Dir John McTiernan
Written by Jonathan Hensleigh, Roderick Thorp
Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L Jackson, Graham Greene, Colleen Camp, Larry Bryggman.
Once again a NY Lieutenant, John McClane (Willis) finds himself up against a dangerous antagonist. This time, it is a bomber going by the name of Simon (Irons), who has a connection to McClane’s past. When Simon’s games see McClane paired up with citizen Zeus (Jackson), they must try to stop Simon from delivering on a promise to blow up a school.
Third film in the popular franchise, took five years to be delivered – and while it is in no way the weakest film in the entire franchise – it was the weakest of the original trilogy.
McClane here begins his change from the ‘everyman’ to the ‘saved by plot armour’ that the final two films (to be reviewed in the next few months) were ridiculed for. There are several moment within the film in which are a far cry from the more gritty realism of the first two movies.
We are also introduced to new characters including many of McClane’s colleagues. However, by three movies in we have never heard about any of them, so there is no real fear for them as no history has been established. McClane’s ‘partner’ is screen legend Jackson, and the clear friendship between the pair shows on the screen. The back and forth between them is the glue that holds this film together. There is a noticeable absence in a strong female character, and Holly’s absence is felt.
Iron’s as the villain with ties to McClane’s history delivers. He has a genuinely intimidating villain as Simon. But with no real ‘end result’ he does become the weakest of the villains (to date) in the franchise.
Still a fun ride before the ‘2000s’ Die Hard came around, more about them later.
3/5
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