Holy Cow! It’s Vern’s Review Of LIFE FREE OR DIE HARD! Did He Like It Or Not?!?!
... So, my friends, I dearly wish we were not in this ridiculous situation. I wish they had just done the right thing and released the movie as it was obviously meant to be, so I could recommend this movie without reservations or caveats or what have yous. I mean how ludicrous is it that we are actually put into the position of explaining how a flippin DIE HARD movie is "really violent... for PG-13!" and "pushes the limits... of PG-13!"
It's preposterous and it's sad and it's a bad omen that we have found ourselves here, but it could've been worse. The movie could've sucked. But I am relieved to be able to tell you that, despite everything going against it, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD is a pretty damn entertaining movie. ... [link]
Die Hard 4.0
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wayfriend
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Actually, this is a very interesting and good review.
.
It's awesome.
It really should've been rated R (guy gets shot in chest, falls on white car, leaves no blood), but other than that minor gripe, it's great.
Can't wait for Die Hard 5.0
It really should've been rated R (guy gets shot in chest, falls on white car, leaves no blood), but other than that minor gripe, it's great.
Can't wait for Die Hard 5.0
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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ItisWritten
- <i>Haruchai</i>
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Oh yeah. An R rating would have made viewing it a tad more believable--but the over-the-top stunts and action sequences are the best part of this movie.
That said, I only noticed the PG-13 trappings after the fact, and it did not ruin the movie at all.
As we left the theatre, I wondered if the writers had made a list of every throw-away one-liner ever used, and patched them into the appropriate place. Even if that were true (and I'm not geeky enough to follow through on the question), it was well done.
I'll take a 5th, please.
That said, I only noticed the PG-13 trappings after the fact, and it did not ruin the movie at all.
Spoiler
My son and I laughed oh so hard when the french hamster fell into the wheel and McClane yells, "Oh no!" as if someone had just spilled milk on his morning paper.
I'll take a 5th, please.
ItisWritten
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The Laughing Man
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I haven't seen the movie yet, but I did steal my title line from a review of it online, heh. the critic was describing all the other action sequels in comparison to this one....as "moping dolorously"..... 
Last edited by The Laughing Man on Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
this was a good action movie. Very neat premise and well executed: John McClane was teh Terminator to the bad-guys in this one. He just kept coming like a juggernaught! Great stuff.
Only one action sequence made me go, "Oh, Come ON!!!!" And I don't do that easily... 
not as good as the first (but what is?) but a solid 8 out of 10 for me.
Only one action sequence made me go, "Oh, Come ON!!!!" And I don't do that easily...
Spoiler
the big rig on the highway sequence...
not as good as the first (but what is?) but a solid 8 out of 10 for me.
~...with a floating smile and a light blue sponge...~
Yeah, I think everyone feels that way about that sequence (and for the record, there isn't a highway near Woodlawn that looks like that).
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
Just got back from taking Cailette to see it. She loved it (though not as much as Transformers), and I enjoyed it just as much the second time.
We both agreed (she's 12) that it should've been rated R.
We both agreed (she's 12) that it should've been rated R.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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kevinswatch
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I saw DH4 right before Transformers, and really enjoyed it. Probably more than Transformers. But DH4 was a lot better than I expected. Probably the best pure action movie I've seen in years.-jay
(It was funny though that it was set around the DC/Baltimore area. Heh. Although I thought I remembered hearing that they filmed some of it in College Park, which is cool if true.)
(It was funny though that it was set around the DC/Baltimore area. Heh. Although I thought I remembered hearing that they filmed some of it in College Park, which is cool if true.)
It's funny though, other than the stuff that was obviously in DC, there couldn't have been much done in Baltimore. I know there's no part of 695 that looks like the highway in the climax of the film.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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Menolly
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Well...
Hyperception rented all three previous Die Hard movies last night, and when he gets off work the entire family will have a rest of the weekend marathon watching them. We drive Beorn to camp on Wednesday. Since neither Beorn nor I have seen any of these films, our hope is to be caught up and to be able to see Die Hard 4 by Tuesday afternoon. I doubt it will still be in the theaters by the time Beorn returns from camp.
Hyperception rented all three previous Die Hard movies last night, and when he gets off work the entire family will have a rest of the weekend marathon watching them. We drive Beorn to camp on Wednesday. Since neither Beorn nor I have seen any of these films, our hope is to be caught up and to be able to see Die Hard 4 by Tuesday afternoon. I doubt it will still be in the theaters by the time Beorn returns from camp.
