Rating of
3/4
Die Hard with a Virus?
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/23/07
I've noticed a trend with Die Hard. It just keeps getting bigger. Case in point, Die Hard: Terrorists take over a tall building. Die Hard 2: Terrorists take over a major airport. Die Hard 3: Terrorists take over a big ol' chunk of New York. Which brings us to Live Free or Die Hard where terrorists pretty much cripple the entire Eastern Seaboard and pretty much all of America.
Looking beyond the grand scale of things, the fourth Die Hard, years away though it is, carries on the tradition with verve and vigor. John McClane is still gruff and throws around one-liners like they're going out of style. Once again, he somehow finds himself in the wrong place and once again has to pretty much save the day from certain destruction. I was really worried that Justin Long (aka Mr. Mac) was going to drag the movie down, but he wasn't that bad, and actually pretty much embodies the role of a wimpy hacker thrown into danger again and again.
Better than that, this Die Hard actually has a story that I find more plausible than any of the other three. Cyberterrorism is the new terrorism people! I have no idea if there is such a thing as a "fire sale", but if there is, I expect someone is thinking up how to make it a reality as we speak. If you want to cripple this country, take away our Internet, TV and cell phones. Tell me it wouldn't make you break down and cry.
Beyond Willis and Long, there are some other good casting choices. Timothy Olyphant plays the psycho cyberterrorism leader with cool detachment. Maggie Q is the hot sidekick who will kick your butt. Finally, my personal favorite, Kevin Smith as the "Warlock" a hacker hero, who of course still leaves with his mother.
Don't worry, despite the cyberterrorism plot, there's still plenty of adrenaline pounding explosions, chases, gunfights and fist fights - all the fun you've come to expect from Die Hard. John McClane once again comes out looking as if he just emerged from a meat grinder. There's little new here, but sometimes that's a good thing. I came into this looking for a great action flick with a decent plot, and I was not disappointed.
