Film Review: Live Free or Die Hard

A man of tradition, John McClane has been taking down criminals with a vengeance (I couldn’t resist) for nearly twenty years. Since the release of the first Die Hard in 1988, there has not been anything man or machine that has been able to stop this testosterone titan. After a twelve-year absence, Detective McClane is back for more beatdown in Live Free or Die Hard—has he lost his touch?

Luckily, if you are looking for a summer action movie, look no further. LFODH delivers as this summer 2007’s action pinnacle (though I have not seen Transformers yet). Nearly every minute of this intense thrill ride is packed with guns, bombs, and explosions of all origins. It is the greatest film crafted exclusively for the male psyche since 300.

There is a story, but it does not really matter that much. There are some side characters, but again, they matter very little. The Die Hard series has always been about one man and his mission, and that trend continues. The important thing to keep in mind is that John McClane is not a cop; he is the invincible self-projection of every American man. Throughout the movie he will routinely drive through buildings, use vehicles as ammunition, and defy all laws of science human anatomy in the process. This entertaining action is perfect for a summer action flick. In fact, LFODH is definitely the best one in many summers’ time.

Live Free or Die Hard shines as a summer spectacle, even though it cannot impress for its entire runtime. The movie is about thirty minutes too long, and the boring portions especially stand out due to their adrenaline-fueled counterparts. In the end it is all worth it to see Detective McClane leap from a semi onto a fighter jet that is tail spinning out of control, only to jump from said jet and slide down fifty of concrete to walk safely away. At no point is realism even attempted, and that is what makes LFODH so much fun to watch.

Yippee-ki-yay summer blockbuster.

8/10