(above) John McLane (Bruce Willis) attempts to rescue Matt Ferrell (Justin Long) from would-be assassins
YIPPIE KAI YAY, a sequel worth seeing!
Bruce Willis is back and at the top of his game
Rating: B+
In a summer of movie sequels, finally there is one worth sitting through. John McLane is back, 12 years older, 12 years wiser, and about 12 pounds heavier (yes, he has a bit of a gut in this one). But that doesn’t stop him from beating the snot out of every bad guy that has the misfortune of “pissing” him off, including a woman this time, in a crowd pleasing brawl. Though this film has a PG-13 rating, it’s difficult to tell why. It seems to have all the action and intensity of the previous three. The only thing that appears lacking is all the swearing and splattering blood, and honestly you don’t even miss it.
Justin Long (yes, the guy from the Mac commercials) paves his way into action movies in this film as, guess what, a computer hacker. However, his constant smart-remarks and high-pitched expressions of disbelief about his unfortunate situation can get a little irritating. But his eventual heroic turn at the end won’t hinder computer sales, hell, it might even improve them.
The plot, like all good Die Hard films, is nothing more than an elaborate robbery attempt by a criminal mastermind. In this case the villain is played by sinister looking Timothy Olyphant (HBO’s “Deadwood” series) who ends up playing more of a cookie-cutter action baddie emoting only rage and frustration as McLane confronts him at every turn. Much different than the creative character-villains played previously by Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons (Die Hard 1 & 3). Although, that doesn’t stop you from hating Olyphant as he sends every henchmen he has after McLane (who amazingly after 20 years is still only a detective).
The most distinct aspect this robbery is its method, which ushers the series into the new millennium. Olyphant, a computer genius, has found a way to hack into the entire nation's national control network and shut down water, power and electricity. He‘s found a way to disable all communication satellites and even take control of television networks. All this he has done as a means to steal billions of dollars. (I know it’s a bit hard to swallow, but works if you can suspend disbelief.) The movie also tries to serve as a commentary on our reliance on technology and how vulnerable we are in using computers and the internet to assist us in our daily lives.
However, a complex, intricate, thought-provoking plot is not the reason one goes to see a Die Hard movie. Die Hard movies are about five things: action, action, clever dialogue, more action, and Bruce Willis. This movie has all five.
Don't let the shaved head fool you. Bruce Willis is back and able to deliver to the big screen the tough-as-nails cop we’ve all grown to love in the past 20 years. Willis also brings a new aspect to the character. An older McLane, divorced with a daughter who hates him, begins to express the regrets that come with years of choosing to be the hero at work instead of the hero at home. This adds to the appeal of the character and continue the underlying story of all Die Hard films; McLane’s struggle with not only the villain de jour, but also with his domestic problems.
It seemed quite a gamble to put such a heavy task onto the shoulders of relatively new director Len Wiseman. Having only directed the mostly disappointing Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, giving Wiseman the job was a source of anxiety as the series was given life (Die Hard) and again revived (Die Hard: With a Vengeance) by awesome action director John McTiernen. Wiseman, however, delivers an action packed roller-coaster. The action sequences are inventive, creative and completely within the spirit of the series: i.e. raw and non-stop while showing off the ingenuity of John McLane and his ability to keep cool under pressure and at the same time leaving him beaten, bloodied, and shot, yet still limping his way to victory with a smile, a self-satisfied laugh, and at least one more wisecrack. The only downside is that the film runs a little long. Running at 134 minutes, the movie could easily have lost about 20 minutes to make for a tighter story.
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