Die Hard 4.0

I’m sure earlier in the year, or perhaps late last year, I saw trailers for Live Free or Die Hard. But in the meantime, somebody noticed that Web 2.0 was a bit of a buzzword, and since this film is all about using the power of computers to bring down the state, it was renamed Die Hard 4.0. To be honest, it’s a better title.
John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back, some twelve years after the last entry in the franchise. Relative new boy Len Wiseman takes on the directorial reigns, with John McTiernan who directed the first and third films getting a Producer credit. Who’s Len Wiseman? Well he’s directed those Underworld films and is married to Kate Beckinsdale. I’m not sure that thought thrilled me as I entered the cinema.
McClane’s daughter is now a teenager and as soon as we meet her, we know that she’ll be involved in the plot later on. McClane has to pick up a teenage hacker (they’re all teenagers, right?) in a routine sweep for the FBI. But the fact that a hit-squad is trying to kill him alerts McClane to something more nefarious.
Bad guy Timothy Olyphant is leading a high-tech attack on the US, employing a group of skilled hackers to shut down transport, communications and power around the country with something called a fire-sale. Fortunately, while Homeland Security et al are left paralysed, McCane is able to get around with his young hacker accomplice to thwart their every move.
The production notes to the film explained that they wanted to do stunts with as much realism as they could before resorting to CGI. That seems to be true to a point, but there’s also a lot of CGI as well, especially later in the film. A chase sequence where McCane, in a car, is being chased by a helicopter is good fun, and the denouement brings a cheer in the cinema. And a scene that ends with an SUV in an elevator shaft is also good.
But there’s also a scene involving some kind of fighter jet and a truck. I won’t say any more, but obviously CGI is used enormously, and the whole big budget sequence is terrible. It just doesn’t work, and reminds you of that awful bit in True Lies that involved Arnie hanging onto a Harrier.
It’s a shame really because overall the film’s pretty good. Yes McCane keeps getting back up every time he’s knocked down, which is a good effort considering Willis is now 52. But the story just about holds together, the villain is good, and the pace keeps up pretty well. But I suspect that for some visceral “real” thrills, we’re going to have to wait for The Bourne Ultimatum later in the summer.
I’m not sure what the UK certificate for the film is going to be, but if my eyes and ears didn’t deceive me, it looks as though a single strong swearword (inevitably added to ensure the film doesn’t get too low a rating in the US) has been dubbed out for the UK – probably to get a 12 or 12A rather a 15. It’s the first time I’ve noticed a dubbed word on a film soundtrack. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am.
I saw this film at a preview screening, and can I just say that however much you might just have enjoyed a film, there’s nothing more of a downer than facing a bun fight of 2,000 people (approximately the capacity of the Odeon Leicester Square) all trying to retrieve their mobile phones simultaneously. I know that phones like the Nokia N95 have five mega pixel cameras on them these days, but is phonecam shot movie really going to a major piracy concern? There’s got to be a better solution. All that happens is that 2,000 people end their evening a bit pissed off.
[UPDATE] It seems that in the US, this film is still called Live Free or Die Hard whereas in the UK (and much of the rest of the world) it’s Die Hard 4.0. A very curious state of affairs.


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One response to “Die Hard 4.0”

  1. matt avatar
    matt

    Hi
    Just saw the movie the other day. Im trying to find out who the band is that is playing in the music video on the hackers tv when McClane goes to his apt? its some chick I like the song but cant find out who it is..