Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Len Wiseman

Writers (WGA):

Mark Bomback (screenplay)
Mark Bomback (story) ...

Release Date:

27 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Yippee Ki Yay Mo - John 6:27

Plot:

John McClane takes on an Internet-based terrorist organization who is systematically shutting down the United States.

Plot Keywords:

Hacker | FBI | Police | Agent | Police Detective

Awards:

2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	John McClane
Timothy Olyphant	...	Thomas Gabriel
Justin Long	...	Matt Farrell
Maggie Q	...	Mai
Cliff Curtis	...	Bowman
Jonathan Sadowski	...	Trey
Andrew Friedman	...	Casper
Kevin Smith	...	Warlock
Yorgo Constantine	...	Russo
Cyril Raffaelli	...	Rand
Chris Palermo	...	Del (as Christopher Palermo)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Lucy
Sung Kang	...	Raj
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Molina
Christina Chang	...	Taylor

Also Known As:

Die Hard 4.0 (Australia) (South Africa: English title) (UK) (USA) (working title)
Die Hard 4 (USA) (working title)
Die Hard 4: Die Hardest (USA) (working title)
Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard (South Africa: English title) (TV title)
Die Hard: Reset (USA) (working title)
Die Hard: Tears of the Sun (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual situation.

Runtime:

129 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Denmark:11 | Sweden:15 | Norway:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43515) | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Malaysia:18SG | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Malta:16 | Chile:14 | France:U | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Italy:T | Spain:13 | Peru:14 | India:UA | South Africa:13V | USA:Unrated (unrated DVD version) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

105 Freeway, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The phrase "Live free or die" is from a toast written by the revolutionary soldier General John Stark. The full phrase is "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils".

Goofs:

Continuity: Rand leaves Gabriel to go look for McClane and kill him. Later we see Rand finding McClane in the cooling room. But in between these two scenes we see Gabriel talking to McClane on the radio and slapping his daughter, and Rand is in the background, leaning against a wall. This editing mistake means Rand leaves to go look for McClane, comes back to Gabriel and waits, then goes to look for McClane again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mai Lihn: Well?
Clay: I'm sending you the code.
Mai Lihn: Yes, I see that. Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Muchachada nui: (#1.6)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

America the Beautiful

Summer blockbuster with no overkill. Terrific action packed entertainment!

John McClane back on duty and back in action.

This time around he is assigned to bring Matt Ferrell, a known hacker, to the FBI after some top security government mainframes are hacked. McClane and Ferrell barely get away with their lives and the US begins to crumble as a nationwide cyberspace takeover is engineered by some clever terrorists.

It has been 12 years and several weeks of controversy here on IMDb about this much anticipated release, but here it is, finally. And it doesn't disappoint. From the first scene to the last there is lightning fast pacing and many jaw droppingly spectacular stunt pieces. Much like the previous Die Hard entries logic isn't exactly a part of the game, but sheer adrenaline packed excitement sure is. John McClane is faced with many outrageous challenges and like before he doesn't back down even after seriously getting his ass whooped. But that's McClane you. Also, McClane isn't just as tough and resourceful as ever, he is a wise ass at the top of his game. Much of the "controversy" on the forums here was about the PG-13 rating's limited profanity (I know, I participated in the discussion), but guess what? There is profanity! But it is not really that that matters, it is John McClane's wise ass no fear attitude that fans want and that is just what they get. The profanity is obviously less than in the previous films but it still has plenty of funny moments and the famous 'yippy kah yay' quote is here in full glory.

Also, the stunt work is in full glory with several amazing set pieces, especially a dual with a super fighter jet near the end. Grade-A Hollywood mayhem and destruction and very little apparent CGI. As far as summer entertainment goes - forget Pirates 3 or Spider Man 3 - this is an action movie that knows when it is getting over the top ridiculous and spares the viewer overkill, but still manages to be ridiculous and entertaining. There are also subtle references to previous Die Hard movies that fans will undoubtedly smile at. --- 8/10

Rated PG-13 for violence/intense action and profanity. Ages 13+.