Great like Die Hard...except on basic cable

Rating: 8/10 (30 June 2007)

I'll start by saying that I'm a huge fan of the "Die Hard" movies and the character of John McLane so I evaluated the film first as part of the series and second as a singular summer action film.
As the summary states, I found this entry in the "Die Hard" series to be extremely true to the characters and situations of the previous films. However, in the studio's apparent desire for a broader fan-base (if that's possible), they decided to produce it as a PG-13 outing. I constantly felt like I was about to see some blood splatter on a wall or an amputation, just to be teased by a quick cut-away as if portions of the movie had been cut for a basic cable broadcast. The same goes for the typical foul language of the series. I'm not saying that violence or cursing makes a movie worth watching...but it just seemed as though the movie was originally written and filmed to be a full-blown R-rated sequel, only to be cut down in post-production. The tactful cuts just seemed unnatural for a die hard movie. On the other hand, John McLane's humor and general badassitude was true to the character. So, hopefully they release a director's cut DVD that makes the brutality more in-line with the previous films.
Aside from the comparisons with past films, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable 'summer blockbuster'. The action was virtually non-stop and employed plenty of car chases, gun battles, and explosions, all while using what appeared to be minimal CGI. I definitely sensed some computer special effects...but they all seemed pretty low-key and at no point did anything look obviously fake. As far as the acting...Bruce Willis was awesome as usual, delivering constant one-liners in classic McLane style. Justin Long, who I personally hate from all the Mac commercials, actually seems to be perfectly cast as the grungy computer hacker and I found myself enjoying the back-and-forth between him and McLane enjoyable for the most part. Maggie Q was hot and had some good fight scenes but didn't really add anything significant to the film. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, I felt, had the most unused potential. She was very believable as the junior McLane but unfortunately had limited screen time and the role mainly seemed to be used as a vehicle for a few more action scenes. Everyone else played their parts well, with Kevin Smith's Warlock being the most notable of the smaller parts. Director Len Wiseman shows that he can take the reigns of an established franchise and evolve the story and situations while staying true to the original films. He gives us Michael Bay sized action while actually telling a story that the audience wants to hear.
All in all, this was a highly entertaining film with great production value. Despite the lack of gore and cursing feeling forced, Die Hard purists should still be able to enjoy this one as a continuation of the McLane legacy and with the lower rating, hopefully a new and broader fan base will emerge and keep this great franchise alive.