Live Free, Die Hard
Wow, I'm impressed. Its not often a film franchise like this can be resurrected and stay on par with with its predecessors. But Die Hard 4 does just that.
I'd have to say my biggest fear going into this movie was that they would push Bruce Willis' character too far, making him some kind of super hero that no one stands a chance against. I blame the insane previews for that. But not once in this movie did I feel like any part of the action was physically impossible. It was just the same old John McClane kicking ass and getting lucky at every turn. Awesome!
I was also worried about his "partner" in this movie being Justin Long aka the Mac. It seemed like they were just throwing him in almost as some current pop culture icon. But on the contrary, he played his part magnificently, An all but innocent bystander who gets caught up in a crazy game of survival.
Even the casting of Mary Elizabeth Winstead as John McClane's Daughter Lucy, was spot on. She looks like she could be the same exact girl from the very first film. (she's not, I checked :-) And she completely sells the McClane attitude. Even going as far as to dispatch one of the bad guys exactly the way her dad does! Daddy would be proud :-D Now watch the next movie be about her, The franchise will never die :-P (I really hope some producer doesn't read that, but if they do, I want a cut! :-)
The really funny part of her casting for me was recognizing her from Grindhouse. Remember the REALLY ditsy girl who gets left behind with the country bumpkin in Death Proof? Thats her! HA! Crazy. I'm so happy to find out that was all acting, cause you really feel bad for her in that movie :-P
Anyway back to the topic at hand. There WAS one scene in DH4 that was terrible beyond reason. At one point, our two heroes jump into a van which gets blown through a wall. At this point for the next minute or so I recommend Closing Your Eyes! The editing at this part can kill. I don't know how this made it through, but the voices don't line up, the cuts make no sense, and its just hard to pay attention to. Also when they steal the car. McClane smashes the window out, then later as their driving its perfectly intact :-P
That being said, those are my only real gripes with the movie. Great plot! Great cast! No fucking with the Die Hard formula. AND, I didn't even mind that it was a PG-13 rating. Seriously I didn't really even notice. They did muffle the "F'er" in the "Yippie Kai Yay-" line, but at that point your so into the action you just don't care.
If your a big fan of Die Hard movies like me, be on the look out for fun little references back to the past films. Like the FBI agent who provides the escort in the beginning, named Johnson. No I'm not a super freak fan, I just watched the movies last week the prepare Aaron and Lauren for when they got to go the the premiere in New York. So I'm pretty fresh on everything Die Hard right now :-P
I have to give this a 9 out of 10. Best movie I've seen so far this summer. And probably the only good sequel to come out in a long time.
I still think Die Hard 3 (with Avengence) was the best though. Theres just no beating a team up like Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. :-D
"Yippie Kai Yay Mother Fucker!"