Manfrendshensindshen
Posts: 489
Joined: 14/1/2006
|
John McTiernan's return to the Die Hard franchise is really rather surprising in a few aspects. First of all, the obvious thing to do would be to use McTiernan's capabilities where he's best, meaning: tense, suspenseful action in a closed confinement. Secondly, one would think that John McClane's lonely wolf status would be cemented, as this was another element that made the first film the masterpiece it is. But the filmmakers decided to dismiss both these formulae and instead try something completely new. Kudos to them. Thus Die Hard With A Vengeance is not only bathed in the glow of a hot New York summer day (and therefore the exact opposite of the first two installments' atmospherical undertones), but also quickly turns into a buddy movie by coupling Willis with Samuel L. Jackson's Zeus. And sod closed confines, why not use the whole of the city of New York? Taking this path was a brave movie, which also alienated many expecting something more akin Die Hard In A Shopping Mall or Die Hard On Boat (oh, they'd already done that, under the name Under Siege). But it at the same time takes away some of the original's basic ingredients, lessening the impression of a 'proper' Die Hard film. Mind you, it's still leagues ahead of Renny Harlin's rehash that was Die Hard 2 and shows how McTiernan is (or was?) a much more original and intelligent director than his copycat peers. It just doesn't stand a chance against the original, and also suffers from a weak third act and a rather dull Jeremy Irons (would David Thewlis have done a better job?). If you have to chose any sequel to the one film that rules them all, it's got to be Die Hard With A Vengeance.
|