The name McClane is back, but that's about all...

Rating: 5/10 (28 June 2007)

Last night (June 27) I saw "Live Free or Die Hard" at Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood. In the beginning, John is spying on his daughter who is on a date with your typical, "I gotta make a move" type of guy. And of course, John saves the day. Well, sort of. His daughter doesn't apparently want anything to do with him, but this is never explained.
From there he's called to pick up Matthew Farrell (Justin Long) and take him to the FBI in D.C. because Homeland Security networks have been hacked and the Feds want to talk to the top US hackers on their list. Well, everyone of the hackers, including Farrell, have all written network codes that they unknowingly supply to the terrorists, in turn, are all sent a virus to their home computers. The moment the computer goes on the fritz, each hacker hits their "Delete" button and BOOM! Everyone blows up.(yeah, they send a bomb via the internet). Everyone, that is, except Matt, who is saved just in the nick of time, by John McClane, of course. So from there the action ensues.
What plays out, action wise, is fun, explosive, not-so-digital action sequences that are pure eye candy. The beginning sequences are a bit easier to believe, but the bigger they get, the more the film makers push the willing suspension of disbelief a might to far. But, hey... this is "Die Hard" and they are all guilty of this. That's why I'm not taking any points away... necessarily. It gets a little hooky, but what can you do??
To replace the f-bombs, they use words like "dickhead" and "jerk-off" twice a piece. And if the ending had been any more anti-climatic than what it was, I almost would have attempted a refund. The action and stunts build and build and all you.... *****SPOILERS*****SPOILERS**** DO NOT READ PAST HERE... SPOILERS***** ABOUND*******************
Die Hard fans who want the TRUTH about the infamous John McClane line, well all you get is this; the main villain, Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) has John from behind with a gun to his head. John had just been previously shot in the shoulder, so while Gabriel is holding him, he takes the barrel of the gun, presses the barrel against John's shoulder wound and asks John a question. John answers, by taking the pistol and pushing it into the wound even more, "yippie-ki-yay"-BANG (yeah, he shoots himself)and in shooting himself, he shoots Gabriel. Where he was shot, wasn't clear. He falls back on the hood of a car and that's it. Trust me, I've left nothing out of the. And as interesting as it sounds above, it was even less on screen.
All in all... fun, pop corn explosions and action. Bad writing, direction, and damn the man who came up with "Live Free or Die Hard" rated PG-13... Yes, there are plenty of DUBBING over of lines. If you watch, you'll notice it. It'll be interesting to see what the "R" or "UNRATED" version turns out. In fact, in the trailer, we see John begin his famous line, and when that shot comes up in the movie, (which is the end), he doesn't say it. It's a completely different shot and circumstances than what you actually see. So... BE WARNED. If "Die Hard" is what you want, then watch the 1st "Die Hard", "Die Hard with a Vengeance" and yeah.. even sit and take a gander at "Die Hard 2: Die Harded." Better quality movies all the way around. Sorry Bruce... hopefully DH5 you guys can get John McTiernan back to fix this mess, like he had to do with "Vengance."