Die Hard 4.0

PREMIER MOVIE REVIEWS - Die Hard 4.0 (2007)

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Die Hard 4.0 (2007) (aka Live Free or Die Hard - title USA)

Genre: Action/Thriller

Director: Len Wiseman

Certificate: Die Hard 4.0 was rated 15A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for 15 year olds. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = moderate. Drugs = mild. Sex/Nudity = mild. Language = mild.

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Die Hard 4.0

Plot Summary & Review

It has been almost 20 years since the first Die Hard movie! God does that make me feel old, but yes it was 1988 when Bruce Willis first played NYPD cop John McClane. He returns again in this fourth instalment where McClane, yet again, finds himself embroiled in what seems like a terrorist plot.

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This time the USA appears to be under attack when computer networks and communications systems are taken under the control of bad guy Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant). As traffic systems, security systems, and utilities are taken off-line, panic and chaos spreads across the Eastern coast of America. The FBI are at a loss to know what is happening, never mind who is responsible, and the police struggle with the ensuing chaos.

John McClane's only lead is Matt Farrell (Justin Long) a young computer genius who works his computer wizardry from his student apartment. The bad guys are desperate to kill Farrell so the two of them go on the run while trying to make sense of the situation…

Born in 1955 Bruce Willis looks great in Die Hard 4.0. He can still carry off the smart talking tough cop role very well and yet he gives the impression he doesn't take it all too seriously.

Timothy Olyphant plays the bad guy Thomas Gabriel – I think he could have been more menacing and evil... Alan Rickman from the first Die Hard movie is still my favourite villain.

Young computer wizard, Matt Farrell, is played by Justin Long and there is some good banter between old-tough-guy and young-techie.

Die Hard movies are all about action and Die Hard 4.0 is no different. The format is very much the same as the previous movies. The action, as you would expect, is totally implausible and no human could survive the bashing that John McClane gets. He also has nine lives – more than nine! Bullets just seem to keep missing him - even bombs and rockets seem to miss their target and he manages to pick himself up, dust himself down, and relentlessly keeps on pursuing the bad guys. The stunts and action scenes are great - way over-the-top of course but great fun.

There are so many holes in the story! But none of that matters! This is John McClane the coolest toughest cop around - this is action man himself – reality is suspended! Against the odds the underdog gets knocked down repeatedly but picks himself up and keeps on fighting, and the audience cheer him on!

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

If you enjoy Die Hard 4.0 you might also enjoy: 16 Blocks (2006).

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: BRUCE WILLIS: 16 Blocks, Bandits, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Hostage, Sin City, Unbreakable. TIMOTHY OLYPHANT: Gone in 60 Seconds. JUSTIN LONG: Dodgeball, Herbie Fully Loaded, Jeepers Creepers.

Main Cast

Bruce Willis

Timothy Olyphant

Justin Long

Maggie Q

Cliff Curtis

Jonathan Sadowski

RATING