4.Oh Dear - a good action movie, but not a Die Hard movie

Rating: 5/10 (9 July 2007)

I was always very worried when I heard a new Die Hard film was on its way, especially after learning that John McTiernan was not directing. However, the trailer raised some hopes for me - things looked pretty good.
Before I continue, I want you to know, I AM a Die Hard "Die Hard" fan. I really did give 4.0 a chance, but I came out of the cinema thinking; "That was John McClane in an ordinary action movie, that wasn't a Die Hard movie".
My main concern was how the music was going to keep the production up. When the lights dimmed & the movie started, I wept with joy as I heard Kamen's "Die Hard" motive in the music. As I watched, I could instantly tell the camera-work was going to be completely different in this film to the others, and it was. But I thought, providing the score is accurate to the previous Die Hard movies, everything would be alright.
But oh how disappointed I was. The score quickly moved from Kamen's "Die Hard" to "Just another generic action movie score". Which was a great shame. Without the Die Hard music, I was having trouble really believing it was a Die Hard movie.
As an action film, this movie is very good. The action is well thought out, great fun to watch & not to over the top with CG, which is a VERY good thing. But somehow, it just didn't work for me.
Sadly, Bruce Willis' amazing talents playing McClane were devastated in this movie. He had very little screen time compared to the majority of the other characters. There were never any scenes where we would see his face & some expressions for more than 3 seconds. In previous Die Hard's, the camera would always hold on McClane to see how he reacts to what's being said to him. Completely not the case here.
The editing was very average & generic of an action movie. It wasn't edited like previous Die Hard films. There were some fantastic shots in there but really only "some", the majority were plain & boring. McClane had too few lines, everyone else got to say far more than he did. Everything else they said was pretty mundane, and everything he got to say, was never quite that thrilling.
Sadly, as with most films - if you've seen the trailer, you've pretty much seen all the best bits. Again, the case with Die Hard 4.0.
I have more gripes, too. Firstly, the bad guys. They're all a bunch of weedy, boring geeks. None of them have any slique or style, or real menace about them like the Gruber brothers or even Colonel Stuart. Also, what they're doing really didn't seem like a threat. No innocent people were killed giving McClane MUCH MORE of a reason to take the "terrorists" out. And at moments when there are huge crashes, McClane doesn't get frustrated about people being injured/dying. McClane's conscience is ESSENTIAL to a Die Hard movie but it really did NOT show in 4.0. Granted, when the taxi is smashed, he does care for the driver :)
Secondly, the fact they've made it PG-13. This is a MAJOR problem. When I go to Die Hard, I want to feel like an adult integrating into McClane's world. I didn't. I felt like a child, being given a sneak preview of what McClane's adult life is like. Coarse banter is again an essential part of McClane.
And even if it isn't, why has he become so clean without any explanation? Why has he given up smoking?
Also, I've read here that some people loved the references to other Die Hard movies. I noticed 1, it made me laugh, but it was pretty lame. It would've been nice if he'd reminisced about his time with Zeus, or mentioned Al. Those would've been better moments for me.
Also, the bad guy's final line; "And on your headstone McClane, it'll read; Always in the wrong place at the wrong time." This SUCKED. That was a throw in quote to make people chuckle and it SUCKED. He just comes out with it, it's completely out of context (because during the movie McClane is BARELY in the wrong place ever at the wrong time). Also, this is a phrase only McClane would know from Die Hard 2. So how does the bad guy know to come out with it? It was a disappointing, sucky one liner.
The death of the bad guy is also incredibly short & lame. So is the title; Die Hard 4.0 - that is an absolutely awful, boring name. Why couldn't we have had "Live Free or Die Hard" in the UK?
All in all, it was a good action movie, but it wasn't a Die Hard movie. They've catered far too much for a new, younger audience than Die Hard's older audience. McClane is a dying breed, if this is his last film - he really has NOT gone out with a bang. He's kind of fizzled out slowly & boringly.
Sincerely though, I hope that isn't the last. If there is to be another with Bruce, I hope to God its more of a trip down memory lane (like Rocky Balboa) rather than just-another-action movie.
There's lots more to say but if I keep going I will just feel even more disappointed. So, as per always, here's my list of favourite Die Hards; 1. Die Hard (obviously) 2. Die Hard with A Vengeance 3. Die Hard 2: Die Harder 4. Die Hard 4.0