Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW
Live Free or Die Hard
also known as “Die Hard 4,” “Vivere o morire,” “Legdrágább az életed,” “Retour en enfer,” See more »
MPA Rating:
for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual situation.
for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual situation.
Reviewed by: John DeYoung
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Average |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults Teens |
| Genre: | Thriller Action Crime Sequel |
| Length: | 2 hr. 10 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2007 |
| USA Release: |
June 27, 2007 (wide) |
| Featuring | Bruce Willis (John McClane), Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Jeffrey Wright, Mary Elizabeth Winstead |
| Director |
Len Wiseman |
| Producer | Arnold Rifkin, William Wisher, Michael Fottrell |
| Distributor |
 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company |
“Yippee Ki Yay!”
Sequel: “A Good Day to Die Hard” (2013)
The man who is always at the wrong place at the wrong time is back. Bruce Willis returns as Detective John McClane in the fourth installment of the highly successful “Die Hard” series, “Live Free and Die Hard.” McClane is back on New York’s finest as a senior detective to take on cyber terrorists who want to shut down the entire eastcoast infrastructure. Heading up this evil organization is Thomas Gabriel (played by “Deadwood”’s Timothy Olyphant), who was a former NSA agent that tried to convince the Joint Chiefs how easy it is to shut down a country. After being ousted by the government, Gabriel takes revenge and causes chaos and mass calamity across the nation.
However, Gabriel never thought that a wise-cracking cop with a never-say-die attitude would gum up his plan. Along with trying to stop Gabriel and his computer cronies, McClane must also protect a computer hacker, Matt Farrell (portrayed by Apple Mac computer guy, Justin Long), who unknowingly helped in Gabriel’s cyber scheme. Now Gabriel wants Farrell dead, but McClane needs Farrell’s computer skills to help stop Gabriel before he turns the country into anarchy. With all of this happening, McClane is also trying to establish a relationship with his daughter, Lucy (played by “Black Christmas” star Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who winds up being Gabriel’s bait for McClane. Will this old school detective be able to take down this new kind of criminal?
It has been 12 years since we’ve seen Bruce Willis as John McClane, and let me tell you, he hasn’t lost his step. It was like seeing an old friend again, doing what he does best. If Willis was doing most of his stunts, as he claims he did in various interviews, than Willis’ athleticism at the age of 52 hasn’t changed much since he first took on the role. The man took a licking and kept on ticking. As for Willis recapturing McClane’s demeanor and character once again, 12 years seemed like it was just a few months ago. The McClane laugh, style, attitude and humor were back like it never left. It was fantastic.
When Willis was asked why people should shovel out the shekels to see this flick, his reply was, “It’s like looking at a visual rollercoaster,” and how right he was. This is an adrenaline pumping, heart-racing picture that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A lot of people thought that the PG-13 rating, instead of the R-rating like its predecessors, might take away the tone and the intensity of this latest chapter, I can unequivocally say that, if it did anything, it made it better. Even his moniker line, Yippee Kai Yay, M.F. was cut off at the last part, but how it was cut was pure genius. Keep in mind, there is still quite a bit of profanity in it, but not as bad as what it could have been. If anything, with all the action taking place, you don’t even really notice it.
What is also interesting is how the writers managed to combine a “Die Hard” type of scenario with computer crimes. How is an old school cop, who doesn’t know squat about computers, going to stop a cyber criminal? In this case, cleverly. The one thing that definitely worked was teaming the tough, rugged, wise-cracking McClane up with the cowardly, sarcastic, computer savvy Farrell, making them the perfect brain and brawn combination. While Farrell and Gabriel have their, what I call, keyboard wars, McClane is knocking out Gabriel’s gun totting goons and his attractive, butt-kicking assistant, Mai Lihn (played by “Mission: Impossible 3” star Maggie Q). Together the actors and the characters have such a better chemistry than with his last unwilling partner, Zeus Carver (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in “Die Hard With A Vengeance.” What also helped was getting the right actor to play Farrell, and picking Justin Long was a perfect fit. It’s ironic that they got the Apple PC spokesman to play the hacker, but thinking about it, I really can’t think of anyone else who that could fit the persona and make it believable.
