Decent ending to the franchise!

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2007)

This episode of the Die Hard-series is a decent ending. At least, I hope that this is the last one. In Hollywood you're never sure if they really can leave a successful franchise alone, just to preserve its legendary status.
In this part John McClane has to take on a group of terrorists that hack the system and screw up the entire infrastructure of the U.S.A. I personally like this approach. It makes the story of McClane a bit more epic than in previous parts of the series. It also has a nice touch of actuality in it, having in mind the terrorist-threat after 9-11 and the failing of help after hurricane Katrina. We see a nightmarish America in chaos; cars crashing, a complete blackout of water and electricity, stock markets collapsing,people panicking, terrorists using vile methods to manipulate the media and police, firefighters and medical help failing to response quick enough. They really did their best to visualize an America during a complete Armageddon.
There are no Arabs to be seen in the entire plot, and I think that is a good thing. Having all-American hero McClane fight terrorists would give the franchise a nasty, propaganda-like atmosphere. They wisely chose for a political correct villain. Though I must say that his psychological reasons to do this vile act are a bit lame. He's a bit of an anti-villain, so to speak. I'd rather see a more evil character to try and stop McClane on his rampage to save the day. Timothy Olyphant has the great bewildered look in his eyes to make him one scary dude, but with his mediocre script he doesn't really come to life as should be. His motives are too vague.
At the end, this part is thoroughly enjoyable. It isn't as good as it once was, mainly because the studio decided that it had to have a pg-13 rating. Most of the action is grander than before, existing out of exploding things and other less physical brutalities. The plot is paper-thin, but hey, I think that action-wise this movie sets a new standard for action movies in the future. Nowadays McClane isn't the only angry action hero, but he does have the right to exist next to more recent heroes as Jack Sparrow or Jack Bauer.