A spiritual successor to Die Hard With A Vengeance.

Rating: 8/10 (24 August 2018)

A divisive sequel on it's release, largely due to it's watered-down PG-13 rating, and better mannered (not to mention better dressed) McClane. The more outlandish, CG heavy action scenes turned off old-school fans, who liked their McClane bloodied and genuinely vulnerable. Here, McClane's feats of daring-do seem more appropriate for a Marvel Studios movie at times, and the portrayal borders on a pastiche. If anything, the McClane here is all-too-close to the invulnerable action hero cliché the first movie was rallying against. And, the villain in this movie was cookie-cutter when compared to the greatness of the Gruber brothers, and of course, Justin Long was no Samuel. L. Jackson. But, putting these gripes aside for a moment, Live Free is an entertaining ride that follows the story structures of the sequels that came before it, and is hinged on a suitably modern and apocalyptic concept. It's a sequel that I believe has slowly won over the fans. That said, 'A Good Day To Die Hard' destroyed most of the remaining goodwill for the series in one fell swoop.