I didn’t think it was possible to mix a “War Games” (Mathew Broderick flick) type of drama into “Die Hard” type of action, but the combination comes together beautifully. No matter what angle it comes from, you always get high octane action and suspense. My compliments to writer, Mike Bomback, on putting together a story, which, at first hearing, I thought couldn’t be done (or done well). He surprised me. What is also made evident is how this country is totally dependent on computers. Not only did Bomback give me a plot that I thought couldn’t go together, but he gave me a story that made me think about how we rely on technology too much and how that reliability could be our downfall.
Speaking of downfalls, some of the stunts and action sequences were just a little too far-fetched. One in particular is McClane hanging off the tail end of an F-15 fighter plane while the pilot ejects. I don’t think so. The other thing is with McClane’s daughter. When McClane first meets up with her, she tells her Dad that her last name is Gennerro, but when Daddy is coming to the rescue, she introduces herself to Farrell as Lucy McClane. I don’t know if this was like a tribute to the first movie or just something they felt they needed to do again. To me, if you want to keep something new and fresh, don’t use old material.
“Live Free or Die Hard” is one you should put down on your summer movie, must-see list. All the elements that made the “Die Hard” franchise so popular are in this last incarnation, so if you are looking for a “visual rollercoaster,” as Mr. Willis put it, I highly encourage you to see McClane back in action. Yippee Kai Yay! I know. Overkill.
On a grading scale, I give “Live Free or Die Hard” a B+.
Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: None
Positive
Positive—Very exciting movie and fun to watch. Bruce Willis and Justin Long are a great team, and the plot is excellent. I highly recommend it!!
Average / 4½
Average / 4½
Darlene, age 46
Positive—Took my family and teen sons to see it on opening night. Quite enjoyable. Special affects were excellent. Very little profanity (no f-bombs), few uses of the Lord’s name. Father figure is portrayed in a positive light, deeply concerned (above all else) for his daughter’s safety (morally and physically). No spiritual content whatsoever. Opening scene could have been toned down a bit (not sexually explicit, but still rather unnecessary). Lots of violence, but very little blood. No limbs whacked off. If you want to see an action thriller, I highly recommend this movie.
Better than Average / 4½
Better than Average / 4½
Ric Liang, age 45
Positive—I really enjoyed “Live Free or Die Hard.” There was a lot of action, with some comedy mixed in. I like Bruce Willis and the majority of his movies. This movie was somewhat violent, with some language, but, other than that, a superb movie with great actors!
Average / 4
Average / 4
Aleshia Horner, age 19
Positive—What a thrill ride! Besides a somewhat stagnant middle(ish) act, this latest installment in the “Die Hard” franchise is a pulse-pounding action movie! Great stunts, great comic timing, and good characters all make it worthwhile. My only beef with this movie is the weak villain. Timothy Olyphant did well playing the role of a bud in “Dreamcatcher” or “Rock Star,” but he lacks the depth or complexity of a good antagonist. He lacks some of the villain trademarks—pointy chin, devious eyes, wry grin, etc. In the second half of the movie, Olyphant seems to tear up every time his temper flares. Weak, if you ask me. Not at all intimidating. A finer choice for this role would have been Cillian Murphy, though a bit young, Gary Busey, though a bit old, or even ol' Cary Elwes.
Offensive / 4½
Offensive / 4½
Jacob Keenum, age 21
Positive—I enjoyed this film far more than I thought I would. I can honestly say I’ve never had more fun in a movie theater before. While this film isn’t “perfect” (sometimes unbelievable, not flawless acting—though very good), a more enjoyable film would be hard to come by. If you’re looking for a FUN summer action movie, look no further. This is the “must see” of the summer. I actually enjoyed this more than “Pirates: At World’s End” and “Spider-Man 3” (which I LOVED). Highly recommended!
The fact that this movie is PG-13 (rather than R like the other “Die Hard” movies) is actually a big plus, rather than a minus, like many people were worried about before this came out. The reasons are these: instead of 80+ F-words, there were NONE, the violence is still there, but instead of really, really bloody violence. it was more “Indiana Jones” style with lots of shooting, explosions, falling, punching, but relatively little gore. So you “Die Hard” action fans need not worry about it being “childish” in regards to violence; I should think this movie is violent enough for anyone. Be aware, however, that there still is a large amount of language—particularly bothersome was the number of times God’s name was blasphemed. So be cautious.
