Live Free or Die Hard

"Live Free or Die Hard" is the latest (thank God Michael Bay didn't direct it) installment in the popular "Die Hard" franchise. Nothing against good ol' Michael Bay, but had he done this film, would "Transformers" would have been as spectacular without his direction? I didn't think so.

Bruce Willis makes a triumphant return as John McClane who this time around is assigned to bring in hacker Matthew Ferrel for questioning. A simple task warps into a race to save mankind when he realizes Ferrel may have taken part in a terrorist attack on the country that has shut down all transportation, power and any other important computer operated systems.

As is any story pertaining to the action genre, there's nothing really spectacular in regards to the basic set up, yet the writers have developed an easy way to get detective McClane back in action. The dialogue is laughably immature at times and the acting is anything but top notch, yet there's something that shines in the way "Live Free or Die Hard" is executed and fans of the franchise will be completely satisfied come the end credits.

Proper credit does go to director Len Wiseman for constructing an action flick that really defines the meaning of the term summer blockbuster. The special effects are mesmerizing and the action sequences are explosive. The aerial shots of Washington are spectacular and all in all, Wiseman has done practically a damn good job in, well, getting the job done.

Willis and Long are perhaps the best on screen pair I've seen all year. They're hysterical, feeing off one and other, giving the audience some unforgettable one-liners that certainly live up to those we've come to love from the original film.

Those of you who are skeptical about the film's rating, don't be. The PG-13 rating as really been pushed to the limit as "Live Free or Die Hard" brings to the table an exceptional amount of violence and language, that'll certainly make you wonder how this film even got stamped with such an audience-friendly rating.

All in all, "Live Free or Die Hard" is a solid installment in the franchise and definitely the only one that comes even close to being as good as the original, despite the rating and the lacking of our favorite phrase "Yippee Ki-Yay Motha...", well, you know where that one's going. In fact, the phrase is muttered toward the end of them film, however, due to an excessively loud gun shot, those of you with bad hearing are sure to miss the last word.

This is definitely one of the best films of the summer and certainly of the year. I guess we'll wait another ten years for the next installment, but by then, Willis won't have a head at all. Sorry, bad joke.