Live Free Or Die Hard

Year: 2007
Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Cliff Curtis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kevin Smith

It is the Die Hard franchise that certified Bruce Willis' career as an action star. He made other great action films too, like Armageddon, The Jackal and Hostage. But the Die Hard films will always be the material for which he will be best remembered for. And now 12 years after Die Hard With A Vengeance, we have a fourth instalment.

As usual, Willis' character John McClane is up against terrorists bent on total destruction unless their monetary demands are met. In this case, we have cyber terrorists unleashing hell on the U.S's infrastructure. First they take out the traffic control, then the stock market. The terrorists are led by Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant), a man formerly working for the government taking revenge for being crucified by them after trying to warn Uncle Sam about the vulnerability of their systems post 9/11. Gabriel uses low level hackers to write algorithms which he then uses in his plot to turn the government's systems upside down. One such hacker is Matt Farrell (Justin Long), whom McClane is assigned to pick up for questioning. McClane gets dragged into the whole thing when Gabriel's men try to kill Farrell to tie up loose ends.

Farrell, who didn't realise that his algorithm would be used for such a purpose, now has to rely on McClane to survive. He reluctantly helps McClane find a way to stop Gabriel. McClane discovers that he and Farrell are pretty much on their own as the FBI, led by assistant director Bowman (Cliff Curtis) is helpless, paralysed by Gabriel's plan.

So once again, John McClane is at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's not new, but it always works. Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld films, executes some really far-out action sequences to good effect. My favourite would be the one where McClane drives a semi-truck running from an F-35 fighter jet. But there are some elements that seem illogical, out of place or imperfect. The real action picks up in the second half of the film, the first half is quite dull and sometimes nonsensical.

As for performances, Willis is in his element as usual. He even has a scene where he talks about not wanting to be the hero. The fatigue in his expression is believable, though you might wonder if he really is tired of making these films at his age. Hopefully not. Long plays the sidekick role well, but I still prefer Samuel L Jackson in the third film. Jackson has better chemistry with Willis in that one. Olyphant tries hard but is not so effective as the villain. He has the look, but not the charisma needed to pull it off. Maggie Q shines as Gabriel's henchwoman Mai, as she gets to beat up McClane in a scene. Finally we have Mary Elizabeth Winstead as McClane's daughter Lucy, and thankfully her role isn't too overdone and fits the story just nicely.

The one thing that you will notice is the amount of violence and profanity that has been toned down compared to the previous films. In this day and age, perhaps it was best to do so. But don't fret it, Willis still gets to say his famous line, though it's a lot less climactic than before.

A good action movie. Not perfect, but good nonetheless. (4/5)