Average / 4½
The fact that this movie is PG-13 (rather than R like the other “Die Hard” movies) is actually a big plus, rather than a minus, like many people were worried about before this came out. The reasons are these: instead of 80+ F-words, there were NONE, the violence is still there, but instead of really, really bloody violence. it was more “Indiana Jones” style with lots of shooting, explosions, falling, punching, but relatively little gore. So you “Die Hard” action fans need not worry about it being “childish” in regards to violence; I should think this movie is violent enough for anyone. Be aware, however, that there still is a large amount of language—particularly bothersome was the number of times God’s name was blasphemed. So be cautious.
Average / 4½
Casey N, age 21
Positive—This was an excellent movie. My husband and I have always been “Die Hard” fans and this sequel was worth waiting for. We saw it twice in two days. It was action from start to finish. Bruce Willis has a way with one liners that will make you remember them for a long time. Of course, the movie has some bad language, but other than that it is a very clean movie. I would highly recommend it for anybody that loves action movies. This is the best one I have seen in a long time. We always love a movie where good triumphs over evil, as it will always do!
Average / 4½
Average / 4½
Diana Harton, age 45
Positive—Very entertaining. A non-stop action film that did what it was designed to do and did it very well. There were no pedantic diversions to talk about Hollywood’s latest issues of the day. There was plenty of violence, but no gore, and sometimes the laws of physics had to be suspended, but it was all a great diversion. As a Christian in Los Angeles, I may be numbed by life here, but I did not find the movie offensive. I knew there would be violence, but it was not over the top. And I would not recommend it for preteens. But in the end, good guys beat the bad guys by sheer doggedness and life resumes.
Good / 4½
Good / 4½
Bill Walters, age 58
Positive—I was surprised how good this movie was! The effects were really well done, I was on the edge of my seat a good portion of the movie. Yes, there is violence and some language, but not nearly as bad as the previous movies. There was one kissing scene at the beginning, but nothing happened. Great for adults and older teens.
Average / 3½
Average / 3½
Krys, age 26
Positive—Unlike the other three Die Hards, the swearing was far less and there was some, but not a lot of sexual content, just in the beginning. The action was vintage “Die Hard.” The movie making quality was outstanding. The only negative is when the Lord’s name was used in vain and the making out in the car.This movie proves that our country is open to terrorism even through computers. This movie may not be suitable for children, because of the swearing and the making-out scene. However, this movie also shows men in a positive way instead of them getting used and abused as other movies portray.
Good / 5
Good / 5
Jon Gray, age 30
Positive—I’m a Die Hard fan and couldn’t wait to see this film. It held up to my expectations and more. Like the critic said, John McClane didn’t miss a beat. Bruce Willis and the other actors were fantastic. Must see for any older teen or adult.
Good / 5
Good / 5
Barbara, age 40
Positive—I’m a 25 year old mom, and I LOVED IT!!! While many of the stunts are totally unrealistic, they obviously went our of their way to make this movie TASTEFULLY. I can’t remember any gratuitous language or blood. NOTHING thrown in unnecessarily. Just a great plot told very well. Exactly what going to the movies is about.
Better than Average / 4
Better than Average / 4
Mariah, age 25
Positive—This was a pretty good movie for an action flick. There is one scene near the beginning in which a boy is groping a young woman’s chest (over her clothing). Ignoring this scene, I felt the movie was very entertaining. The PG-13 rating is accurate. I would not recommend this movie to children and teens, but it is a fairly clean movie for adults. Also, I have NOT seen the other “Die Hard” movies, but one does not need to in order to view this film.
Average / 4½
Average / 4½
T. Taylor, age 21
Positive—Just putting in my two cents worth. First off, great review of the film, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD. John DeYoung, looks like you know your stuff. For a Christian, you know your McClane and the Apple Guy to Miss Maggie Q’s resume. This is one of the best reviews I have seen in a while. Also I like to point out John Stouffer’s comment. Mr. Stouffer’s regard is a shining example of how a Christian should be—not judgmental.
