Amazing Action movie that Lacks the Trademark Die Hard Charm...

Rating: 7/10 (15 July 2007)

Die Hard 4.0 (USA title: Live Free Or Die Hard) is the eagerly awaited fourth in the phenomenal Die Hard series. For the people who are not familiar with the other Die Hard films...stop reading this comment now ( yes I mean NOW !!) and go rent the other ones. ROFL.
The Die Hard films are a brilliant mix of original action-scenes and witty humor. They are widely appreciated by action film and non-action film lovers both( I'm the latter). Now...could the fourth in the series top the other films or at least equal it...?? I'm afraid the answer is...NO, although it was a lot better then I expected. It's definitely one of the best films of the year. Let there be no mistake about this: I am a huge Die Hard 4.0 fan. There are tons of fantastic action scenes. They're completely over-the-top at all times but If you know the other three films you know that's what Die Hard is all about. We get to see astonishing scenes with helicopters, planes and trucks. Yes, they really spared no costs or efforts to make the action scenes work. All of this can't make up for the fact that Die Hard 4.0 lacks the charm and wittiness of the other ones. Most of the humor used was a bit cheesy...whatever happened to 'This is what a TV-dinner must feel like...'? or the hilarious Mclane ramblings? Add this flaw to the flawed script and you'll see why Die Hard 4.0 at no time lives up to the other ones.
There's also been a lot of criticism on the casting, I however liked the cast very much: The relatively unknown Justin Long get's a huge part. I only know him from Jeepers Creepers and didn't like him that much in that film...but I have to admit he did a good job in DH 4.0. Also the casting of Olyphant brought up a lot of contradictory reactions but I think he was great. He's no Jeremy Irons but he pulls it off.
My conclusion: Die Hard 4.0 is cursed by the Die Hard name: the other films are hard or impossible to top...but Die Hard 4.0 still makes a fantastic summer action film and will be one of the best films of '07.