Tron had the right idea. In between all the chatter of bits, RAM and Space Paranoids, Steven Lisberger's film figured that not only were computers not interesting but most of those who work with them are just as dull, if not very much more so. What else to do with them than to take them away from behind their keyboards, drag them into the computer hardware and have them fight for their lives on light cycles and tanks and armed only with a frisbee. That, however, is a trick that the movie business can pull off once and once only. Since Tron, computers have gotten no more interesting - in fact, they've become very much more dull than they were then - and the people who operate them have become a virtual army dressed in polo shirts and chinos who could control the world if they could only organise themselves sufficiently. Ryan Philippe, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves have all fought against them on our behalf but they needn't have bothered really. This 32-bit army is far too busy keeping on top of an unhealthy interest in Buffy The Vampire Slayer to ever start a revolution.

Die Hard 4.0 offers us the juxtaposition of a very old-fashioned cop, John McClane (Bruce Willis), fighting a very modern enemy, led by Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant). McClane looks to be the kind of man who has trouble making a telephone call - connecting to the Internet looks to be as far beyond him as raising the dead - so, fortunately for him and for the film, his first call of these eventful twenty-four hours is to pick up hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long). Unknown to Farrell, many of those who hacked networks (virtually) alongside him have died in a series of explosions but when John McClane knocks on his door, he's preparing to spend the night in front of his PC breaking down the doors. What neither McClane nor Farrell realise is that not only is there a bomb rigged to explode from a keystroke on Farrell's PC but that a gang of ex-special forces are on the rooftop opposite with a sniper rifle aimed through the window of Farrell's apartment.

Leaving in a hail of bullets and with a trail of dead bodies behind him, McClane takes Farrell downtown but thanks to some malfunctioning traffic lights, has to walk the last couple of miles. Actually, it's not just the one sight of lights that's out but the entire city. Taking Farrell into protective custody, McClane learns that the US is currently in the middle of cyber-attack by terrorists whose motives, demands and nationality are unknown. FBI Assistant Director Bowman (Cliff Curtis) is firefighting this attack but Farrell claims that what's occuring is a fire sale...everything must go. After the lights, the stock market is the next to collapse followed by the television and radio networks. With the utilities being next and with McClane and Farrell struggling to find a sympathetic ear within the FBI, they set off to a gas plant upstate. There, they discover that the terrorist threat originated in a place not far from where they stand and that, unchecked, this attack could cripple the country. But with McClane's daughter having gone missing, this has gone from a country-wide threat to a personal one. McClane, on a mobile call to Gabriel, tells him that he'll see him soon. "I'm coming round to kick your ass!"

Cyber-attack, eh? This explains the '.0' of the title, pointing the way towards this being a very dull thriller with podgy cyber-terrorists doing their thing from the safety of computer monitors. It's quite the comedown from Jeremy Irons planting enormous bombs in primary schools. Going some way to make up for this, Die Hard 4.0, with the aid of some very obvious CG, is quite the most preposterous film that this viewer has ever seen. Superman would have us believe that a man can fly but Die Hard 4.0 has John McClane leaping out of a truck falling backwards down a collapsing bridge onto the rear wings of a fighter plane and, even after the pilot ejects, surfs this multi-billion dollar jet towards the ground. He drives an SUV into the stick-thin Maggie Q at speed through several windows and into a lift shaft. Somehow, she survives, whereupon she and McClane have a good old-fashioned brawl in this car as it inches down the drop towards the ground. And later, McClane actually shoots himself - the bullet passes through him - to take down a terrorist standing behind him.

There is the slight suggestion in this that Thomas Gabriel is somehow a threat to the US. A good actor, Olyphant doesn't have very much to do in the film other than meet McClane's phoned-in threat with one of his one and click aimlessly at various onscreen windows to, via some very whizzy hacks, clear out McClane's bank account, discover the whereabouts of McClane's daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and interrupt television stations with make-believe footage of the Capitol Building exploding. Of course, McClane, being the kind of action hero who, if presented with a computer keyboard, would only think of using it to bash a terrorist over the head with, is completely out of his depth against Gabriel. Instead, playing to the same buddy-movie thread in Die Hard With A Vengeance, McClane is the muscle to Farrell's brains, one punching out bad guys as the other taps away on a keyboard. Not that this isn't an important part to play in a certain type of action film, it's just that it's not McClane's part. McClane is no idiot but Die Hard 4.0 has him dragging his bruised knuckles behind Farrell.

That is why, after Die Hard and Die Hard With A Vengeance still leading the pack, Die Hard 4.0 creeps in just above Die Harder in a personal and entirely unscientific ranking of the four films. But given the size of gulf that exists between those two pairs of films - wide enough to fit the Grand Canyon into - this is very far away from being vintage Die Hard. The film isn't helped by a poor Kevin Smith cameo as arch-hacker Warlock, Mary Elizabeth Winstead doing the kind of useless twittering that Elisha Cuthbert became famous for in 24 and a plot that owes much, much more to Enemy Of The State than it does any of the previous Die Hard films.

