In this incredibly action packed movie, Bruce Willis does full justice to the title of the movie. No matter what happens, whether it’s bringing down a chopper with a car or blowing a super sonic fighter jet with a truck or being thrown from heights, it’s Hard for MacLean to Die. In the gravity defying action scenes, Bruce Willis falls a little short of, well, our very own Mithun Da!
And I sincerely mean no exaggerations at all. For the first time I felt like a Hollywood movie had been copied from Bollywood, if not plot wise, then at least by the unreal action scenes. Going by the trailers of movies like Aap ka Suroor or Cash, I think Bollywood is almost at par with its Hollywood counterparts when it comes to visual effects. So what would make a movie stand apart would be its storyline and content, and not any mindless action drama. And in this case I am sure Die Hard has a tough competition from the desi movies(although I doubt the plots of the both the above mentioned movies).
Coming back to Die Hard 4.0, the movie starts with a very nice plot of America being under the virtual attack. The attackers this time aren’t any religious fundamentalists but America’s very own tech guru Thomas Gabriel(Timothy Olyphant), who is out there to take a revenge on the Government, because the government isn’t ready to accept any of his theories about how very vulnerable the US computer security is. The plan is simple; attack every US institution, and when the backup download of virtually every data from finances to the FBI starts(designed by Gabriel himself post 9/11), hold the US on ransom. So either the govt. accept Gabriel’s proposal or go back to the Stone Age.
Although I cannot deny the fact that movie is entertaining, but they just over did it. One can digest the fact that it’s left to John MacLean and the computer kid Matthew Farrell(Justin Long) to rescue America from Gabriel’s evil clutches, but the way Bruce Willis takes it upon himself and does a somersault every now and then would really give you a serious indigestion.
I would have liked if the plot of the movie was developed more seriously and the makers would have paid a little less attention to the CGI effects(or whatever they call it.) My point is whenever Bruce Willis finds himself into many life ending situations, he drives a car or a truck. Attacked by the Kung Fu gal, bang, drive a car. Irritated by the sniper who is out there to kill them, no no….no prizes for your guesses, he drives a car. There is nothing much to offer acting wise either. Although they mention the planned attack as being three fold, viz attack the transport, then take the banks and finally the security, and call it Fireball, they actually miss out on developing over this concept.
So if you want to go out and enjoy your weekend by watching some mindless entertainment, Die Hard is the movie for you. I would dismiss the movie as worth only a watch one time and just for the sake of it.