Now I got that out of the way. Bruce Willis latest addition in the DIE HARD franchise, is a rip-roaring fun movie to watch. Yeah, there are some scene where I must put on my suspension-of-disbelief on the side, but it is that entertaining. That is what a movie supposed to do—to entertain. Too many reality TV, needs a fresh theatrical escape and the Mac guy is partnered with McClane. Yippee Kai Yay. F.Y.I. Maggie Q short for Margaret Denise Quigley is an American actress who made a splash in Asia. I always thought she was a Hong Kong transplant, wrong. Her English is too perfect.
…LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (a.k.a. Die Hard 4.0) is the classic meeting the new gen. John McClane (Willis), as a senior officer, he was directed to pickup Matthew Farrell (Long, the Apple Guy) who turned out to be a target of Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant of Hitman), who once worked for the government turned vigilante. Gabriel seemed to understand French and Italian fluently and maybe Chinese who the lovely but deadly Mai (Miss Q) speaks none.
As the eastern seaboard infrastructure is shut down, Frederick “Warlock” Kaludis (or the recognizable Kevin Smith as a loser of a hacker who is really a genius) comes to the rescue, will sort of. In the midst of chaos, Lucy Gennero, wait it’s Lucy McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of Death Proof), gets caught by the bad guy and the stakes for John McClane had just been raised, like all the previous episodes. It’s a McClane family thing.
It is true that we are becoming more reliable for the technology to control us, and as of this writing, there are at least two commercial central data centers utilized by our government to look for suspicious transactions. One of them is CCR or Central Contractor Registration. Scary, huh.
In conclusion, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD is a fun update to something that was fun to begin with. There is action violence and harsh language, but better than expected. It’s out on DVD now. Rent it, and if you like, buy it.
Average / 3½
Now I got that out of the way. Bruce Willis latest addition in the DIE HARD franchise, is a rip-roaring fun movie to watch. Yeah, there are some scene where I must put on my suspension-of-disbelief on the side, but it is that entertaining. That is what a movie supposed to do—to entertain. Too many reality TV, needs a fresh theatrical escape and the Mac guy is partnered with McClane. Yippee Kai Yay. F.Y.I. Maggie Q short for Margaret Denise Quigley is an American actress who made a splash in Asia. I always thought she was a Hong Kong transplant, wrong. Her English is too perfect.
…LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (a.k.a. Die Hard 4.0) is the classic meeting the new gen. John McClane (Willis), as a senior officer, he was directed to pickup Matthew Farrell (Long, the Apple Guy) who turned out to be a target of Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant of Hitman), who once worked for the government turned vigilante. Gabriel seemed to understand French and Italian fluently and maybe Chinese who the lovely but deadly Mai (Miss Q) speaks none.
As the eastern seaboard infrastructure is shut down, Frederick “Warlock” Kaludis (or the recognizable Kevin Smith as a loser of a hacker who is really a genius) comes to the rescue, will sort of. In the midst of chaos, Lucy Gennero, wait it’s Lucy McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of Death Proof), gets caught by the bad guy and the stakes for John McClane had just been raised, like all the previous episodes. It’s a McClane family thing.
It is true that we are becoming more reliable for the technology to control us, and as of this writing, there are at least two commercial central data centers utilized by our government to look for suspicious transactions. One of them is CCR or Central Contractor Registration. Scary, huh.
In conclusion, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD is a fun update to something that was fun to begin with. There is action violence and harsh language, but better than expected. It’s out on DVD now. Rent it, and if you like, buy it.
Average / 3½
Mang Yang, age 35
Positive—…I have always been a fan of the “Die Hard” films. This is the best of the lot. The action scenes are spectacular and the cast is great, especially Willis and Timothy Olyphant, who plays the head of the terrorist group. However, I do have some slight moral objections. There is some profanity, but, not near as strong as in the other three films. Even McClane’s signature line is cut out. The violence, while not overly graphic, may be too intense for some people. Also, at the beginning, there is a short scene of a young couple in a car starting to make out. However, this is cut short when the guy tries to grope the girl and she stops him. Other than these things, I found this to be a really good film
Better than Average / 5
Better than Average / 5
Jared, age 27
Positive—John McClain is back in this 4th addition to the Die Hard Collection. If you’re a fan of the die hard series then you’ll get what you’re expecting. Surprisingly they succeeded in making an awesome sequel in a PG-13 rating. If you aren’t familiar with the Die Hard series, it is pretty much known for:
1. its violence and incredibly awesome fight/ action sequences
2. The witty character portrayed by Bruce Willis and…
3. the language used in the film. Being a PG-13 movie the language was toned down quite a lot, however he still slips in his signature phrase at the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable, two thumbs up.
