Customer Reviews

Die Hard: With a Vengeance [VHS]

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Die Hard with A Vengeance DVD

Bruce Willis in his usual role meets Samuel L. Jackson, a Harlem shopkeeper who saves Willis' rear-end and Jeremy Irons as a terrorist leader who put our two guys through a game of " Simon Says" as a distraction to rob the New York Federal Reserve Bank, the repository of the second most gold bullion in the USA, Fort Knox, of course being the first.

If you are looking for a movie that is filled with hard hitting action, Die Hard is it.

If you've seen the other Die Hard movies, you have to watch this one.

Recommended for Die Hard fans and fans of Bruce Willis.

Die Hard With a Vengeance reunites actor Bruce Willis and director John McTiernan for a second sequel to their 1988 mega-thriller Die Hard. Adapted from a non-Die Hard script titled Simon Says by screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh, this third chapter in the John McClane saga is more offbeat and just a bit darker than expected.

Although it still follows the Die Hard formula - and how could it not? - of McClane versus formidable obstacles, Die Hard 3 wisely avoids the Christmas Crises scenarios from the first two films. Gone also (although the movie never really explains why) is Bonnie Bedelia's Holly, although she is mentioned in several scenes. Apparently McClane never adjusted to life in Los Angeles and returned to his job in the New York Police Department.

So when a bomb goes off at a Bonwit Teller store in Manhattan, it is providential for the Big Apple that McClane is a lieutenant in New York's Finest, albeit a depressed and beer-swilling lieutenant. Providential because we know that when arch-villain "Simon" (Jeremy Irons) demands that McClane participate in a potentially deadly version of the game "Simon Says," our Everyman hero will rise to the occasion and thwart Simon's deadly scheme.

As in the first Die Hard film, McTiernan pairs McClane with an interesting partner. Where in the 1988 flick Willis was helped by Reginald Veljohnson (better known as Carl from Family Matters), in Die Hard with a Vengeance his charismatic and reluctant partner is played by Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Star Wars Episodes I and II). Their "unlikely buddies" routine is energetic and witty, and Jackson plays his Harlem store owner character with a mixture of biting wit, bewilderment, and even dignity.

The Special Edition 2-disc set, like the previous two in the series, contains the movie on Disc 1 with interactive menus, anamorphic Widescreen presentation, various audio and subtitle options, and commentary by director McTiernan and screenwriter Hensleigh. Disc 2, of course, has the usual theatrical trailer and TV spots, several TV "making of" specials, a special-effects breakdown, and an interview with Bruce Willis.

There are plans for "Die Hard 4: Die Hardest" for 2005, with Bruce Willis back for a fourth time and director John McTiernan back for a third as John McClane and his daughter become involved in yet another terrorist plot. I have high hopes for such a film because the "Die Hard" series has been one of the strongest in the action genre. Granted, the best of the bunch remains the original 1988 film, which is the standard by which all subsequent films in the genre have been judged: "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" was "Die Hard" in an airport and "Speed" was "Die Hard on a Bus," not to be confused with "Speed II" which was "Die Hard" and "Speed" on a boat. Apparently Willis only does these movies when he has one that thinks it will work, which would explain why "Die Hard with a Vengeance," the third film in the series, came out in 1995, five years after the sequel.

The best thing that can be said about this movie is that it would have worked even if it was not a "Die Hard" movie. The idea that John McClane is once again on the outs with his wife (who never appears in the film) is getting stale and the idea that he is being targeted by this film's mysterious villain simply named Simon (Jeremy Irons) could just as easily have a different explanation than one that ties this film back to the original. In fact, what makes this third one a solid action film is that it does indeed go back to the original for two of its strongest elements. The first is the idea that the crime is a fairly complex robbery dressed up with a lot of distractions. The second is that McClane's character had a tenuous anchor with another person; in the original it was Reginald VelJohnson's Al Powell, although for most of the film it was merely by radio. That fault is rectified in this film with Willis given a strong co-star in Samuel L. Jackson's Zeus Carver. This time it is Jackson's character who suddenly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances, forced by some nut with a whole lot of bombs at his disposal to jump through a bizarre series of hoops.

