Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

Live Free or Die Hard (2007) is easily the best sequel so far, bringing a fresh and creative twist to the franchise. The plot introduces a modern cyber-terrorism angle that keeps things engaging, and the script does a good job balancing action, humor, and tension. The pacing is well-executed, though the first act moves a little faster than it should, almost like the movie is in a hurry to get to the action. Bruce Willis delivers as McClane, maintaining his signature attitude, while Justin Long adds a solid dynamic as his unexpected sidekick. The story feels unique compared to the previous sequels, making it stand out in a good way.
The directing is sharp, and the cinematography makes every action scene feel big and polished, but this is also where things get excessive. The action goes from intense to completely over-the-top, with sequences that feel more like something out of a superhero movie than Die Hard. It is fun to watch, but it takes away from the grounded, desperate energy that made the first film a classic. The score and sound design keep the intensity high, fitting well with the fast-paced nature of the film. While it pushes the limits of what Die Hard should be, it is still an entertaining ride and the best sequel so far, even if it does not fully recapture the original’s magic.

After completely ruining his daughter's hot date, "McClane" (Bruce Willis) is sent to pick up a young hacker in response to what the FBI think might be a city wide cyber-attack. The youngster "Farrell" (Justin Long) is a cocky geek who is ill-prepared for what now ensues as "McClane" arrives just in time to save him from a barrage of gunfire that turns his apartment into a war zone. They now have to try to get the kid to safety but his pursuers are not giving up. What has this lad done? What has he got? Well swiftly we learn amidst the growing chaos that the not so angelic "Gabriel" (Timothy Olyphant) and his pal "Mai" (Maggie Q) are pulling the strings and will stop at nothing to see both of them go the way of the dodo before they cause mayhem across these United States. Can this unlikely pairing thwart his devious plan? To be fair to both Bruce and Long, they do manage a bit of quite engaging camaraderie as they lurch from one death-defying scenario to another but there's no getting away from it. The story is weak and far too thin to stretch across two hours of action that becomes increasingly far-fetched and repetitive. The cop character's disdainful attitude is also starting to wear out a bit as what limited jeopardy there ever was with these films becomes just a little too much like an exhibition of the stunt arrangers creative pyrotechnics and the lively production design. It's not terrible, Willis still oozes charisma, but maybe "McClane" needs to be put out to pasture now before he does himself a mischief - or bothers to read another lacklustre script.