Bruce Willis returns to the big screen as John McClane, the signature character he originated in 1988 s Die Hard and followed up with two sequels in the 1990s. In Live Free or Die Hard, Willis uses bare-knuckles brawn and brain to take on a computer-age villain bent on virtual terrorism. The action is kept real, with very little assistance from CGI. A car is launched into the air to destroy a helicopter. Another car slams down an elevator shaft as McClane and the movie s bad girl cling to its debris. It s simple old-school stunts and movie magic. There is scarcely a quiet moment throughout the movie s running time. The filmmakers seem to have made a vow to up the ante in physical action with each passing minute. The early stunts involving gunfire and escape get the pulse racing. Then come flying cars, huge fireballs, collapsing freeways, leaping actors, a Harrier jet taking on a big rig and assorted hand-to-hand fights of increasing originality. It all begins with a routine assignment for the NYPD detective: pick up a young computer hacker in New Jersey and bring him to the FBI in Washington for questioning. Audience will quickly notice that McClane is not the perky fellow he once was. His wife has divorced him, his daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) will not talk to him, and he is not too thrilled with police work anymore. The hacker, Matt Farrell (Justin Long), has an attitude that further exasperates McClane. Then several heavy-duty assassins hit the hacker s apartment with all they ve got. Somebody wants Farrell dead badly. McClane and Farrell barely escape, and the chase begins. It seems a mysterious cyber-geek is attacking the country s entire computer infrastructure with the intent of shutting everything down - from traffic signals to Wall Street - and they want Farrell dead. Director Len Wiseman firmly establishes an atmosphere of chaos with graceful camera movements and superior utilization of dark alleys, building basements, fire escapes, elevator shafts, underground tunnels, freeway overpasses, jammed streets, smoldering piles, and wrecked cars. Willis and Long make a great odd couple. Willis supplies the muscle and wit - his lines are always funny but never really mock the action - while Long is alternatively scared and determined as the geek turns into a force of vengeance. Their on-the-run character byplay gives each scene an added oomph. All actors playing bad guys have that evil spark that turns villainy into delicious malevolence. The most amusing casting belongs to filmmaker/Web site proprietor Kevin Smith, who turns up as a master hacker who never leaves his basement. The stunt work is among the films' best ever. There is something very satisfying in this digital age about an action film where CGI doesn t overwhelm, actors are in great physical shape, and huge spaces are actual sets rather than virtual environments. The movie s broad appeal makes it a sure-fire summer hit.