That is this film's greatest crime. Make no mistake, I laughed through John McClane standing on the tail-wings of a still-airborne fighter jet, cheered him on as he took down a helicopter with a police car and celebrated his proving that kung fu is no match for a movie-style series of haymakers but this still doesn't feel like a Die Hard movie, more a fairly typical thriller that just so happens to star Bruce Willis. Indeed, so like Enemy Of The State is it that one doesn't just miss John McClane but also Brill (Gene Hackman) and the creepy NSA cast of Barry Pepper, Jake Busey and Scott Caan. However, as much as one can complain about Die Hard 4.0, it's an event movie that has all the daft stunts, the big explosions and the no-you're-spoiling-me teasing between cop and terrorist that one expects of a summer blockbuster. But it's not a vintage Hollywood action thriller, something that is made perfectly clear by one of the many computer boffins announcing that an incoming tide of free Viagra and penis enlargement offers is, "...an e-bomb!" If that sounds utterly hopeless, it does make perfect and somewhat disapointing sense in this noisy if empty film.

In the Making Of... that accompanies this two-disc set, the men behind the digital intermediate process used on Die Hard 4.0 talk about creating a mood for the film in post-production, by slightly changing the colours to make it look colder than it did during filming. Die Hard 4.0 tends towards blues and greys for most of its running length, which not only complements the fully kitted-out trailer that serves as Thomas Gabriel's HQ but also the upstate countryside that McClane and Farrell drive through on their way to a utilities plant. However, that's a rare trip out of the city and an even more rare trip outside of rooms filled to the brim with computers and network routers.

On DVD, Die Hard 4.0 could have looked very much better than it does here. The picture has a certain softness that comes and goes. When called upon to portray the sharp fluorescent lights of a computer monitor, the DVD doesn't have a problem. However, when it asks that Bruce Willis drive a squad car into a helicopter or jump onto an F-35 fighter jet, the picture blurs a little, as though compensating for CG that isn't up to being what the film asks of it. Once Bruce Willis dusts himself off, applies a plaster to the cuts on his head and staggers off through the rubble, Die Hard 4.0 returns to normal. This isn't entirely unexpected but it is obvious and drags down what could have been a very decent transfer of the film.

There is a choice of two audio tracks, a DD5.1 and a DTS surround track. Both are pretty good, the latter edging it very slightly, but while there's plenty of bombast from the front speakers, the rear channels are more muted than I would have expected. However, dialogue, background ambience and sound effects all stand out against one another and the disc gives sufficient space to each so that while it is loud, it very rarely sounds cluttered. Finally, there are English subtitles throughout, including the special features, which are also subtitled in a range of other languages on the 2-disc set.

Single Disc Edition

Commentary: It might not sound as though Bruce Willis, in spite of his being billed as a contributor, is actually on here but he is, kind of making a late entry without so much as a hello. Other than Willis, this commentary features director Len Wiseman and editor Nicholas D Toth and while it's a reasonably chatty affair, which goes into some depth as to the rating of the film, it's not a particularly interesting listen. Willis doesn't say a great deal and neither does Toth, leaving Wiseman to deal with the rating, the writing of the film, the filming of key scenes and how his film carried on the Die Hard series of films.

Deleted Scenes (3m38s): Interested in Justin Long plugging Red Bull? More of Kevin Smith? I thought not but just in case you do, there are a handful of Deleted Scenes that are much better placed here than they would have been in the main feature.

Gag Reel (7m48s): For once...no, not a funny Gag Reel but one that's actually presented rather professionally with a title screen, credits and everything else you would expect of a film rather than simply a collection of really very dull outtakes strung together. Although that is really the only thing in its favour as, otherwise, it's as dreadful as Gag Reels usually are.

Guyz Nite...Die Hard (4m30s): I could offer you a critique of this song by Guyz Nite - nope, I'd never heard of them either and, somehow, I don't think I will again - but better that you just read the lyrics. Even without the music - rock-lite, wouldn't ya know - you'll get the gist of what Guyz Nite have done here...

Remember when we first met John McClane?
Argyle picked him up from the plane,
And took him down to Nakatomi Tower...
To meet with Holly.

He came to get her back and to be her man,
But Hans and his buddies fucked up the plan,
And that's about when everything went sour
At the Christmas party.

And the terrorists were over-zealous,
But it was sweet when they killed Ellis!
And, with a little help from Allen,
John McClane kicked ass!

We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die as hard as we can!

No one dies harder than John McClane,
Even when his wife's stuck on a plane
About to crash into the Potomac River...
On the eve of Christmas.

