Statalyzer
Since: Jul, 2009
01/05/2012 00:00:00
I thought the "rookie cop" overplayed his nervousness, and we actually did find out only part of the villians plan at a time. That said, the part where it turns out that they aren't really blowing up the gold wasn't that hard to guess beforehand. I really liked how it looked another movie where a cliche cheesy villian uses puzzles and games to reveal his plan only if the good guys are smart enough, and of course they are, but they never would have caught him if he hadn't given them clues - but actually the clues are all just a distraction from his actual scheme. Nice subversion.
Watch out where you step, or we'll be afoot.Leave a Comment:
Die Hard With a Vengeance: Simon Says, "Boom!"
Die Hard With a Vengeance is, in some ways, not like the previous films. Instead of it being confined to a single location, the action is spread throughout several different areas. The film uses this to its advantage, staging many different types of fights and situations that would be otherwise impossible. This is a different take on the formula, but roll with it, and you'll find it enjoyable.
The threat in this film comes from a mad bomber with a personal grudge for John McClane calling himself Simon and playing a deadly game of Simon Says with him. After Zeus Carver Samuel L. Jackson saves John's life in Simon's first game, he gets roped into the game, too. Amid the escalating threat and Simon's puzzles, McClane can't shake the feeling that Something's Up. He's right, of course (this is a Die Hard movie, after all), but no one has a single clue to the Plan until about halfway through.
For better or worse, the film doesn't have a lot of filigree. In the first two minutes, we're given some establishing shots of New York, a song in the background, lots of people, and BOOM! A department store explodes. The credits start rolling barely a minute after the last fight is finished. Once the immediate danger of a situation is resolved, we cut to another scene with very little of the aftermath shown, if any. While this ensures a fast pace, one specific problem stands out for me: once John has an inkling of the Plan, we are immediately shown the villains carrying it out in full. Half the fun of the first two films was only finding a little out at a time. Once everything's exposed, some of the suspense is lost.
The characterizations, normally not important in an action film, are fairly good and show some surprising subtlety. A cop that holds up Jackson at one point, while never identified as a newbie, is played so well that it's pretty obvious he's a rookie. The interactions between Jackson and John are excellent and some of the best parts of the film. The minor characters aren't all wholly fleshed out, but they've got subtle actions that imply more to them, like staying with a bomb to the end to try and defuse it.
Although not quite as good as the first two, Die Hard With a Vengeance is still enjoyable. It makes some missteps, but remains a solid film for those who like action movies.