Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: Please Hollywood, hire some writers.
Summary: 1 Stars
Okay, I know I'm in the very small minority, but this movie was bad. First lesson in story telling; your audience has to care about the characters. Secondly; the story has to be based in reality (unless it's SciFi).
This movie takes about two seconds to develop any character lines. The plot is so absurd and far fetched as to be funny. Let's see; the NYPD police officer goes over to Camden, New York to take in a hacker for questioning (without a warrant or probable cause). Apparently Camden has no police force, or county or state police, and the NYPD allows it's officers to drive some 5 hours out of the city outside their jurisdiction on something that doesn't concern them (as far as prosecution is concerned).
Now the NYPD officer (Bruce Willis) gets into a extensive gun battle; the apartment where the hacker lives is blown up, numerous people are killed, the apartment building is shot full of holes, but hey, apparently nobody calls police/fire/rescue, and Willis just drives away. I guess checking for anyone else being injured or calling the FD because the building is on fire would just slow the action.
Then there's driving an SUV up a parking ramp and thru a glass window into the "secure" computer control room. Bad building design and security; having the parking ramp and your secure areas only divided by a glass partition. Next you run down the female bad guy with the suv at about 40mph, but wait, she doesn't even get one injury! And the list goes on.
This movie is just a bunch of unbelievable special effects and stunts with a terrible story line that was put there as an afterthought.
If you like special effects and stunts, see this movie, but check your brain at the door.
Movie Review: Blu-Ray is PG-13 version, great A/V
Summary: 3 Stars
Before buying this on Blu-Ray, please realize that instead of giving us the unrated version in HD on Blu-Ray, Fox instead opted to give us the theatrically released PG-13 version. Why? I don't know, perhaps they want to try and sell another edition later on down the road? Rumor is it was going to slow production of the Blu version to switch/add via seamless branching the Unrated edition and in their infinite wisdom Fox just dropped the Unrated version to have a day and date release with the DVD. Unfortunate.
Once you've decided to buy or not buy, depending on which version you want, you'll want to know what the video and audio is like.
I would say that the audio is what you should have come to expect from Blu Ray. DTS-HD MA lossless. The near endless action in the movie will give your speakers and your subwoofer a very nice work out. Dialog is clear and crisp, just as the sound effects are. I actually don't recall any background music in the film, excluding the scene of Matt Farrell (Justin Long... The Mac in the PC vs Mac commercials) typing away at his computer. For me this means the music, if any was in it, did it's job and remained in the background, lending to the mood without getting in the way or being over powering.
As for the video, it's spotless. Clean, crisp and there are no visible artifacts (as is expected with Blu). Fox uses AVC in 1080p. The movie was filmed at 2.40 to 1 so yes, even on 1080p televisions you will have small borders at the top and the bottom. The movie looks fantastic from beginning to end.
Now to look at the movie itself. I felt Die Hard 3 was a total let down. The unbelievably believable action you expected was just unbelievable. With Live Free or Die Hard I am happy to report that while some of the scenes are done with CG and other trickery, much of it was done with practical effects, meaning the effects are "real." This lends to some of the believability of the action, though even still much of it is "rrrriiiigggghhhhtttt" moments. But with John McClane, it's still slightly believable.
The story goes that John is sent to pick up a hacker then deliver him to DC. Since we know John McClane so well, we know that he's not going to simply be the UPS guy making the drop off. Turns out there are a group of hackers attempting to steal all of the USA's financial information by taking over our infrastructure (traffic lights, cell phones, satellite phones, TV (I assume Cable/broadcast/FiOS), Wall Street and so on) to break into a Woodlawn data center designed to capture the financial information in case something like this happens. Cue John McClane, ready to stop them whatever the cost. Lots of explosions and violence ensue.
I gave this one 3 stars only because it is the PG-13 edition. If they would have given us the same great presentation with the Unrated edition, this would most certainly be a 5 star disc.
Movie Review: Live Free or Die Hard
Summary: 5 Stars
Great movie and the seller sent the DVD to me in good time, didn't have to wait more than a week after I ordered it.Movie Review: EDGE OF YOUR SEAT EXCITEMENT! THIS IS "DIE HARD!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Bruce Willis returns as Detective John McClane in "Live Free or Die Hard," the fourth film in the "Die Hard" film franchise! In this film, McClane faces his toughest challenge yet when he takes on a group of cyber-terrorists hell-bent on shutting down the American infrastructure. But 21st Century villains are about to get a taste of 20th Century justice! The film features some fantastic action sequences, and the plot is great, if a tad predictable.
As far as acting goes, it's good overall. Willis, as usual, is great as McClane. He maybe a few years older, but he can still unload a can of whoop-#*$ on the bad guys, and is still good with the wise-cracks. Justin Long is also good as Matt Farrell, a computer hacker, and McClane's side-kick in the film. Sadly, Timothy Olyphant and Maggie Q, two respectable actors, are given one-dimensional villains to play, though they do the best with what they got to work with. And Kevin Smith makes a memorable, if frustratingly short, appearance as one of Farrell's fellow hackers.
This is definitely one of the best films in the series. Despite some flaws, this is a terrific film that "Die Hard" fans will surely enjoy!
Movie/DVD Grade: A-
Movie Review: Not bad, not bad at all.
Summary: 4 Stars
Although I disagree with the casting of the villain, this wasn't a bad movie. In my opinion, this is the second best die hard. 1st, 4th, 3rd, then 2nd. You should definately get this movie, its a must have.