*Originally written December 25th, 2016*
Watching Live Free or Die Hard (Or Die Hard 4.0 in the UK) straight after watching the first three is like being given a Diet Pepsi when you want a full fat Coke. I mean, it's fine, but it's just not the same. Give me a fucking full on sugary Coke.
The fourth entry in the Die Hard series and the first in 12 years when it was released just feels like someone who had their balls cut off. The character of John McClane is still there and he has his moments where the character of the original trilogy comes out, but for the most part he feels like a completely different person.
One of the main problems is due to the cut PG-13 rating, which somehow managed to translate into one of the tamest 15 rated (In the UK) films I've ever seen. McClane doesn't smoke or swear, he's fairly cleaned up and boring. When he does swear it's pretty lame and don't get my started on the "Yippe Kai Yay, motherfucker" being censored with a gunshot.
What is great about the McClane character is that he's a reluctant hero. An every man who is constantly put into these extraordinary situations. In Live Free or Die Hard, he's merely just a cop doing his job. It's just not very interesting. I like the idea of John McClane, who is an old school guy who doesn't understand technology having to deal with a terrorist threat involving cyber terrorism, but they don't really do a lot with it.
It's mostly just a really annoying Justin Long spouting out stuff McClane or the audience doesn't understand, then McClane responding "In English" or something. This happens a lot through the film. It really doesn't help that Justin Long is such an irritating dick. He's so awkward and annoying, which is a shame, because I actually like Justin Long when he's in something good. Here, he's just wasted.
There is at least some really interesting and fun action scenes. There is some real creativity on display. Sure, the finale with the jet is absurd, but everything before that is pretty awesome. I loved the fire extinguisher kill and the killing the helicopter with a car was inspired. Len Wiseman does a pretty good job creating a visually fine film. The colours are all dull and washed out, but there is a lot of competent film-making on display, which is more than I can say for the abortion that is A Good Day to Die Hard....
Die Hard is well known for its villains. We've had Hans Gruber, Colonel Stuart and Simon Gruber, but now we have Peter Gabriel... who is boring and miscast. Timothy Olyphont is a wonderful actor, his work in Justified is amazing, it's one of the most underrated shows of all-time. I know that was post-Die Hard 4, but he was still known for cowboy like roles thanks to Deadwood, but he's reduced to a computer hacker role and it just feels wrong. I could not think of a better Die Hard film than John McClane going up against a gun-slinging Timothy Olyphant, it would have beautiful.
So that's Live Free or Die Hard, a diluted, bland experience that ruins the character of John McClane, but it at least has some genuinely spectacular set-pieces and action. It's just a shame that the film had its balls snipped off. There is at least an uncut version out there, but it's been 9 years now and there's no sign of a Blu-ray release in the UK. Disgusting.
5/10 Dans
Live Free or Die Hard is out now on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK
Watch the trailer below:
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