And airport security kicked him out,
But John McClane is just too damn proud,
And nothing could have made him not deliver...
'Cause that's his business!

And with a lot of fights and gunplay
He blew that plane up on the runway.
And, with a little help from Allen,
Holly's plane could land!

We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die as hard as we can!

Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!

No one dies harder than John McClane,
Saving all the passengers on the train.
But Simon wasn't clear with his intentions:
It was just a distraction!

And there was no way McClane could know
That Hans Gruber was Simon's bro.
And that's what made it "Die Hard: With A Vengeance"
With Samuel Jackson!

And the good cop wouldn't miss this,
Even though it wasn't Christmas.
He didn't get any help from Allen...
But only in part three!

We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die as hard as we can!

Finally we're back with John McClane
Now we got a choice, and the choice is plain:
We can live free or we can die hard,
As hard as we can.

From taking on a terrorist he's never met,
To taking on an F-35 jet,
With the greatest car explosions by far...
This sure looks sweet, man!

And we know what the basic gist is:
There ain't no Allen, and it's not Christmas.
We don't know but we're pretty sure that
John McClane kicks ass!

We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die, die hard!
We're gonna die, die, die as hard as we can!

Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!

"This sure looks sweet, man!" Sounds sweet too! I hope they do the Three Colours trilogy next.

This is actually followed by a Behind The Scenes with Guyz Nite (5m47s), which, if nothing else, shows up the notion that being a rock star is all sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Instead, being in Guyz Nite seems to involve wearing an ill-fitting vest, wearing ill-fitting facial hair and holding a guitar without ever implying any knowledge of what to do with one.

Two-Disc Ultimate Edition

All of the special features on the single-disc edition are carried over onto the Extended/Ultimate Edition with the exception of the commentary. Moving on to the second disc in the set, the extras begin with...

Analogue Hero In A Digital World (95m31s): This is an in-depth making documentary that covers pretty much everything that one could ask for as regards this film. Split into ten chapters, each one deals with a particular aspect of the production, such as Eye Candy and the visual effects, Casting And Characters with the return of Willis and the new faces in the cast and The World Of D.I., which looks at the use of the digital intermediate process to change the mood, colour and style of a film in post-production. Every chapter is detailed, sometimes, as in the case of the D.I. technologies, far too detailed, but there has been an impressive amount of time and effort bringing this together. Unfortunately, all the laughs seem to have been spent on bringing Guyz Nite into the set, leaving this a fairly dry documentary that will be a struggle for fairweather fans to sit through.

Yippie-ki-yay Motherfucker! (21m44s): Or Mother F***** as the DVD would have it. This documents a conversation between Kevin Smith and Bruce Willis on the set of Die Hard 4.0 talking about the series of films, Willis' thoughts on each of them and the character of John McClane. Kevin Smith, who as a writer and director I don't much care for, approaches this like a fan and asks the questions that anyone who likes the Die Hard films would if they were given the opportunity to talk to Bruce Willis. Willis tends towards diplomatic answers but is relaxed and fairly interesting throughout even to the story of his pitching up on the aintitcoolnews forums under the name Walter_B to general disbelief.

Fox Movie Channel Presents Fox Legacy (6m19s): Tom Rothman of 20th Century Fox narrates this short feature, which looks back at the Die Hard series of films, the initial doubts about whether Willis could cut it as an action movie star and how Die Hard On A... has become a high concept pitch of a new movie.

Hacker Underworld (8m51s): Ex-hacker and current technology consultant Kevin Mitnick is the first voice that we hear in this feature telling a story about being tried for hacking and being imprisoned in solitary confinement after the judge believed the prosecution's story about Mitnick being able to call into NORAD, whistle down the phone line and start a nuclear war. Thereafter, he went on the run and began using computer networks to keep one step ahead of law enforcement by tracking those times that his name was mentioned on newspaper and government sites. All very interesting, if too brief but only half the story, although certainly the more glamourous half.

Homeland Security in a Cyber Age (10m00s): And this is the other half in which the US Department of Homeland Security describe the risks that come with unauthorised access by computer hackers and how the government minimise such risks through security. Although never really very dull, it's not particularly glamourous either with each one of the talking heads reinforcing the notion of a bunch of intelligent if unkempt hackers being swatted off networks by The Man.

Matt’s Pad With Justin Long Featurette (6m43s): That will be an actor guiding the audience on a tour of his character's apartment, which, in its clutter of computers, junk food and posters, doesn't look so very different from the average teenager's bedroom.