I've really enjoyed watching the old ones again, and I've been pleasantly surprised (and more than a little proud) at my daughter's reaction to them.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
So I've been following this like a gushing fanboy, but after 5 weeks of release, LFoDH has grossed $127,400,100, is the 222nd top grossing film domestically, has earned $178,659,471 overseas, and is the 163rd top grossing film worldwide.
Pretty impressive for the fourth movie in a franchise that followed the previous film by 12 years.
Go see it again!
Pretty impressive for the fourth movie in a franchise that followed the previous film by 12 years.
Go see it again!
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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ItisWritten
- <i>Haruchai</i>
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www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic. ... e=3&p=.htm
www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/?pagenum=2&p=.htm
209th domestically and 137th worldwide. It made over three times its budget. I'd say that makes it a bona fide hit.
www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/?pagenum=2&p=.htm
209th domestically and 137th worldwide. It made over three times its budget. I'd say that makes it a bona fide hit.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
OK, I know I'm obsessing, but it came out on DVD today, and the unrated version is awesome.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
About 30 f-words, the "Yippie kai-yay motherf*cker" isn't muffled by the gunshot anymore, lots and lots of blood spatters, and a few other minor changes. The story's the same, but the movie feels a lot more like a Die Hard film now.
This is the version that should have been released in the theater.
This is the version that should have been released in the theater.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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Zarathustra
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Rented this over the weekend. Why is the entire movie green? In fact, why is every movie in the last 5 years so green? All the colors washed out to give it that "edgy" look. Well, I like colors. The original Diehard movies had colors. Damnit, Hollywood, stop taking out all the freakin colors!
Oh, and the movie sucked, too. Sorry Cail. I hated it. I couldn't believe how the silly techno-terrorism plot dragged on and on and on. The bad guys were . . . computer nerds! Uhg. If they were only after money, why all the shenanigans? Why not use those awesome computer skills to steal it outright?
And I'm so sick of movies where the main hero can kick everyone's ass he meets . . . except some 105 pound chick. Come on. I don't care if she can kick. My 7-yr-old can kick. But I can still take him in a fight.
And you guys think that the 18-wheeler scene was the only "oh come on" moment? How about taking out a helicopter by jumping out of a speeding car and it hits a toll booth which magically shoots it 100 feet into the air to perfectly strike the aircraft? Even McClain was telling us, "This is a really bad idea." No shit, McClain! You should have told the writers! Maybe they would have listened to you.
Don't get me wrong. I know Diehard movies have spectacular and often improbable stunts. But nothing about this movie approached the gritty, realistic danger of something simple like walking barefoot through broken glass. You don't need green-tinted computer graphics for such a visceral image. You just need one badass character who is driven to extreme ends. Sadly, that badass was nowhere to be found in this movie. He was an aging Bruce Willis surrounded by lame bad guys, computer graphics, and Michael Bay-style explosions.
Looking at director Len Wiseman's resume, I can't believe he got to direct a movie in such a classic series. The guy was a prop assistant not long ago.
Oh, and the movie sucked, too. Sorry Cail. I hated it. I couldn't believe how the silly techno-terrorism plot dragged on and on and on. The bad guys were . . . computer nerds! Uhg. If they were only after money, why all the shenanigans? Why not use those awesome computer skills to steal it outright?
And I'm so sick of movies where the main hero can kick everyone's ass he meets . . . except some 105 pound chick. Come on. I don't care if she can kick. My 7-yr-old can kick. But I can still take him in a fight.
And you guys think that the 18-wheeler scene was the only "oh come on" moment? How about taking out a helicopter by jumping out of a speeding car and it hits a toll booth which magically shoots it 100 feet into the air to perfectly strike the aircraft? Even McClain was telling us, "This is a really bad idea." No shit, McClain! You should have told the writers! Maybe they would have listened to you.
Don't get me wrong. I know Diehard movies have spectacular and often improbable stunts. But nothing about this movie approached the gritty, realistic danger of something simple like walking barefoot through broken glass. You don't need green-tinted computer graphics for such a visceral image. You just need one badass character who is driven to extreme ends. Sadly, that badass was nowhere to be found in this movie. He was an aging Bruce Willis surrounded by lame bad guys, computer graphics, and Michael Bay-style explosions.
Looking at director Len Wiseman's resume, I can't believe he got to direct a movie in such a classic series. The guy was a prop assistant not long ago.
Success will be my revenge -- DJT