Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

[aygie]

Ok guys reviews up, bit of a strange one so let me know what you think. Sunshine coming tomorrow.


The Movie - 3/5

Back in the eighties it was easy. Get a big name star, a big set and a big budget, throw in a hand full of explosions, quippy one liners and bulging biceps and voila! You had your summer blockbuster. But amidst all the shoot outs, fist fights and Arnie growls came one of the most iconic action movie characters of our time. John McClane. A moody, arrogant, obnoxious straight down the line hero who captured the essence of every wanna be good guy sitting in the audience - be a kick ass cop without the paperwork.

Now nearly twenty years on and the Die Hard trilogy wrapped up, we find ourselves dubiously back in our seats waiting to see if old Yippee Kay-yay can still measure up, especially in the summer of Spiders, Pirates and Wizards. (Yes i know there is another but that is still a fragile subject)

Well, i was unsure of what to expect of Die Hard 4.0. As i've already said, and i think many will agree, Die Hard with a Vengeance seemed to complete the Die Hard series nicely with (some may disagree) the best in the series.

I think the best place to start is the story line. Die Hard 4.0 tries to incorporate our on-going world struggle with terrorism and mix it with the ever on-growing world of computers, hackers and police who are always one step behind. I found that as believable the story is, it just did not capture my attention as well as the script writers intended it to. The thought of cyber-terrorist controlling Washington doesn't really scare me, the thought of what we have seen in real life does, and i think this is where the film falters.

Die Hard has always revolved around terrorism in one form or another and this film finds its self trying to follow in its predecessors footsteps but now walking on eggshells. Yes its supposed to be a no brainer action movie, yes its not meant to be taken seriously and yes we're supposed to have fun with it but i find myself thinking that the creators of Die Hard 4.0 were stuck in the middle of what they wanted it to be, Unnerving hostile take over movie or easy going good guy / bad guy movie.

What brings me out of this over-thoughtful and quite frankly morbid view of this film is the good old fashioned blow stuff up action sequences. Whether a car is being ramped out of a tunnel into a helicopter or trucks and cars smashing from all angles because of corrupt traffic lights the action is thick, fast and ridiculous, and i like that. Ok, McClane one liners are overdone and you can see them coming a mile off but this just wouldn't be Die Hard without them, and Bruce Willis has spent long enough trying to rid his career of those skertchy one liners that its about time we let him have some fun with them.

I could go on and dive into charecters, acting and so on but this is only a mini review, so onto what everyone wants to know.....

The Picture - 4/5

Fox brings Die Hard to Blu-Ray on a (yeah you guessed it) BD50, AVC encode, and the picture quality is (you guessed it again) very nice. 4.0 has a strange (intended) blue/green tint in many of the films key scenes, giving the film a type of gloomy colourless feel which i was interested to see how these came out in HD. The result is very good. The film looks stunning as it it passes from deep blacks of night to bright sunny day as the story evolves.

The detail is also sharp and clean with colours looking stable and clear. There is slight noise in some of the earlier scenes but i found myself not really noticing unless i specically searched for it, so no complaints from me.

The Sound - 5/5

Coming with (yeah you gue...never mind) Fox's usual DTS HD MA which equates to DTS 1.5mbps, this is the films stand out point. This is where i feel that i'm back in the eighties where explosions, gun fights and car chases impressed me. This is what made me sit on the edge of my seat. 4.0 is truly a screamer in terms of audio. The first acts gun fight in the apartment is flawless with huge variations of bullets coming towards you from every speaker all with their own individual sound and presence. Explosions that make your sub literately shit it's self with lows that will sweep you whole room.

The audio on 4.0 is impeccable and by far (in my opinion) the only disc i will use from now on as audio reference, i like it that much.


Overall - 4/5

I love the Die Hard series and maybe i'm thinking too hard about it but for me the movie was just ok. Better than number two but no where near as good number 3. The Blu Ray however is a must buy for the audio alone and i for one cannot wait to see what Fox has done with the rest of the quadrilogy.

Live Free or Die Hard Blu-ray

[Guinness7]

It seems like it is on par with foxes other big releases and I would not expect much different form this one. It seems like anyone with a top notch audio system can get full use out of audio tracks fox puts on their blu-rays. Looks like I will be getting this one(probably was going to get it anyway with out a good review first)

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Guinness7

It seems like it is on par with foxes other big releases and I would not expect much different form this one. It seems like anyone with a top notch audio system can get full use out of audio tracks fox puts on their blu-rays. Looks like I will be getting this one(probably was going to get it anyway with out a good review first)

Yeah like i said if you've got a 5.1 setup this will blow you away!

[shamus]

What are the differences between the rated and unrated Aygie?

[aygie]

Originally Posted by moweeis

It is important to mention that you are reviewing the UK edition, seeing that most people on this board are from the US

Yes this is the UK edition

Originally Posted by shamus

What are the differences between the rated and unrated Aygie?

