Die Hard: With a Vengeance

8/13/2016

With this having been the first DH film I ever watched (and the only one so far I have seen upon its original theatrical release), I hold a quiet sense of satisfaction that over time it seems to have become generally people's favourite of the series, next to the original. It is much more original than its predecessor, and has much higher-caliber supporting players in Jeremy Irons and Samuel L. Jackson--not to mention the best director the franchise has ever had. This was great to see once again, and I STILL have nightmares with that wicked Katya (played by composer Sam Phillips) slicing my head off...

3/20/2019

***Big, dumb, fun action flick with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson in New York City*** RELEASED IN 1995 and directed by John McTiernan, "Die Hard with a Vengeance" is the third of (currently) five installments in the Die Hard series. In this one, suspended New York City cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) rejoins the force to tangle with a mad-but-genius German bomber named “Simon” (Jeremy Irons) while teaming up with a good Samaritan from Harlem (Samuel L. Jackson). This franchise fills the bill if you're in the mood for big, dumb, fun action thrills. Don't get me wrong because a lot of work goes into making these kinds of films and it takes talent & genius to pull them off. I mean "dumb" in the sense that the focus is on unbelievable action rather than deeper themes beyond "gen

8/27/2023

Bruce Willis returns as "McClane", this time being used as a plaything by a telephone terrorist named simply "Simon". Unsure as to why this man has alighted on him, he is now sent on a series of missions around the city - fail and a devastating bomb could go off. Along the way, he manages to recruit the assistance of Samuel L. Jackson ("Zeus") and together they they must stop more carnage - and thwart the perpetrator's ultimate intentions. It is a little repetitive at times, but there is plenty of on-screen chemistry between Jackson and Willis; their challenges are a little more cerebral and amusing and the plot builds well until quite an exciting, if just a little too far-fetched, denouement with a baddie whose voice we ought instantly to have recognised on the phone. This is just a simpl

2/2/2025

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) is a step up from the second movie but still does not capture what made the first one great. The plot skips any buildup and throws McClane straight into a city-wide puzzle game, which keeps the pace fast but makes everything feel more scripted than natural. Instead of building tension, the movie rushes from one scenario to the next, making it feel like the characters are just following a trail without questioning anything. The script has some great banter, especially between Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, whose dynamic carries a lot of the movie. But the overall story feels more like a structured game than an unpredictable survival situation, which takes away from the suspense. John McTiernan’s directing is solid, and the cinematography makes good u