Hugely enjoyable action flick that delivers likeable characters, a decent plot, plenty of wisecracks and more breathtakingly ridiculous stunts than you'll know what to do with.
Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:194
Fresh:158
Rotten:36
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: Live Free or Die Hard may be preposterous, but it's an efficient, action-packed summer popcorn flick with thrilling stunts and a commanding performance by Bruce Willis. Fans of the previous Die Hard films will not be disappointed.
Theatrical Release:04-07-2007
Synopsis: After a twelve-year hiatus, Bruce Willis is back as New York City detective John McClane, who still plays by his own set of rules. Following DIE HARD (1988), DIE HARDER (1990), and DIE HARD WITH A... After a twelve-year hiatus, Bruce Willis is back as New York City detective John McClane, who still plays by his own set of rules. Following DIE HARD (1988), DIE HARDER (1990), and DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE (1995), the fourth installment in the popular action series stars DEADWOOD's Timothy Olyphant as Thomas Gabriel, an evil mastermind who is determined to bring down the entire infrastructure of the United States on Independence Day, sending the country into anarchy and chaos. Joining him on his mission of destruction is the elegant Mai, played by Maggie Q from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III. McClane becomes involved when he gets caught in the crossfire while transporting prisoner Matt Farrell (Justin Long, most well known as the mac in a series of computer commercials), a hacker extraordinaire who is the perfect complement to the old-school McClane, who eschews cell phones, computers, and doing anything the easy way. But when Gabriel kidnaps McClane's daughter, Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, from the DEATH PROOF section of GRINDHOUSE), it gets personal. Full of the sarcastic humor, exciting action sequences -- including flying cars -- and fun characters that have defined the series, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARDER is an excellent addition, directed by Len Wiseman (UNDERWORLD and UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION). The plot was based on a magazine article, "A Farewell to Arms," written by John Carlin, that appeared in a 1997 issue of WIRED magazine. The movie also features Kevin Smith as a computer geek -- er, expert -- known as Warlock, who still lives in his mother's basement. Yippee-ki-yay indeed. [More]
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Jonathan Sadowski, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kevin Smith
Director: Len Wiseman
Director: Len Wiseman
Story: Mark Bomback, David Marconi
Producer: John McTiernan, Bruce Willis, Arnold Rifkin
Composer: Marco Beltrami
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard
It's peppered with thrilling computer-generated action, but there's still something endearingly old-fashioned about McClane and his bare-knuckled way of dealing with bad guys.
This fourth episode of the Die Hard series, with its plot that seems to have come straight out of Marvel Comics and its preposterous if dynamic action sequences, has only a battered 52-year-old Bruce Willis as John McClane to commend it as a drama.
At least I hope it's the last. Willis does OK for a middle-aged guy, but as another famous die-hard once said, a man's got to know his limitations.
The most important thing is that director Len Wiseman stays true to the original formula. He could have gone for showy CGI or tried to be too self-referential. Instead, we get an uncomplicated plot, real stunts and a script which makes the most of Willis.
For the most part, it’s an enjoyable rollercoaster ride featuring lots and lots of explosions and some great special effects. Alas, it’s not up there with the first three movies.
Given Wiseman’s lack of style or guile, Die Hard 4.0 is pining for the freshness JJ Abrams pumped into M:I:3. Dopey story, so-so script and mostly ordinary action. It’s the ever-enjoyable Willis that makes it worth your while.
You know where you are with Bruce Willis. Unlike Schwarzenegger, he won't be moving into namby-pamby politics any time soon. He differs from Stallone these days in managing not to resemble an aborted experiment at Madame Tussaud's
Willis was entitled to one more kick-ass action outing. But please, let this be the last. Anything more would be dying soft.
The aesthetic point might be elusive, but that’s Bruce. Like this film, he has little time for detail.
Chasing the ghosts of past glories in the name of product allegiance, Die Hard 4.0 clatters noisily down the lift shaft into oblivion.
Yippee-ki-yay! Willis still has the goods. Credit to Wiseman, who keeps the thrills coming, and pass the popcorn.
It's efficient and entertaining, but even more preposterous than the first three films.
The Die Hard series was about as animated as Rocky’s face until director Len Wiseman restored it to its kinetic essence...
Live Free or Die Hard is as close as we are going to get to reliving the good old action films of the '80s.
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November 20, 2007:
RT on DVD: Live Free or Hairspray This Thanksgiving
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August 15, 2007:
Wiseman Will Escape from New York
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