Die Hard 4.0 - Reviewed on PureMovies.co.uk

Dir: Len Wiseman

Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q

Simply put, the first Die Hard is the archetypal action movie. It is a film that defines a genre. Everything about it was perfect; the iconic hero John McClane, the villain, the location and setting, the well-developed supporting characters, the action sequences and the plot. The two instalments that followed were solid in a time in which sequels were not as loosely banded around as they are today but they could never emulate the level of simple brilliance of the first. Since then, an action genre has developed in which CGI sequences are not just commonplace but dominant and the Die Hard format is constantly replicated again and again.

So, although, like many, I was very excited about the prospect of a new Die Hard, I knew in my heart that my expectations of a film that would rival the greatness of the first would probably never be fulfilled.

In Die Hard 4.0, an internet attack on the vulnerable US infrastructure begins to shut down the entire nation. The man behind the attack, Thomas Gabriel (Olyphant), has orchestrated what is known as a ‘fire sale’ in which everything really must go. He has meticulously thought out every possible angle but he never expected to run into John McClane.

Nowadays, McClane is a detective and, after yet another argument with his (now much older) daughter, receives a mundane assignment to bring in young hacker Matt Farrell (Long) for FBI questioning. However, McClane has a habit for being the wrong place at the wrong time.

With Farrell’s help, McClane slowly begins to understand the increasing chaos that has suddenly surrounded him and sets about trying to stop it.

The thing that really comes across in the film is the arcane knowledge of the franchise that the filmmakers have. They knew it inside out and show it through delightful little details such as McClane’s roll of the eyes when he talks to someone called Agent Johnson, the daughters use of the Gennaro name and, of course, the customary “Yippee-ki-yay”.

Wiseman has taken what was successful in the earlier films in the franchise and has used it as a foundation to build on. The needless swearing has lessened and the dialogue has greatly improved.

The character development is the key to the film’s success. The ‘Hans Gruber’ character is one of the best film villains of all time and probably can never be improved upon but Olyphant, though certainly no Alan Rickman, is a decent enough replacement. His girlfriend and right hand woman, Maggie Q, is very convincing as being more than a match for McClane.

There are no meaningless characters in the film. Kevin Smith’s cameo is a touch of genius, Justin Long is a more than competent sidekick, Lucy McClane is everything you would expect his daughter to be and the sub-characters have been superbly formulated.

As an old-school analogue watch in a digital world, John McClane is as tough and endearing as ever. The sardonic character is Willis’ best role and he seems to revel in it. His work ethic as an actor is unparalleled and he certainly takes one hell of a beating in this film.

Action sequences obviously have a prominent role in an action movie but if there is no character development or the lack of a decent plot then there is simply no point to it. Thankfully, this was not the case. The action set-pieces were stunning, incorporating innovative, super-slick, rapid editing and breathtaking cinematography. Surprisingly, the film barely used CGI and, in a summer filled to the brim with blockbusters that have become so reliant on computer imagery, it is refreshing to see real stunts that were big, smashmouth, gritty and so emotionally loaded. A number of memorable moments were created including John McClane sending a patrol car through a helicopter, a one-on-one fight with Maggie Q inside an SUV within a claustrophobic elevator shaft and many more. They are all equally astounding.

Sometimes the film exceeds the notions of plausibility such as why McClane has huge amounts of ammunition when he is simply taking a hacker into questioning but it is easily forgiven.

Die Hard 4.0 is not only an excellent film in its own right but a proud tribute to a beloved franchise. Just like its predecessor, it is an archetype of the action thriller genre. I will resist the temptation to end this review with a ‘Yippee-ki-yay’ and instead say that, although I hate the sequel-driven side of Hollywood, I am on my knees with my hands clasped together begging for a Die Hard 5 (or 4.1).

Expectations were not just fulfilled, they were surpassed.

Oh…go on then…Yippee-ki-yay!

Discuss this movie now at the Pure Movies Forum!