Now, the Die Hard series doesn’t immediately fall into Geek category, but when you throw in computer hacking, the “Get a Mac” kid, and Kevin Smith, I think it eeks by. Either way, I’m reviewing it….

Live Free or Die Hard has suffered from some pre-release online negativity because the film is rated PG-13. So let me get my feelings about that out of the way up front. This movie should not be rated PG-13. It’s an R rated movie that they just took all the “F” words out of, and the MPAA slapped a PG-13 on it. It shouldn’t be PG-13, and all the “F” words should be put back in….I can’t wait for the Unrated DVD that is sure to be released soon.

Now, on to the movie itself. Live Free or Die Hard could have very easily been a complete piece of crap. I wasn’t inspired by the trailers, and I wasn’t really looking forward to see the film…and I’m a Die Hard fan….even Die Hard 2: Die Harder…so, I was extremely surprised, and extremely happy to see that this is a true sequel in tone and feeling to the Die Hard films. It is more of a sequel to Die Hard with a Vengeance, as far as plot and pacing are concerned, but it is a solid as all hell action flick the likes of which we haven’t seen in a decade.

This is how action movies are supposed to be.

It’s full of insane action, witty dialogue, a moderately compelling plot, and lots of bad guys getting their asses handed to them.

John McClain is ordered to pick up a kid named Matt (Justin Long), who the FBI wants to question regarding some hacker related shenanigans….and once again, John just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ends up getting caught up in a national crisis that only he can avert…

…and every minute of it kicks ass.

There are a few scenes that didn’t work for me…like when all lines of communication are down, but OnStar still works…and the obviously ADRed dialogue that was overlayed to hide the “f-bombs” was a little distracting, but none of that could ruin this movie for me.

John McClain is back on the big screen, and the performance is pure Bruce Willis and worth the price of admission by itself for any Willis fan. The comedic back and forth with Long and Willis works well, although I miss Samuel L. Jackson from “with a Vengeance” (Die Hard 5, anyone?).

I liked the villain, I liked the plot, hell, I just plain liked the movie.

If you want a good popcorn action flick that will take you back to the days when action movies were worth watching, this is it.

“Live Free or Die Hard” is the best movie of the summer, thus far.

Grade: A

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