I watched both the Theatrical Cut of Die Hard 4.0 and the Extended Edition for the purpose of this review and I'll be damned if I can tell any difference between the two. Granted, there is a little more swearing in the Extended Edition, which brings the rating up to a 15 and there might be a tiny bit more CG blood spatter but being stuck in the middle of a half-dozen horror movies in the run-up to Hallowe'en, this is tame stuff even in the Extended Edition. Or as the Americans have described it, the Unrated cut. So if you're feeling particularly sore about the teen-friendly tone of the film, this DVD release won't change that. With the loss of the commentary on the two-disc set, not a great deal of difference between the two cuts of the film and a set of bonus features that don't really deliver - take it from me, the highlight of the entire set is the Guyz Nite Die Hard track on the first disc - I would, if I were buying this, take the single-disc edition.

#1 Posted: 24-10-2007 11:08
Rossyross Member Posts: 185	Right-wing wish-fulfillment crap from the Murdoch empire.  I can understand deluded Americans lapping this rubbish up, but we should really know better in this country.

Right-wing wish-fulfillment crap from the Murdoch empire.  I can understand deluded Americans lapping this rubbish up, but we should really know better in this country. 

Rossyross

#2 Posted: 24-10-2007 11:34
Bigar Member Posts: 115	Well, another excellent review.  I'll think I'll wait until it hits the bargain bins as it doesn't seem worth the considerable high price both editions go for, same for the Region 1.

Well, another excellent review.  I'll think I'll wait until it hits the bargain bins as it doesn't seem worth the considerable high price both editions go for, same for the Region 1.

Bigar

#3 Posted: 24-10-2007 15:50
GavSalkeld Audiophile Posts: 55	"Granted, there is a little more swearing in the Extended Edition, which brings the rating up to a 15" The film has always been a 15. ------ GAV

"Granted, there is a little more swearing in the Extended Edition, which brings the rating up to a 15"The film has always been a 15.

GavSalkeld

#4 Posted: 24-10-2007 18:25
mrwoo Agent Mossley Posts: 23	Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter) And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D

Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ?I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter)And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D

mrwoo

#5 Posted: 24-10-2007 19:19
tonyleung Member Posts: 854	Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D Agreed. Die Hard with a Vengeance is severely overrated. I like that they tried to do something different and Irons is decent but overall I found it strangely dull. I surprisingly found Die Hard 4 more enjoyable, even if it really is so stupid at times. Except for McClane it feels nothing at all like a Die Hard movie. Die Hard 2 is well made but very much just a remake of Die Hard, which IMO is the only one of the four that is truly great. Rickman is excellent in that.

Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :DAgreed. Die Hard with a Vengeance is severely overrated. I like that they tried to do something different and Irons is decent but overall I found it strangely dull. I surprisingly found Die Hard 4 more enjoyable, even if it really is so stupid at times. Except for McClane it feels nothing at all like a Die Hard movie.Die Hard 2 is well made but very much just a remake of Die Hard, which IMO is the only one of the four that is truly great. Rickman is excellent in that.

tonyleung

#6 Posted: 24-10-2007 19:36
mrwoo Agent Mossley Posts: 23	Quote: Originally Posted by tonyleung: Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D Agreed. Die Hard with a Vengeance is severely overrated. I like that they tried to do something different and Irons is decent but overall I found it strangely dull. I surprisingly found Die Hard 4 more enjoyable, even if it really is so stupid at times. Except for McClane it feels nothing at all like a Die Hard movie. Die Hard 2 is well made but very much just a remake of Die Hard, which IMO is the only one of the four that is truly great. Rickman is excellent in that. Of course nothing comes even remotely near the first Die Hard, one of a kind, but I do like Die Hard With A Vengeance too, it's a fun film but I just like Die Hard 2 a lot more and especially love the script, full of dialogue that makes me smile and chuckle. As for Die Hard 4, whilst I enjoyed it at the cinema I just felt the McClane attitude was missing and if the unrated hopefully fixes this then i'll be happy.  It'll never be a true Die Hard film but i'm sure the uncut one can only improve it and I have such a soft spot for the franchise (I grew up with it and just adore them all) I can never really hate it.

Quote: Originally Posted by tonyleung: Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :DAgreed. Die Hard with a Vengeance is severely overrated. I like that they tried to do something different and Irons is decent but overall I found it strangely dull. I surprisingly found Die Hard 4 more enjoyable, even if it really is so stupid at times. Except for McClane it feels nothing at all like a Die Hard movie.Die Hard 2 is well made but very much just a remake of Die Hard, which IMO is the only one of the four that is truly great. Rickman is excellent in that.Of course nothing comes even remotely near the first Die Hard, one of a kind, but I do like Die Hard With A Vengeance too, it's a fun film but I just like Die Hard 2 a lot more and especially love the script, full of dialogue that makes me smile and chuckle.As for Die Hard 4, whilst I enjoyed it at the cinema I just felt the McClane attitude was missing and if the unrated hopefully fixes this then i'll be happy.  It'll never be a true Die Hard film but i'm sure the uncut one can only improve it and I have such a soft spot for the franchise (I grew up with it and just adore them all) I can never really hate it.

