Live Free or Die Hard 4.0

Rating: 5/10 (30 June 2007)

I loved Die Hard  Part 1, and then came part 2 and 3; which I think were not as good as part one. After 12 years this is Die Hard  Part 4, most probably the last one! Before I outline the story let me tell you that the movie is not in the usual cinema print format. It is in computer  high graphics digital format. And it shows in high contrasts and sharper lines, which is not so good visually.
The story is - BruceWillis as John McClane has aged with a grown up daughter Lucy (Mary Elizabeth) who hates her dad. A former FBI guy Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) strikes terror on USA through his computer / IT skills  and brings USA to standstill by attacking all major computer operated networks. The main aim is to get access to the Social Database so that he can bankrupt USA by then transferring all bank savings. There is one wiz kid Matt Farrell (Justin Long) who, after being part of the hacking team, survives (Thomas kills all the other geeks). Now it is the responsibility of John McClane to bring Matt to FBI office. Thomas captures Lucy and John goes behind him with his dare devil stunts and one liners to rescue his daughter and USA.
The movie is full of mind-less action from beginning till end. The actions have become bigger. The settings from Die Hard 1 (which were indoors) have grown to outdoors. Bruce Willis has more deadly falls and beatings than before. Justin Long has overacted throughout as computer geek (may be some of them are like that in real life too!) The bad guy Timothy suddenly (as all bad guys in movies do) become morons in the end, the ones who no longer remain deadly and can not think straight.
I was reminded of 1970s Bollywood movies, where the villain would always capture a family member / friend of the hero (in this movie both are captured) but does not kill anyone of them, instead talks with them till the villains are killed by our hero.
The action is visually great to see  it is just mayhem. Throughout the movie, the face of Bruce Willis often becomes clean of blood stains and the stains re-appear and disappear now and then.
The young Director Len Wiseman has handled the huge responsibility quite aptly in taking such a big project  with just a little experience in Directing (2 movies). His former experience of art department (Independence day, Godzilla, Men in Black) shows in the sets and scale.
Overall it is a good action film. Great viewing for the Die Hard fans! (Stars 5.5 out of 10)