Plot: Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is now divorced, alcoholic and jobless after getting fired for his reckless behavior and bad attitude. He is called back into action, however, when a cryptic terrorist (Jeremy Irons) takes New York City hostage in a lethal game of “Simon Says” and refuses to speak with anyone but McClane. Teaming up with a street-savvy electrician named Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), McClane dashes through the city, trying to stay one step ahead of a murderous plot.
I remember seeing Die Hard with A Vengeance in the theatre 30 years ago and I think I need to lie down as it only feels like a few years; it was the first Die Hard film I saw on the big screen and to this day remains my second favourite in the franchise after the first movie. I feel like director John McTiernan understands the character of John McClane and the script is also better when he’s involved.
I like how this is a personal vendetta against John by Hans Gruber’s brother Simon (Jeremy Irons) however, this being the Gruber family it is of course really about a heist. I enjoy Irons in this role even if he isn’t especially threatening however, the only villain that’s ever been a physical threat to John McClane is Colonel Stewart (William Sadler). John never fist fights the Gruber’s as they are more brains than brawn; it’s usually the henchmen he throws down with.
Die Hard with a Vengeance has some fantastic stunts and action set-pieces; I love how vicious John is here too. At one point he literally beats a guy to death with a door and in another scene he shoots everyone in an elevator with blood everywhere.
Some have complained that they don’t like that this takes place in the city rather than in an enclosed location, but I like that it does something different and when schools are threatened with bombs there feels like genuine stakes.
The banter between McClane and Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson) is mostly hilarious although the constant shouting does get grating on my middle aged hearing.
It’s well paced and the opening scene is the best of the franchise really creating a sense of chaos where a bomb could explode anywhere at any time.
The ending as we all know was a reshoot and I always felt it was a little underwhelming and could have been more exciting.
Michael Kamen returns to score and it maintains the themes from the first two movies although I have to admit I hate the Johnny Comes Marching Home tune.
Overall, 30 years later Die Hard with a Vengeance is still an entertaining sequel that has its flaws, but makes up for them with a sharp script, awesome action and a sense of chaos. It’s my favourite of the sequels and it’s the one I watch the most any time it’s on television.