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.
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Jonathan Sadowski
Story: Mark Bomback, David Marconi
Producer: John McTiernan, Bruce Willis, Arnold Rifkin
Composer: Marco Beltrami
DVD Info
Release:
Aug 11, 2008
DVD Features:
- Keep Case
- Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Surround - French, Spanish
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
- DTS 5.1 - English
- Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Audio Commentaries - Bruce Willis - Star; Len Wiseman - Director; Nicolas De Toth - Editor
- Behind the Scenes - "Behind the Scenes with Guyz Nite"
- Music Videos - Guyz Nite - "Die Hard"
- Trailers - 1. 20th Centry Fox Forced Trailers (3)
- 2. Additional 20th Century Fox Trailers (4)
Reviews
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.
I was actually nervous with all the gunfire and near misses. But then it kept happening over and over again. So instead of being involved, I studied the action sequences.
The bad guys' omnipotence at nearly every turn dilutes the film's suspense.
This outing won't replace the original as anyone's favorite of the series, but it is a worthy addition to the Die Hard canon.
An enjoyable pop projection of post-9/11 anxiety. That said, it also makes you nostalgic for the days when irresponsible action movies didn't have to deal with it.
Related Forums
by: RealFnCool 2/12
Pictures
Videos
Watch Now >>
News
posted by Jeff Giles March 04, 2008
It may not have been quite the box-office phenomenon that its predecessors were -- and critics may have disliked it...
posted by Gitesh Pandya January 24, 2008
The resurrection of yesterday's movie heroes continues with Sylvester Stallone's new film Rambo which finds the vet...
posted by Jen Yamato November 20, 2007
Good news, blockbuster fans: this week in home entertainment features a crowd-pleasing toe-tapper (Hairspray), the...
posted by Jeff Giles August 15, 2007
Just about two weeks ago, we discussed the rumor that Live Free or Die Hard director Len Wiseman was in line to helm the...
Around the Network
Live Free or Die Hard at IGN
Live Free or Die Hard at AskMen


Top Critic