One of the key elements in the success of the "Die Hard" movies was that McClane managed to use his brains at opportune moments. That issue is forced to the extreme in this one as the voice at the other end of a long series of phone calls provides one deadly brainteaser after another. This allows the logic of the movie produce a series of stunts and action sequences as the two mismatched heroes race around New York City trying to avoiding anybody getting killed (including themselves). Willis and Jackson work well off of each other, helped by the fact there characters are not stupid, and that despite the yelling and screaming solving problems is the highest priority. We have seen all of these elements before from all the action/buddy movies that Hollywood has produced, and their success remains contingent on how much we like watching the two buddies do what they gotta do. The whole idea of these things is to provide a compelling thrill ride, and by that standard "Die Hard with a Vengeance" delivers.

When I watched "Die Hard With a Vengeance" from the very first box edition on DVD, I was very dissapointed. You could see fuzz in almost every scene and the sound quality wasn't that great. Now, I have just seen this movie in the new ultimate edition box set and I loved it! It was everything I was hoping for and more.

For those who don't know, this film is about a madman who is threatening to blow up public places in New York unless Willis and Jackson are able to perform certain tasks. The action is outstanding, the car chases are breath taking, and the acting is awesome. Bruce Willis is hillarious with his sarcastic and short tempered humor.

This new and improved special edition of "Die Hard 3" is more than I hoped for. The picture quality is crystal clear. In fact, there are some scenes where the picture is TOO clear! I forgot how beaten up and bruised Bruce Willis gets in this movie!

For those who have DVD players who can play DTS will also enjoy the new sound transfer. It was ten times louder and thrilling with the new DTS analog, which makes the movie even better. The crashes and gun shots sound a lot more better and louder.

I was very pleased with this new remastered version of "Die Hard 3". I will have to watch the other two in the box set to see if they are just as good. I highly recommend this DVD, or box set to anyone who loves "Die Hard".

With director John McTiernan back at the helm, "Die Hard With a Vengeance" (1995) is a textbook example of action-packed filmmaking - perhaps the best of the "Die Hard" trilogy. You couldn't ask for a better acting ensemble. Bruce Willis adds more depth to his John McClane role, thanks to the inspired casting of Jeremy Irons (as the vengeful brother of Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber) and Samuel L. Jackson (McClane's unlikely partner). There's more action and characterization than in the previous "Die Hard" films. McTiernan's swift pacing never lets up. From beginning to fadeout, "Die Hard With a Vengeance" is great fun.

If you are looking for a movie that is filled with hard hitting action, Die Hard is it. It has so much action packed into the movie from beginning to end. In my opinion, it's probably the greatest action film in all of history.

Oh, and by the way, to whoever wrote the product descripion for the first Die Hard movie, the character Hans Gruber is played by Alan Rickman. Not by Alexander Godunov as you described. Godunov plays Gruber's sidekick, Karl. I just wanted to let you know that for two reasons. Firstly, so people who haven't seen Die Hard can read your description and get the correct information about the characters they're going to see, and secondly, because Alan Rickman is my favorite actor and I think he deserves credit where credit is due. So whoever wrote that description would please be kind and edit the names. Thank you very much

"Die Hard: With a Vengeance" is a full-blooded action vehicle; it is a smart one, too, because its filmmakers realize the ol' one-man-army-trapped-in-an-area routine can't last long. So they have changed the technique to a game of revenge: cat-and-mouse. Some could call it smarter than its predecessors; and on a level as a thriller I must admit it is more intense. It is a lot better than the 1990 Renny Harlin actioner "Die Hard 2: Die Harder." But on terms of fun, you can't beat the original.

John McTiernan, who brought us "Predator," "The 13th Warrior" and "Die Hard," returned to end this series on a high note. Of course, like all sagas, "Die Hard" is far from over, with another sequel due to be released summer 2004. But until then, we can look to "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" as the end-all to the overall excellent John McClane trilogy.

The third film opens up where nothing left off; McClane (Bruce Willis) is on the streets of NYC when a man who calls himself "Simon" blows up a Manhattan department store, and then orders McClane to stand in Harlem with a sandwich board that says...well...something you wouldn't want to be wearing in Harlem.

After a convenience store owner named Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson) saves McClane, Simon orders both men to run around New York City and do Simon Says-type-games. It's all good fun, and a step away from the original film. Which can be good or bad.

