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Live Free or Die Hard

Review By: Dan Deevy
DanDeevy@TheCinemaSource.com

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Live Free or Die Hard, which for those of you who have been counting, is the fourth incarnation of rough and tough, balls to the wall New York City Detective John McClane saving the world from evil terrorists bent on world domination, is the BEST movie of the summer. No, seriously. It’s the epitome of perfect action popcorn summer fare.

Transformers just plain sucked, Fantastic Four 2 was luke warm at best, Spider Man 3 was comical (no pun intended) and Pirates, well, who the hell had four free hours to find out? Live Free or Die Hard delivers on every level. It’s completely respectful of the source material, which most films now-a-days aren’t (Transformers anyone?), while at the same time it’s completely updated and modernized so as not to seem antiquated in any way shape or form.

This time around the dastardly terror plot is formed, not by someone from some third world struggling country, but from a disgruntled government employee right here in the United States. Creepily sexy Timothy Olyphant plays Thomas Gabriel a former member of the NSA who, after being dismissed by his superiors, decides to show them just how vulnerable the countries computer infrastructure really is by sabotaging it and making off with billions!

Unfortunately for him and his merry band of outlaws including the ass-kicking Maggie Q as his brilliant and beautiful girlfriend Mai Lihn, Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is assigned to escort Matt Farrell (Justin Long), a computer hacker believed to be involved in some way, down to NSA headquarters. As they try to assassinate Farrell, McClane is thrown into the heart of the conflict and ultimately must be the one to bring them down.

Ironically, by not using a ton of CG FX in this action packed thrill ride, the director, Len Wisman (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution), manages to rejuvenate a once dying genre and art form. Yes, art form. The excitement of watching a car flying through the air and slamming into a helicopter is a million times greater when you know it’s actually happening. Enough with the computer generated effects. Getting back to