mrwoo

#7 Posted: 24-10-2007 19:37
Eamonn McCusker Contributor Posts: 228	Quote: The film has always been a 15. Has it? Even less need for this extended edition then. Quote: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? Like I said, I'm buried deep in a pile of horror movies at the moment and the fairly tame thrills of Die Hard 4.0 are bouncing off my senses at the moment. Yes, there is more swearing but I'm 36 years old and I stopped paying any attention to hearing 'fuck' and 'motherfucker' when I was about 12. And a long-time addiction to hip-hop hasn't helped either. Plus the two versions of the film came about a week-and-a-half-apart and on top of everything else that's dropping through my letterbox at the moment, I have not had the time to sit and compare both films scene-by-scene. I watched both but there's really very little between them. As far as I can tell, if you're expecting great changes between one and t'other, you will be disappointed as they're just not there. Quote: And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed Nah...I don't know. With A Vengeance is the only one, with the exception of Die Hard, that I'll happily sit and watch again and again. Just can't get into Die Harder, which is weird as providing a film - any film! - has snow in it, I'm there. Except for that one. Otherwise, cheers for the comments.

Quote: The film has always been a 15. Has it? Even less need for this extended edition then. Quote: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? Like I said, I'm buried deep in a pile of horror movies at the moment and the fairly tame thrills of Die Hard 4.0 are bouncing off my senses at the moment. Yes, there is more swearing but I'm 36 years old and I stopped paying any attention to hearing 'fuck' and 'motherfucker' when I was about 12. And a long-time addiction to hip-hop hasn't helped either. Plus the two versions of the film came about a week-and-a-half-apart and on top of everything else that's dropping through my letterbox at the moment, I have not had the time to sit and compare both films scene-by-scene. I watched both but there's really very little between them. As far as I can tell, if you're expecting great changes between one and t'other, you will be disappointed as they're just not there. Quote: And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed Nah...I don't know. With A Vengeance is the only one, with the exception of Die Hard, that I'll happily sit and watch again and again. Just can't get into Die Harder, which is weird as providing a film - any film! - has snow in it, I'm there. Except for that one. Otherwise, cheers for the comments.

Eamonn McCusker

#8 Posted: 24-10-2007 19:45
mrwoo Agent Mossley Posts: 23	Quote: Originally Posted by Eamonn McCusker: Quote: The film has always been a 15. Has it? Even less need for this extended edition then. Quote: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? Like I said, I'm buried deep in a pile of horror movies at the moment and the fairly tame thrills of Die Hard 4.0 are bouncing off my senses at the moment. Yes, there is more swearing but I'm 36 years old and I stopped paying any attention to hearing 'fuck' and 'motherfucker' when I was about 12. And a long-time addiction to hip-hop hasn't helped either. Plus the two versions of the film came about a week-and-a-half-apart and on top of everything else that's dropping through my letterbox at the moment, I have not had the time to sit and compare both films scene-by-scene. I watched both but there's really very little between them. As far as I can tell, if you're expecting great changes between one and t'other, you will be disappointed as they're just not there. Quote: And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed Nah...I don't know. With A Vengeance is the only one, with the exception of Die Hard, that I'll happily sit and watch again and again. Just can't get into Die Harder, which is weird as providing a film - any film! - has snow in it, I'm there. Except for that one. Otherwise, cheers for the comments. I'm just saying that I thought you might have noticed the difference not because swearing is somehow really 'cool' just more because in the theatrical version of Die Hard 4 the McClane attitude is so neutered to essentially saying 'jerkoff' that it would stick out like a sore thumb in the extended version when he's a bit more McClane. I don't really expect the violence to change that much but maybe I'm just a complete Die Hard nut in that everything sticks out to me :D Roll on monday anyway when it's finally out! And if you like Die Hard (which you obviously do) and snow then I recommend the japanese film Whiteout, it's essentially Die Hard in a dam (though not as action packed)  It's fun and there's lots of snow :D