Average / 4½
1. its violence and incredibly awesome fight/ action sequences
2. The witty character portrayed by Bruce Willis and…
3. the language used in the film. Being a PG-13 movie the language was toned down quite a lot, however he still slips in his signature phrase at the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable, two thumbs up.
Average / 4½
Daniel Robison, age 19
Neutral
Neutral—…This film should be rated “R” and here is the reason why. Other than street profanity, I counted the use of God’s name in vain over 7 times! To me, this is worse than “bad.” It is such a shame since the movie was action-packed and visually exciting to watch. I do not understand why this type of profanity is necessary to the plot. If I had known beforehand, I would not have taken my family to see this movie and strongly urge Christians parents to discuss this issue before subjecting their children to this film.
Extremely Offensive / 5
Extremely Offensive / 5
Mindi Morgan, age 49
Neutral—Saw it, loved it, wouldn’t take any one under 21 to see it. The language is really rough. The movie is great, but it seems to me they used more language than normal just because they couldn’t use the f-bomb. Love McClane, love the kid, movie has a great story line but how many times does GD have to be dropped for us Christians to stop even going to PG-13 movies. I normally don’t go to a PG-13 movie anymore, and it looks like I will go back to that motto. I just wish some Christian kid would get the idea that a clean movie (not the cheesy movies that Christians make now), would be easy to make and it would clean up at the box office.
Extremely Offensive / 4½
Extremely Offensive / 4½
Jonathan, age 35
Neutral—Maybe it’s because I haven’t watched the other “Die Hard” movies, but this one just seemed to have a really flat script. There weren’t enough twists in it and it was so predictable. The dialogue didn’t seem natural, and to me Timothy Olyphant seemed to be forcing a sinister attitude, the role didn’t fit him well enough from my point of view. There was a fair share of curse words and quite a bit of destructive, pointless violence. I think Bruce Willis really lost some credit on this one. I’d rather have saved my money for something else.
Offensive / 2
Offensive / 2
Emmanuel, age 24
Neutral—…I watched it on a Clearplay DVD player and was really surprised at how much bad language had to be muted and at the level of violence. I… can honestly say that had I not watched it with Clearplay I would most certainly NOT have finished it. As a Christian, I can’t imagine suggesting that this is a MUST see. I would hesitate before recommending it with Clearplay.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Brad Bromling, age 48
Neutral—When I heard Bruce Willis was returing for the Die Hard series, I was not surprised. Stallone returned with Rocky and Rambo. Why not John McClane? I was not a fan of the older series. Never saw them, did not care too. Before my time.
I got a chance to see this one with the family. I’m glad I took the chance. The movie is great acting wise, visual effects, and directing. A non-stop action adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. For those who are curious, see the PG-13 version if you can help it. The unrated version is a lot more …intense.
There was a lot of language and MF was cut off at the last second, but the movie has no nudity. There is a scene at the beginning where McClane’s daughter is kissing her boyfriend intensely. Some conservatives might be offended by the use of an American as a traitor instead of a terrorist, but it is a good old fashioned action movie that is definitely worth your time.
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
I got a chance to see this one with the family. I’m glad I took the chance. The movie is great acting wise, visual effects, and directing. A non-stop action adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. For those who are curious, see the PG-13 version if you can help it. The unrated version is a lot more …intense.
There was a lot of language and MF was cut off at the last second, but the movie has no nudity. There is a scene at the beginning where McClane’s daughter is kissing her boyfriend intensely. Some conservatives might be offended by the use of an American as a traitor instead of a terrorist, but it is a good old fashioned action movie that is definitely worth your time.
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Jacob Airey, age 19
Neutral—“Live Free or Die Hard” was an okay movie. John’s daughter nearly has sex with another guy, but he thankfully stops it from going out of hand. The violence in this movie is a “Light vs. Dark” type of violence, so I was not bothered by that. A daughter reconciles with her father. Even though John admits that being away at work has caused a faithless wife to abandon him, he still strives to do the right thing, even though others will look at him oddly and somewhat slander him.
