The filmmakers have forgotten every reason why it is that they have a job making a fourth - yes fourth - Die Hard film. You make sequels when you have a successful film. I understand that, but none of the sequels have lived up to their predecessor, and Live Free or Die Hard might be the worst offender. Die Hard is a perfect action film that reinvented action movies, as well as reinvented what we expect from the action hero. The entire film takes place in one building, and a shoeless John McClane takes on the terrorists and defeats them because he is brave, cool, collected, and smarter than his adversaries. He is a regular guy who saves the day against all mathematical probability.
As the sequels have progressed, however, the filmmakers have forgotten or just ignored these facts. Sure, I want to see big action, but I don’t need to see it at the expense of plot. When there is little story making me truly believe the action occurring on screen is even partly feasible, then my attention is already lost, which brings me to my complaints about the third act. I’ll forgive the weak CGI in the highway tunnel scene that we’ve all seen in the trailer, depicting a car flipping into the air and Willis and Long ducking just in time. I’ll forgive the ridiculousness of a car going up a ramp and crashing into a helicopter. I will not forgive a semi-truck battling a jet plane while pieces of the highway are crashing all over the place only to wind up with Willis surfing on top of said jet. That was it. The over-the-top aspects that I could buy into as summer popcorn fun, disappeared into mockery.
People will like this film if they’re looking for two hours and 10 minutes of non-stop cartoon-like action, with a few catch phrases sprinkled in there, and if they can also accept the fact that it starts out with promise only to fail in its storytelling. I could not be so forgiving.
Article comments
1 - Fletch
Haven't seen it yet, but am pretty sure I'll be right there with you. All the pre-release talk of McClane being "an analog hero in a digital world" as the selling point was ridiculous. Do these people really know their character? Did they watch the first (and to a lesser extent, second) film? This is not and should not be treated like "True Lies," but that's pretty much what it sounds like. If I recall correctly, there were no more than 3 explosions (helicopter, roof, and maybe one other I'm forgetting) in the first film, and I don't think anyone had a problem with that.
2 - Victor Lana
ALl I can say is "Yippee ki Yay" and can't wait to see it. Then I'll be able to say more. Long live Bruce!