Quote: Originally Posted by Eamonn McCusker: Quote: The film has always been a 15.Has it? Even less need for this extended edition then. Quote: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ?Like I said, I'm buried deep in a pile of horror movies at the moment and the fairly tame thrills of Die Hard 4.0 are bouncing off my senses at the moment. Yes, there is more swearing but I'm 36 years old and I stopped paying any attention to hearing 'fuck' and 'motherfucker' when I was about 12. And a long-time addiction to hip-hop hasn't helped either. Plus the two versions of the film came about a week-and-a-half-apart and on top of everything else that's dropping through my letterbox at the moment, I have not had the time to sit and compare both films scene-by-scene. I watched both but there's really very little between them. As far as I can tell, if you're expecting great changes between one and t'other, you will be disappointed as they're just not there. Quote: And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmedNah...I don't know. With A Vengeance is the only one, with the exception of Die Hard, that I'll happily sit and watch again and again. Just can't get into Die Harder, which is weird as providing a film - any film! - has snow in it, I'm there. Except for that one.Otherwise, cheers for the comments.I'm just saying that I thought you might have noticed the difference not because swearing is somehow really 'cool' just more because in the theatrical version of Die Hard 4 the McClane attitude is so neutered to essentially saying 'jerkoff' that it would stick out like a sore thumb in the extended version when he's a bit more McClane. I don't really expect the violence to change that much but maybe I'm just a complete Die Hard nut in that everything sticks out to me :DRoll on monday anyway when it's finally out! And if you like Die Hard (which you obviously do) and snow then I recommend the japanese film Whiteout, it's essentially Die Hard in a dam (though not as action packed)  It's fun and there's lots of snow :D

mrwoo

#9 Posted: 24-10-2007 20:19
Robert Thomas Gun crazy Posts: 132	I disagre with your "4.1" hook on the front page. Microsoft would have called it "4.0 Service Pack 1" instead.

I disagre with your "4.1" hook on the front page.Microsoft would have called it "4.0 Service Pack 1" instead.

Robert Thomas

#10 Posted: 24-10-2007 21:05
AL89 Member Posts: 133	In retrospect none of the Die Hard films were much good

In retrospect none of the Die Hard films were much good

AL89

#11 Posted: 24-10-2007 21:10
tonyleung Member Posts: 854	I hear Whiteout is decent. I'm still annoyed the BD is only the Theatrical Cut. I've zero interest in the DVD.

I hear Whiteout is decent.I'm still annoyed the BD is only the Theatrical Cut. I've zero interest in the DVD.

tonyleung

#12 Posted: 24-10-2007 22:03
Eamonn McCusker Contributor Posts: 228	Quote: I'm just saying that I thought you might have noticed the difference not because swearing is somehow really 'cool' just more because in the theatrical version of Die Hard 4 the McClane attitude is so neutered to essentially saying 'jerkoff' that it would stick out like a sore thumb in the extended version when he's a bit more McClane. I don't really expect the violence to change that much but maybe I'm just a complete Die Hard nut in that everything sticks out to me In that case you probably will enjoy the extended cut more than the theatrical one as, yes, McClane sounds a bit more natural saying motherfucker than he did saying jerkoff. Actually, 'jerkoff' is a problem as, now you mention it, I did remember thinking that no one says that anymore, at least no one who doesn't live their life as a tribute to The Breakfast Club. Whiteout sounds pretty good...snow, water, Die Hard in a whatever kind of plotting. If Die Hard 5 was set on a train, stranded in the snow on a bridge over a river, I'd personally fund it just to see it on the screen. I'd be there! So very predictable is this thing for snow that I saw a trailer recently for a vampire movie set in the snow and it looks like my film of the year. Predictable, yes, and so very, very sad.

Quote: I'm just saying that I thought you might have noticed the difference not because swearing is somehow really 'cool' just more because in the theatrical version of Die Hard 4 the McClane attitude is so neutered to essentially saying 'jerkoff' that it would stick out like a sore thumb in the extended version when he's a bit more McClane. I don't really expect the violence to change that much but maybe I'm just a complete Die Hard nut in that everything sticks out to me In that case you probably will enjoy the extended cut more than the theatrical one as, yes, McClane sounds a bit more natural saying motherfucker than he did saying jerkoff. Actually, 'jerkoff' is a problem as, now you mention it, I did remember thinking that no one says that anymore, at least no one who doesn't live their life as a tribute to The Breakfast Club. Whiteout sounds pretty good...snow, water, Die Hard in a whatever kind of plotting. If Die Hard 5 was set on a train, stranded in the snow on a bridge over a river, I'd personally fund it just to see it on the screen. I'd be there! So very predictable is this thing for snow that I saw a trailer recently for a vampire movie set in the snow and it looks like my film of the year. Predictable, yes, and so very, very sad.

Eamonn McCusker

#13 Posted: 25-10-2007 02:58
tonyleung Member Posts: 854	They already made that, it was called Under Siege 2. I think that has some snow.

They already made that, it was called Under Siege 2. I think that has some snow.

tonyleung

#14 Posted: 25-10-2007 10:47
mentasm Member Posts: 142	Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter) And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D There are definitely different takes used, one of them being after he takes the chopper down. Loads more swearing as well, although it feels somewhat forced and a lot of it doesn;t sound like Willis actually said the lines. Biggest cock up with the check disc is the lack of subs for the French dialogue in the film. If that happens on the retail discs, someone at Fox needs a slap.

Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ?I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter)And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :DThere are definitely different takes used, one of them being after he takes the chopper down. Loads more swearing as well, although it feels somewhat forced and a lot of it doesn;t sound like Willis actually said the lines. Biggest cock up with the check disc is the lack of subs for the French dialogue in the film. If that happens on the retail discs, someone at Fox needs a slap.

mentasm

#15 Posted: 25-10-2007 21:16
Eamonn McCusker Contributor Posts: 228	Quote: They already made that, it was called Under Siege 2. I think that has some snow. Yeah...thought someone would notice that. And that's one of the reasons that I prefer the Under Sieges to the Die Hards although (a) this is probably the wrong place to say that and (b) I'm in a minority of one in that.

Quote: They already made that, it was called Under Siege 2. I think that has some snow. Yeah...thought someone would notice that. And that's one of the reasons that I prefer the Under Sieges to the Die Hards although (a) this is probably the wrong place to say that and (b) I'm in a minority of one in that.

Eamonn McCusker

#16 Posted: 26-10-2007 08:42
grambax Member Posts: 161	If anyone buys (or has bought) this on release can you please confirm whether or not the commentary is present, and whether you have the one or two disc please? Thanks!

If anyone buys (or has bought) this on release can you please confirm whether or not the commentary is present, and whether you have the one or two disc please?Thanks!

grambax

#17 Posted: 29-10-2007 22:17
Eamonn McCusker Contributor Posts: 228	Anyone pick this up today? If so, could you leave a comment (or email me and I'll stick it on here) as to whether or not the commentary is on the single-disc release? Thanks.

Anyone pick this up today? If so, could you leave a comment (or email me and I'll stick it on here) as to whether or not the commentary is on the single-disc release? Thanks.

Eamonn McCusker

#18 Posted: 29-10-2007 23:21
strider1972 strider1972 Posts: 8	The commentary is only available on the single disc release - which seems a little odd to me. I went for the 2 disc edition,and there's definitely more swearing in it,but i might as well have bought the single disc edition. By the way,Woolworths are selling the single disc edition for £14.95,the 2 disc set for £19.97 an all 4 movies for £30.....

The commentary is only available on the single disc release - which seems a little odd to me. I went for the 2 disc edition,and there's definitely more swearing in it,but i might as well have bought the single disc edition.By the way,Woolworths are selling the single disc edition for £14.95,the 2 disc set for £19.97 an all 4 movies for £30.....

strider1972

#19 Posted: 29-10-2007 23:23
strider1972 strider1972 Posts: 8	Quote: Originally Posted by mentasm: Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo: Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ? I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter) And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D There are definitely different takes used, one of them being after he takes the chopper down. Loads more swearing as well, although it feels somewhat forced and a lot of it doesn;t sound like Willis actually said the lines. Biggest cock up with the check disc is the lack of subs for the French dialogue in the film. If that happens on the retail discs, someone at Fox needs a slap. I also noticed that some of Willis' dialogue sounded a little odd....almost as if it had been edited back in....

Quote: Originally Posted by mentasm: Quote: Originally Posted by mrwoo:Are you seriously saying Eamon that you couldn't tell the difference between no swearing in the theatrical version and 30 f-words, variations of mother fucker and other swear words in the unrated ?I haven't seen it yet but really looking forward to seeing the uncut version, there's even been reports of completely different takes and one liners! (such as McClanes line being changed when he takes down the helicopter)And Die Hard 2's the second best Die Hard film by a large margin, confirmed ;) :D There are definitely different takes used, one of them being after he takes the chopper down. Loads more swearing as well, although it feels somewhat forced and a lot of it doesn;t sound like Willis actually said the lines. Biggest cock up with the check disc is the lack of subs for the French dialogue in the film. If that happens on the retail discs, someone at Fox needs a slap.I also noticed that some of Willis' dialogue sounded a little odd....almost as if it had been edited back in....

strider1972

#20 Posted: 30-10-2007 01:44
grambax Member Posts: 161	Quote: Originally Posted by strider1972: The commentary is only available on the single disc release - which seems a little odd to me. I went for the 2 disc edition,and there's definitely more swearing in it,but i might as well have bought the single disc edition. By the way,Woolworths are selling the single disc edition for £14.95,the 2 disc set for £19.97 an all 4 movies for £30..... This seems a truly bizarre situation. Has there ever been a two disc version of a film that loses an extra feature?

