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Die Hard is awesome. It plays 24/7 on AMC and for my money it's a top five actioneer of all time. I caught Live Free for the first time in a long time and I can't believe how this got such a pass from critics and fans. I think the critical response to this film (as well as the positive fan response) shows just how far our expectations for good movies has fallen since 1995.
First of all, Die Hard with a Vengeance doesn't get the credit it's due. It has the best of every ingredient you'd want from a great action film and Samuel L. Jackson turns in the most brilliant sidekick performance ever put to film. I dare anyone to watch that movie and tell me that a better pure action movie has been made in the last 10 years.
On the contrary, Live Free has everything that makes movies suck these days: a boring topical plot that nobody will relate to in 10-15 years, a lazy "reintroduction to the hero" scene that comes off more awkward than badass, an annoying sidekick, action more insane and cinematic than threatening or realistic, a non-imposing villain who looks more like a 25 year old junkie, a terrible script with more technobabble than should ever be present in an action movie, wooden characters we care nothing about and horrible direction packed with establishing shots / shots of computer screens and people doing nothing. Oh, and I didn't even mention the lack of swearing, extreme violence and signature musical cues that make a Die Hard film a Die Hard film.
It's hardly a decent action movie in 2007 let alone a good Die Hard movie. I'm fearful of what's to come in 2013 with "A Good Day to Die Hard"
End rant.
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