief, such as when McClane's "out of bullets" helicopter attack – though, if you let your critic guard down, it was a great scene. Unfortunately, what nearly killed the film was the closing where a single military jet simply destroys a stacked freeway, followed by a leap frog escape, though more believable than McClane's out of plane experience in #2. Other than that, this was the best since #1, intelligent, fun and I hope for a 'Die Hard Already' part 5.