Quote: Originally Posted by strider1972: The commentary is only available on the single disc release - which seems a little odd to me. I went for the 2 disc edition,and there's definitely more swearing in it,but i might as well have bought the single disc edition. By the way,Woolworths are selling the single disc edition for £14.95,the 2 disc set for £19.97 an all 4 movies for £30.....This seems a truly bizarre situation. Has there ever been a two disc version of a film that loses an extra feature?

grambax

#21 Posted: 30-10-2007 22:42
mr_dean_learner Bitch Killer Posts: 14	I bought the UK extended version today, and it urinates on the neutered theatrical release. Anyone who can't tell the difference needs their hearing and sight tested, what a sloppy review!!! By the way, the retail disc has NO subs for the French dialogue. The closed captioned subs show what's being said, but who wants to leave those on for probably 10 lines of non-essential dialogue, eh? The sound on the bonus disc is wildly out of sync during various parts of the numeroud features. Fox suck ass.

I bought the UK extended version today, and it urinates on the neutered theatrical release. Anyone who can't tell the difference needs their hearing and sight tested, what a sloppy review!!! By the way, the retail disc has NO subs for the French dialogue. The closed captioned subs show what's being said, but who wants to leave those on for probably 10 lines of non-essential dialogue, eh? The sound on the bonus disc is wildly out of sync during various parts of the numeroud features. Fox suck ass.

mr_dean_learner

#22 Posted: 01-11-2007 15:21
Phil Q Member Posts: 1817	Quote: Originally Posted by mr_dean_learner: By the way, the retail disc has NO subs for the French dialogue. The closed captioned subs show what's being said, but who wants to leave those on for probably 10 lines of non-essential dialogue, eh? The sound on the bonus disc is wildly out of sync during various parts of the numeroud features. Fox suck ass. I'll be waiting for the region 1 two-disc, then, which should have none of those issues, plus (apparently) it includes the commentary.

Quote: Originally Posted by mr_dean_learner:By the way, the retail disc has NO subs for the French dialogue. The closed captioned subs show what's being said, but who wants to leave those on for probably 10 lines of non-essential dialogue, eh? The sound on the bonus disc is wildly out of sync during various parts of the numeroud features. Fox suck ass.I'll be waiting for the region 1 two-disc, then, which should have none of those issues, plus (apparently) it includes the commentary.

Phil Q

#23 Posted: 21-11-2007 13:19
lpw Member Posts: 37	The 2-disc Unrated Region 1 DVD has now been released and I have today looked at some US chat sites, with comments by people who have actually bought it as opposed to writing reviews based on pre-release promos and/or gossip.     They confirm that it omits DTS. Therefore, to quote one entry about the 2-disc edition : The Region 1 misses out on the Gag Reel and the DTS, The Region 2 UK misses out on the Commentary The Region 2 Japan misses out on the Commentary and Unrated Cut The Region 3 misses out on the Unrated Cut and Trailer

The 2-disc Unrated Region 1 DVD has now been released and I have today looked at some US chat sites, with comments by people who have actually bought it as opposed to writing reviews based on pre-release promos and/or gossip.    They confirm that it omits DTS.Therefore, to quote one entry about the 2-disc edition :The Region 1 misses out on the Gag Reel and the DTS,The Region 2 UK misses out on the CommentaryThe Region 2 Japan misses out on the Commentary and Unrated CutThe Region 3 misses out on the Unrated Cut and Trailer

lpw

#24 Posted: 14-12-2007 00:36
JonnyG1 Member Posts: 65	Guyz Nite might have double checked.  If I remember correctly it was Christmas during Die Hard With A Vengeance...

Guyz Nite might have double checked.  If I remember correctly it was Christmas during Die Hard With A Vengeance...

JonnyG1

#25 Posted: 30-01-2008 12:08
aidanpower Member Posts: 3	Quote: Originally Posted by JonnyG1: Guyz Nite might have double checked.  If I remember correctly it was Christmas during Die Hard With A Vengeance... Die Hard With A Vengeance was set during the summer.  New York was hot.

Quote: Originally Posted by JonnyG1:Guyz Nite might have double checked.  If I remember correctly it was Christmas during Die Hard With A Vengeance... Die Hard With A Vengeance was set during the summer.  New York was hot.

aidanpower

# Posted: 26-07-2010 at 04:21:55
JBListening Registered User Forum Posts: 91	One thing I can’t figure is the audio commentary with Bruce Willis is only on single DVD not on 2 disc DVD or the bluray and since its dtsHDMA not a chance of me touching it. But there is still the odd choice of selection. The film didn’t break box office records just average, maybe 20th Fox want to cash in on greed rather than producing both with audio commentary tracks. Well the price as dropped a few times on the single DVD but two of the same feature film

One thing I can’t figure is the audio commentary with Bruce Willis is only on single DVD not on 2 disc DVD or the bluray and since its dtsHDMA not a chance of me touching it.But there is still the odd choice of selection. The film didn’t break box office records just average, maybe 20th Fox want to cash in on greed rather than producing both with audio commentary tracks.Well the price as dropped a few times on the single DVD but two of the same feature film

JBListening