Live Free or Die Hard

The name Die Hard is synonymous with action flick. When it came out in 1988, it not only propelled Bruce Willis into stardom, but it also changed the nature of the action genre. What was so cool about Die Hard was that almost the entire film took place inside the Nakatomi Building. (Well, that and Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber is the bomb.) The film was so influential everything got compared to it: Under Siege was “Die Hard on a boat”, Passenger 57 was “Die Hard on a plane”, and Speed was “Die Hard on a bus.” So does the fourth installment, Live Free or Die Hard live up to the original? Of course not, but it is one hell of a ride. Most people would agree that Die Hard 2 was too self-referential and that Die Hard with a Vengeance was pretty sweet with the addition of Samuel L Jackson as Zeus, but I think Live Free or Die Hard might be my second favourite in the Die Hard series. Why is this film not as good as the first? Well, the joy of Die Hard for me is that it takes place in one restrictive location. Ever since, the series has gotten less and less restrictive: from building to airport to New York to the entire Eastern Seaboard. I’m guessing Die Hard 5 will be international and Die Hard 6 will be in space. (There is talk of a fifth one.)

When you go into a Die Hard film you need to expect the following: taunting comments from Willis’ John McClane, stunts that are way beyond the realm of possibility, and a “yippee-ki-yay motherfucker.” Check. Check. And Check (even though it’s muffled due to its first PG rating). Live Free or Die Hard has all that you should expect in a summer big-budget action flick. I walked out of the theatre entertained and a little deaf from the sound. Good times. Bruce Willis is back in his element as John McClane, the New York cop in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has the same smirk and same creative methods of putting away bad guys, but he gets beat up a little more easily this time around. Some of the bad guy deaths are a little grizzly but McClane always undercuts it with a sound of triumph and disgust. It’s those responses that seem to bring McClane down to earth despite his over-the-top stunts.

While I enjoyed Sam Jackson’s banter with Willis in Vengeance, I loved seeing Justin Long (Accepted, Ed, Mac commercials) taking on the role of sidekick. Long is very funny as geeky target, Matt Farrell. I loved how his character is so impressed with everything John McClane does. It’s like he’s channeling the audience. The differences in age and skill definitely add to the chemistry between Willis and Long. The supporting characters do fine work as well. Timothy Olyphant (Go, Deadwood) is fun to watch as the cyber-villain of this installment. He’s no Alan Rickman or Jeremy Irons, but what do you expect? He may not be as lethal but he gets to have some fun lines as he demeans his crew. Maggie Q (MI:III) is awesome as Olyphant’s kick-ass assistant. She is both sexy and scary in her combat scenes with Willis. I wonder why she wasn’t the one in charge? Kevin Smith (Clerks, Catch & Release) also makes a cameo in the film as a fellow hacking nerd.

The story of using computers to shut down America worked for me. I like that John McClane is out of his element when it comes to technology; it only serves to strengthen his dependence on Justin Long’s character. But what I really liked about Live Free or Die Hard is that McClane’s family is back on the line. With the kidnapping of Lucy McClane (now all growed up), there is something more to fight for. I think that was the element missing from Vengeance.

This is a movie to see on the big screen. This is what the big screen is made for. Live Free or Die Hard is full of intense action sequences that will lose its power on the smaller television or computer screen. The freeway tunnel accidents won’t have the same impact at home. Oh, but if you’re looking for realism, you might want to stay away. I mean Willis jumps from a shot-up rig to an out-of-control jet wing to a destroyed highway while avoiding a giant fireball. But that’s John McClane. That’s Die Hard.

Reviews coming soon: Transformers, Ratatouille