The main reason I rate it as neutral is due to the technological stuff that hurts my head. I understand that others will hate this movie, because Bruce Willis and others use God’s name in vain. I am also disappointed with Hollywood for that, and there is no justification for it. We need to pray for the souls of everyone involved with this movie, and we need to pray God gives the wisdom of the Hays Code back to Hollywood.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½
The main reason I rate it as neutral is due to the technological stuff that hurts my head. I understand that others will hate this movie, because Bruce Willis and others use God’s name in vain. I am also disappointed with Hollywood for that, and there is no justification for it. We need to pray for the souls of everyone involved with this movie, and we need to pray God gives the wisdom of the Hays Code back to Hollywood.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Peter, age 22 (USA)
Negative
Negative—…The misuse of God’s and our Savior’s name is so pervasive in this movie that I cannot recommend it to any of my Christian friends. I counted 15 instances before losing track. I imagine there are over 20 instances of this. The content of the movie itself was only marginally interesting. The action was ridiculous and unbelievable. Had I not been with other people, I would have left the theater before the end.
Very Offensive / 3
Very Offensive / 3
Daniel Coats, age 36
Negative—Very exciting movie with “out of this world” stunts. The Name of Jesus was thrown around quite a few times. Too bad! It would have been a great movie if it weren’t for that. I can’t recommend this movie to anyone because Jesus has instructed us not to take His Name in vain. Not even once! I can’t encourage anyone to “overlook” that and tell them that it’s a good movie. It isn’t!
Very Offensive / 2
Very Offensive / 2
Jerry, age 54
Negative—Am I the only one left to be offended by the use of the Lord’s name in vain? The other reviewers seemed not to be bothered by it, which makes me wonder how “Christian” this Web site is! Watched the first 10 minutes of the movie (DVD rental), shut it off, and returned it when God’s name was cursed. I can stand almost anything in the way of violence or cursing, but draw the line at the use of God’s name in that way. Why do those in Hollywood find it necessary to do this—no conscience, I guess (or avid nonbelievers.)
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
John Baker, age 60
Negative—I couldn’t stand this film for using the Lord’s name in vain. I lost count of how many times they used God, Jesus or Jesus Christ! I would have preferred for them to use actual cuss words like s___,h___, etc. However, by not using “cuss” words they got by with a PG-13 rating and allowed children to view this movie and worse yet hear this kind of language.
Also, there is some sort of “hermit” in the fim with a red hot phone and the first three digits are 666. It is sad that this film has an average rating from this Christian Web site. I would NOT recommend this film for anyone to see or hear.
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Also, there is some sort of “hermit” in the fim with a red hot phone and the first three digits are 666. It is sad that this film has an average rating from this Christian Web site. I would NOT recommend this film for anyone to see or hear.
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Lisa, age 42
Comments from young people
Neutral—I went to see Live Free with some friends, and I wasn’t really impressed. I enjoyed the movie, and I might rent it on DVD, but there were too many cons to the movie for a positive rating.
The Good:
The visual effects were incredible, and the storyline kept you awake. I really enjoyed character development and the occasional clean humor. The scenes were shot very well, and the technology side was really interesting. The acting was great, and the characters were believable.
The Bad:
There was way to much language, and was a distraction from the movie. S*** seemed like a filler word to show emotion (mostly from Justin Long’s character), where there were other easy, clean alternatives that could have been chosen. There was a moderate amount of d***'s and h***'s, and another thing that bothered me throughout the movie was Jesus Christ’s name being taken in vain way too often. McClane’s trademark “Yippee Ki Yay mf” was cut off, but not after hearing more than half of the profanity.
Apart from language, there was a sexual situation in the beginning of the movie with McClane’s daughter and her “boyfriend” passionately kissing. The boyfriend tries to get his hands in her shirt twice, but she refuses and gets him to stop. Thankfully that is really the only sexual content in the movie.
