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"Live Free Or Die Hard" (2007)
Directed by: Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy
Olyphant, Justin Long
Running time: 130 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4.5/5

Returning to the movie franchise that made him a household name, Bruce Willis is back as Detective John McClane in the fourth installment of the "Die Hard" series. This time around, he finds himself battling a computer terrorist organization that is systematically shutting down the economic structure of the United States.
Any fan of the "Die Hard" movies knows that McClane has always had an on-again, off-again relationship with his estranged wife, Holly. Well, by this point they are now officially divorced, and John now has a rocky relationship with his daughter Lucy, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. After a confrontation at the beginning of the film between the two, McClane is summoned to pick up a computer hacker named Matt Farrell, played by Justin Long. Farrell may know some things about the terrorist organization, so the FBI sends McClane to get him. It's at Farrell's apartment that things get a little explosive, as terrorist enforcers burst into the apartment and start shooting up the place, looking to eliminate Farrell. McClane and his new sidekick escape and the action is only getting started.
"Live Free Or Die Hard" gives us that nostalgic feeling of what action movies used to be like. Pyrotechnics, stuntmen, and car chases that seemed to go on forever, but you never wanted them to end. And I think it's only right that a sequel to a beloved action franchise that started in 1988 use those kind of techniques. So many film crews and directors rely on CGI and other effects to pretty much MAKE the movie for them, and it always seems to come off as too over-the-top and unrealistic, not to mention expensive. There's no sane reason why a movie like "Evan Almighty" should cost $175 million, but it does. Less is more, people.
This is the first film in the "Die Hard" series to have a PG-13 rating, while the previous three were rated "R". Some die-hard fanatics of the franchise (pun INTENDED!) might be a little peeved at that, and to be honest I wasn't thrilled about it, either. John McClane is a regular, blue-collar every-man who can curse up a storm when things don't go his way, but that part of his personality is a little scaled back in this one. Yet when you think about it, it was the right thing to do for business. Having an R-rating can seriously hurt an action movie these days, and then there goes the box office dollars. Director Len Wiseman was smart with this one; he substitutes C-words and F-bombs with car chases, incredible stunts and very impressive action sequences. And the formula proved to be a huge success, as "Live Free Or Die Hard" has earned over $110 million since being released on June 27.
Like every "Die Hard" before, Bruce Willis gives a great, pedal-to-the-metal performance as the wise-cracking hero, John McClane. Willis has had a long, storied career and is a huge favorite among millions, so it's nice to see that he would return to this franchise instead of letting the studio pick some pretty boy in a remake. Uggghh, makes me shudder just thinking about it. As the wide-eyed, computer hacker sidekick Matt Farrell, Justin Long gets the job done. He's nerdy, spastic, and complements the jaded McClane well. Timothy Olyphant plays Thomas Gabriel, the leader of the computer terrorist organization. Olyphant is arrogant, vindictive, and a good choice to play bad-guy to Bruce Willis.
If you love action, Bruce Willis, that guy from the Mac commercials, or you just want to see a police car collide with a helicopter, then "Live Free Or Die Hard" is for you. It stays true to the feeling of the previous films, and still keeps that 1980's-90's action flick mentality. They don't make 'em like this anymore.