Suspend disbelief and enjoy the show

Rating: 7/10 (29 June 2007)

Of the 4 Die Hards I'd rate this no:3, after 1&3. While it's not as good as 1&3 it's way ahead of 2. So much for ranking it! In this latest version John Mclane is older, balder, but still a bad ass! The movie doesn't attempt to fill us in on anything about his last 12 years, other than the fact that he's trying to reconcile with his estranged daughter...by ruining her love life. The action starts right up and off we go. The movie is a delicious ludicrous joy ride, that borrows heavily from every other major CGI blockbuster: True lies; MI 1,2 &3, Terminator3 etc. The plot is paper thin, and the holes in it are effortless to punch, but Willis holds it all together with his wry presence.
They've decided to go with nobody's in secondary roles, or at least nobody's to an older aficionado. The worst casting is of the bad guy, who does not have the acting muscle to compete with Rickman and Irons. He looks like Liotta with better skin, but is as menacing as a California surfer! The lack of a decent protagonist for Willis is a major weakness; and I miss Bedelia. The star is of course the CGI's. Nothing new here; lots of car and truck crashes; the obligatory helicopter crash; and of course the collapse of an overpass; and apparently we now have a fighter plane that can maneuver like a helicopter (the F-35B, which is to replace the Harrier).