The violence was edgy and intense, once or twice verging on vicious or brutal. There were plenty of scenes with shooting and explosions, but that was expected from a Die Hard movie. There is once scene, however, when a baddie gets flash frozen in a giant cooling tower, but then falls to his death and is chopped up by a fast-moving cooling fan. You get a glimpse of his death, but quickly cuts to the next scene.
This movie is definitely not for anybody under the age of 14. Overall, it was an okay movie, but I can’t completely agree with the main review. I enjoyed all the action and the good acting, but there was too much junk in it for me to recommend to a Christian. If you still want to see “Live Free or Die Hard,” I would recommend renting it on DVD; don’t spend money to see it in the theater. To me, the movie was entertaining, but nothing I would go to the theater to see twice, or consider owning.
Offensive / 4½
The Good:
The visual effects were incredible, and the storyline kept you awake. I really enjoyed character development and the occasional clean humor. The scenes were shot very well, and the technology side was really interesting. The acting was great, and the characters were believable.
The Bad:
There was way to much language, and was a distraction from the movie. S*** seemed like a filler word to show emotion (mostly from Justin Long’s character), where there were other easy, clean alternatives that could have been chosen. There was a moderate amount of d***'s and h***'s, and another thing that bothered me throughout the movie was Jesus Christ’s name being taken in vain way too often. McClane’s trademark “Yippee Ki Yay mf” was cut off, but not after hearing more than half of the profanity.
Apart from language, there was a sexual situation in the beginning of the movie with McClane’s daughter and her “boyfriend” passionately kissing. The boyfriend tries to get his hands in her shirt twice, but she refuses and gets him to stop. Thankfully that is really the only sexual content in the movie.
The violence was edgy and intense, once or twice verging on vicious or brutal. There were plenty of scenes with shooting and explosions, but that was expected from a Die Hard movie. There is once scene, however, when a baddie gets flash frozen in a giant cooling tower, but then falls to his death and is chopped up by a fast-moving cooling fan. You get a glimpse of his death, but quickly cuts to the next scene.
This movie is definitely not for anybody under the age of 14. Overall, it was an okay movie, but I can’t completely agree with the main review. I enjoyed all the action and the good acting, but there was too much junk in it for me to recommend to a Christian. If you still want to see “Live Free or Die Hard,” I would recommend renting it on DVD; don’t spend money to see it in the theater. To me, the movie was entertaining, but nothing I would go to the theater to see twice, or consider owning.
Offensive / 4½
TH, age 15
Positive—This movie was amazing! The best movie I’ve seen in a long, long time by far! I actually cared about what happened to the characters, and I don’t feel the connection with most modern movies! The script writers, actors, and director did an amazing job with this one. The movie, unfortunately, was offensive.
If you’re looking for the “family friendly” action film, although this one is far more family friendly than others, TONS of profanity was used. I mean, I usually don’t notice swears (side effect of today’s culture), but in this movie, I noticed. Tons of “Jesus Christs” were used, and “Oh my God.” Other swears too. Tons of them. And even though I LOVED this movie, if you really can’t bare that, don’t see it. The movie was generally more pure than most.
There is a slight “sensual” scene, where McClane’s daughter is seen in car kissing her boyfriend, who, of course, goes for her chest. I rooted in the theater though, “Good for you!” as the girl, Lucy, shoves him away and tells him no. Nice for Hollywood. For once. I recommend this movie for action-film lovers, cause, I love it! (But according to Christian truths, The Christ would not recommend this film.—if that’s what your looking for.)
Offensive / 5
If you’re looking for the “family friendly” action film, although this one is far more family friendly than others, TONS of profanity was used. I mean, I usually don’t notice swears (side effect of today’s culture), but in this movie, I noticed. Tons of “Jesus Christs” were used, and “Oh my God.” Other swears too. Tons of them. And even though I LOVED this movie, if you really can’t bare that, don’t see it. The movie was generally more pure than most.
There is a slight “sensual” scene, where McClane’s daughter is seen in car kissing her boyfriend, who, of course, goes for her chest. I rooted in the theater though, “Good for you!” as the girl, Lucy, shoves him away and tells him no. Nice for Hollywood. For once. I recommend this movie for action-film lovers, cause, I love it! (But according to Christian truths, The Christ would not recommend this film.—if that’s what your looking for.)