I think i need to do some investigation if this is the un-rated edition because (in my view) the US PG13 is a UK 12 certificate. This is a UK 15 Certificate. hmmm, i'll do some searching....

[shamus]

Originally Posted by Aygie

Yes this is the UK edition



I think i need to do some investigation if this is the un-rated edition because (in my view) the US PG13 is a UK 12 certificate. This is a UK 15 Certificate. hmmm, i'll do some searching....

Thanks!

[alexakajeff]

The sound is astonishing!!!

[kessler004]

awesome movie, probably the best out of the 4, but the first one is a close second

[davcole]

I admit this film has grown on me.

No one can love the original DIE HARD more than me. That film took me completely by suprise and one of the reasons it was so successful is that John McClane wasn't some sort of "Superhero", no he was just an ordinary guy caught in an impossible situation that used his smarts and his training to overcome his opponent.

So far as the ordinary guy goes, that idea seems to have been thrown out the window in LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD. Was I the only one who had a problem with the John McClane character flying the heliocopter and driving the big rig over a collapsing highway?

However after repeated viewings I can now appreciate the film and tolerate the whiny Justin Long character for the entertainment that it is.

As for the BD, the transfer is just immaculate to me. No, it doesn't have that "pop" like some other films due to the way it's shot, however the picture quality is stellar and I don't notice any artifacts.

As for the audio....

Whew!!!

Definitely one of the upper tier soundtracks out there!!

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by kessler004

awesome movie, probably the best out of the 4, but the first one is a close second

Whatever...

[Clark Kent]

As a huge fan of the franchise I was dreading this movie turning out poor. But I was dead wrong as Live Free or Die Hard makes an excellent addition to the franchise. The Blu-ray version I still consider the perfect Blu-ray- incredible audio and a perfect video transfer on a good movie. Anyone that hasn't bought this yet is missing out greatly.

[MrVorhees]

WOOOOW!!! Im proud to tell you all about the fantastic PQ of DIE HARD 4.0 !! I couldnt belive what I've seen there!! You can definitly compare DIE HARD 4.0 with Pirates of the Caribbean

I have just reviewed OCEANS 13 a couple of week ago, and I told you all how bad the PQ of OCEANS were, but trust me, DIE HARD is superb!!So im not a guy who says every BD has superb PQ!

50GB Blu-ray disc with high bitrates AVC Videocodec, the bitrate goes up to 46mbps in the first minute!!

Too bad I can't show you the PQ with some "in movie screenshots" BUT you will see it by yourself pretty soon! It's a reference title!

Here are some pics, made with my phone camera, I apologize for the bad quality:



Disc Art

Back Cover

[Bullseye]

Just picked up my copy too. Hoped to watch it tonight but it looks like it will be tomorrow now.

[JoeKickass]

Second worst movie ever made, after Batman Forever.


Like Aliens, Die Hard stops at 3.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by JoeKickass

Like Aliens, Die Hard stops at 3.

Huh, I thought Aliens stopped at 2.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by JoeKickass

Second worst movie ever made, after Batman Forever.


Like Aliens, Die Hard stops at 3.

If you think its the second worst movie ever then i am assuming you have not seen many films. I am sure i could think of 1000 films that were worse.

[MrVorhees]

Originally Posted by JoeKickass

Second worst movie ever made, after Batman Forever.


Like Aliens, Die Hard stops at 3.

WOW you must have watched, like 4 movies at all?

BTW i wasnt posting this because the movie itself, just to let you guys know about the fantastic PQ!

FOX is really doing a GREAT job with theri new 50GB high Bitrates AVC release!! The WHOLE movie is SHARP!! but constant! Not like WB, sone scenes sharp and other soft! You wont find any soft scenes in this FOX release! THX to the higher Bitrates!!

I still cant understand how ppl (HD DVD fanboys) claim Bitrates doesnt matter well they dont know better.

[philip74]

Perhaps someone can help me in regards to my question:

I have the bluray with this cover:


but the database here shows this cover:


with the old high definition fox banner.

I have never seen that old version in any shop, does it even exist as first
print, or is that cover just a mock up?

[Balian]

Originally Posted by JoeKickass

Second worst movie ever made, after Batman Forever.


Like Aliens, Die Hard stops at 3.

Man, something is seriously wrong with you if you think Die Hard 4 is the 2nd worst movie ever made. I can't think of a franchise with the 4th movie being better than Live Free or Die Hard.

[jedisinclair]

Originally Posted by Balian

Man, something is seriously wrong with you if you think Die Hard 4 is the 2nd worst movie ever made. I can't think of a franchise with the 4th movie being better than Live Free or Die Hard.

AGREED! It was an EXCELLENT movie! Now if you want to talk worse movies ever made... I'm thinking "lost in translation" would be on my list...