Soon McClane finds out that "Simon" is really the brother of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) from the first film, and that "Simon" is out for revenge against McClane (or is he?), and he will stop at nothing to kill McClane. But, of course, being a madman, he plays mind games with John McClane first. And the simon says mind games are tense and action-packed.

It's hard to compare something like this to the original for one major reason: It is nothing like the original. The original was about a lone man fighting off a million guys, Rambo-style. But what saved it from becoming another average action spectacular was the great dialogue, non-stop SMART action sequences, and engaging performences by all aboard the project. Fast-forward two years later and you've got a replicant copy of the first film set in Dulles airport in Washington, D.C. But in all respect, "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" is not recycled. Its technique is new, and it almost seems as if it is not a sequel to the other "Die Hard" films. Which is probably not too odd, seeing that the script, originally titled "Simon Says" (no, not the Dennis Rodman one), was actually a sequel to "Lethal Weapon." Of course, modifications were made after the "Die Hard" series bought out the script, but the character of Zeus was probably Danny Glover, and John McClane was probably Mel Gibson. Thinkabouddit.

Bruce Willis is still John McClane. This film takes his character into a bit of a darker realm. McClane now has an alcohol problem, and his wife has left him again. Man, you'd think after having your life saved TWICE by the same guy that MAYBE you should stick with him. In fact, we don't even see McClane's wife (Bonnie Bedalia) in this film at all. Although we are led to believe they will hook up again at the end.

Samuel L. Jackson adds some flair to the film, taking the movie into a more cop-buddy dimension ("Lethal Weapon"). Jackson's character is a racist, and it's a bit odd to see a black racist in a film. It's usually those nasty white fellas. :)

I liked Jackson's character, because it provides for dialogue outlet on McClane's behalf, and sets the film up for some very funny sequences. The character interaction is a lot stronger here than it was in "Die Hard 2: Die Harder."

"Die Hard: With a Vengeance" is hard to compare to the original because it is so very different. But the bottom line is that this sequel is much better than "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," but a step down from "Die Hard." But seeing how different it is, you might think it is better than both the films. It really depends on your preferences.

I give this solid action film a solid rating of 4/5 stars - an all-around solid action sequel. Solid fun.

If you agreed with my review, please RECOMMEND IT.

I say its a different Die Hard because it changes the format of 1 and 2. Its not just in one place on Christmas eve. Its a lot different. This time John McClane(Willis) is living in NYC and has been sorta seperated from his wife Holly for a year. Simon, Hans Grueber's brother is out for revenge for the killing of Hans at Nakatomi. Simon is setting up bombs all across NYC and McClane is assinged to run around and defuse them. He later picks up Zeus(Samuel L. Jackson) who helps him out. But there is a secret behing all this bomb defusing which I won't give away. It makes the film so much better. I love the cast, Jeremy Irons is excellent as Simon. Rip-roaring action fun! The dvd could have used some more extra features besides the trailer for all 3 of the movies and the 5 minute featurette. Rated R for violence and profanity. I hope Die Hard 4 which is in talks goes through, id love to see another one.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) has had better days. His family is estranged from him, he's coming out of a hangover (with migraine to boot), has a madman (Jeremy Irons) intent on driving him nuts under the threat of destroying New York, and he also has a unwilling civilian (Samuel L. Jackson) who must be a participant in this insane game. If things couldn't get any worse, they do. "Die Hard With A Vengeance" manages to be quite a change of pace from the two previous "Die Hard" films. The film moves at a fast pace for it's first two-thirds, but eventually starts to sputter to the finish line. It's a solid action movie (despite some rather implausible situations and solutions) and seems to cap off the series nicely. The Special Edition DVD boasts a commentary with returning director John McTiernan and screenwriter John Hensleigh (who explains the true origins of "Die Hard 3"), plus behind-the-scenes specials and documentaries, a alternate ending (rather dark, but interesting to see what could have been), trailers, and TV ads (look for the gag reel hidden in the 2nd disc's menu). A solid Special Edition for this seemingly last chapter in the "Die Hard" series.

This is easily the best looking transfer of this film ever released with far greater picture quality than previous DVD releases. Though not a jaw dropping transfer like 'Casino Royale' or classics like 'The Searchers'-it's still much improved from the 'Die Hard Collection' version.