Offensive / 5
Katty, age 14
Positive—Really good movie!!! Bruce Willis is an excellent actor, and the movie came together with good action without. And for you adults which are saying it should be R-rated, I don’t agree. Nowadays, a movie has to be extremely violent/gory to get an R rating, which this movie was not. Just some ordinary, clean explosions, of airplanes, cars, and shooting.
Nothing out of the ordinary for a PG-13 action flick. I saw this with my best friend and we were both blown away, and definitely agreed it was the best movie we’ve seen in a LONG time. Definitely 5 stars. The action is great, and so is the story line. I wouldn’t change a thing in the movie, except they used God’s name in vain sometimes. I think we can all expect cursing in a modern PG-13 action movie, so I wasn’t at all surprised to hear it.
So, although I don’t agree with saying G_d d_mn, I won’t not see a movie, because I personally believe that my spiritual self is strong enough, not to be effected by hearing someone curse with the Lord’s name. YES, it is wrong. And some of you are extremely offended by it, which I understand. So just close your ears to it, and you’ll LOVE the movie!!!… Wonderful movie.
Better than Average / 5
Nothing out of the ordinary for a PG-13 action flick. I saw this with my best friend and we were both blown away, and definitely agreed it was the best movie we’ve seen in a LONG time. Definitely 5 stars. The action is great, and so is the story line. I wouldn’t change a thing in the movie, except they used God’s name in vain sometimes. I think we can all expect cursing in a modern PG-13 action movie, so I wasn’t at all surprised to hear it.
So, although I don’t agree with saying G_d d_mn, I won’t not see a movie, because I personally believe that my spiritual self is strong enough, not to be effected by hearing someone curse with the Lord’s name. YES, it is wrong. And some of you are extremely offended by it, which I understand. So just close your ears to it, and you’ll LOVE the movie!!!… Wonderful movie.
Better than Average / 5
Geoffrey, age 15
Positive—This movie was one of the best I have seen in a long while. I didn’t count much use of the Lord’s name in vain, so I don’t no what all the fuss is about. The plot of the movie was very original, and it kept me on my toes. I enjoyed this movie 100%. I recomend this movie to anyone over the age of 13. Fantastic Movie!
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Nick Staab, age 14
Comments from non-viewers
From what I saw, the movie looked great. I only watched 10 minutes (or less) of the movie before shutting it off. As long as we will toloerate God’s name being taken in vain, Hollywood will continue to put it in their script. Time to tell Hollywood “No” to such offensive practices. We can’t say “Merry Christmas”… but they can plaster our Lord’s name (taken in vain) all over their movies marketed to us? I don’t think so.
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Ron Kutinsky, age 50
This is a comment about some of the negative comments. Non-Christians in non-Christian movies acting in hostile situations will take the name of Jesus in vain. They will sin in many different ways as that is what sinners do… they sin. So no big shocker there. They also do noble things… like respect their mothers, save lives while putting theirs on the line, and sometimes even pray. In real life people swear, cuss, make mistakes, get drunk, etc. etc.
Why watch movies like this and get shocked at the taking of the Lord’s name in vain? That is silly. You weren’t the one taking the Lord’s name in vain. Are there no Christian movies with Christian actors in movies with no violence and no bad language where only good things happen that you could go see? There probably are, but not many Christians or non-Christians see them and enjoy them because they are not reality-based. They are fantasy based. Not that “Live Free or Die Hard” won’t stretch reality a little.
We live in the world and not in a Christian society/bubble. Let your light shine in the darkness and treat non-Christians (yes, even adulterers and homosexuals) with love and kindness (like Jesus would do and did) and people will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Average / 5
Why watch movies like this and get shocked at the taking of the Lord’s name in vain? That is silly. You weren’t the one taking the Lord’s name in vain. Are there no Christian movies with Christian actors in movies with no violence and no bad language where only good things happen that you could go see? There probably are, but not many Christians or non-Christians see them and enjoy them because they are not reality-based. They are fantasy based. Not that “Live Free or Die Hard” won’t stretch reality a little.
We live in the world and not in a Christian society/bubble. Let your light shine in the darkness and treat non-Christians (yes, even adulterers and homosexuals) with love and kindness (like Jesus would do and did) and people will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Average / 5
John Stouffer, age 40
My Ratings: Offensive / 4