Bruce Willis is back as John McClane after a twelve years hiatus. He has not missed a beat. It occurs to me that if John McClane lacked a sense of humor he would be Jack Bauer! That raises the question…who win a fight between John McClane and Jack Bauer? Anyway, I digress.
As we catch up with McClane he is divorced and estranged from his daughter. He gets a call to pick up a computer hacker who is being sought by the FBI is conjunction with a cyber attack on the US technological infrastructure. What follows is a classic amusement park ride of a summer movie. I think the plot while far from original does exploit our ever-increasing digital interconnectivity to good effect. I think it also picks up on a solid libertarian strain as warning against a Big Brother, someone is watching you society. Hence I think the tile “Live Free or Die Hard” a take off on the state motto of the state of Vermont “Live Free or Die”.
The stunts and action set pieces are as good as they come. However, the confrontation between McClane and an F-35 is way over the top.
Justin Long (Mac from the Mac vs. PC commercials) turns in good performance as a hacker geek (is that a redundant term?) and serves as a counterpoint to the uber-macho McClane. Long is a very likable personality and helps turn the film at times into almost a buddy comedy.
Love, love, love the cameo by Kevin Smith as Warlord the hacker of hackers. The best part is Longs description of Smith as a “Digital Jedi”. This is so appealing owing to the fact that Smith in real life is a huge fan of Star Wars.
I did not buy Timothy Olyphant as the villain in this movie. His character is a genius hacker and while all other hackers in the film are geeky stereotypes Olyphant looks like he just stepped off the pages of GQ. It would have been better were he subordinate to someone a bit more sinister. Any action movie is only as good as the villain. What made the original “Die Hard” so spectacular was the iconic performance of Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. Olyphant had his moments but his performance does not come close to eclipsing that of Rickman. As a result his ultimate demise is a bit less than satisfying.
“Live Free or Die Hard” is rated PG-13 and under MPAA guidelines films rated PG-13 are generally allowed one F-Bomb per movie. I mention this because of Willis’ catchphrase in the Die Hard franchise, “Yippee Ki Yay MF’er”. Needless to say I was expecting Willis to utter the famous line and he did but it was but somewhat slurred and lacking a bit of gusto.
All in all “Live Free or Die Hard” lacks the claustrophobic tension of the first two installments of the franchise but his vastly superior to “Die Hard with a Vengeance”. I think it is not as good as the original but comes in a solid number 2 amongst the four films.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Sunday, November 19, 2006
(2) Movie Review: "Casino Royal".....
You have probably all heard the hype. “Best Bond movie in years”, “Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery”. I am here to tell you it is largely true! “Casino Royal” rocks! The naysayers and haters owe Daniel Craig a huge apology. While at first glance his looks are not typical for Bond he is handsome enough with well a toned body and rugged face. He also brings a much-needed infusion of youth to the character.
Forget the plot. Craig’s Bond is a bad ass and is a man of few words. The term often used is a “blunt instrument” and it fits. He brings a hard edge and a bit of sadism to the role. While the movie is not devoid of the trademark Bond humor it is toned down. Gone are the glib quips. If I had to compare his portrayal I would say it is most reminiscent of that of Timothy Dalton.
Like all Bond flicks there is a good deal of violence. Unlike its counterparts the violence in “Casino Royal” is less comic book and more realistic and brutal; on several occasions Bond kills with his bare hands. Off hand I cannot recall another Bond killing in such a personal and brutal way.
No Bond movie would be complete without jaw dropping action. “Casino Royal” delivers on that promise. There are some remarkably exciting action set pieces. One of the best is a nearly fifteen minute long chase, early in the movie, through an African construction site. This movie is so well done it even makes Texas Hold ‘Em breathtakingly exciting.
If, and I do say if, I have any criticism of “Casino Royal” it is that it is about 20 minutes too long and the opening teaser which is usually hyper kinetic is quite tame.
Lastly, the closing moments are a love letter to Bond fans and definitive proof that Daniel Craig is now the man.
Forget the plot. Craig’s Bond is a bad ass and is a man of few words. The term often used is a “blunt instrument” and it fits. He brings a hard edge and a bit of sadism to the role. While the movie is not devoid of the trademark Bond humor it is toned down. Gone are the glib quips. If I had to compare his portrayal I would say it is most reminiscent of that of Timothy Dalton.
Like all Bond flicks there is a good deal of violence. Unlike its counterparts the violence in “Casino Royal” is less comic book and more realistic and brutal; on several occasions Bond kills with his bare hands. Off hand I cannot recall another Bond killing in such a personal and brutal way.
No Bond movie would be complete without jaw dropping action. “Casino Royal” delivers on that promise. There are some remarkably exciting action set pieces. One of the best is a nearly fifteen minute long chase, early in the movie, through an African construction site. This movie is so well done it even makes Texas Hold ‘Em breathtakingly exciting.
If, and I do say if, I have any criticism of “Casino Royal” it is that it is about 20 minutes too long and the opening teaser which is usually hyper kinetic is quite tame.
Lastly, the closing moments are a love letter to Bond fans and definitive proof that Daniel Craig is now the man.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Notes and Asides........
With appropriate kudos and apologies to William F. Buckley Jr. I present these Notes and Asides on recent events.
The Election:
The GOP got its clock cleaned on Tuesday night. Say hello to Speaker Nancy "Stretch" Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, or as Rush Limbaugh calls him "Dingy Harry". However, in the final analysis the GOP had it coming. The GOP Congress became soft and corrupt. They failed to use their majority to produce meaningful conservative legislation. Social Security remains a ponzi scheme, tax cuts were not made permanent and the border continues to leak like a sieve. What did they produce? Campaign finance reform, endless mountains of pork, insane increases in federal education spending and a general bloating of the federal government. Do I expect the new majority to be any better? Hell no. They will be infinitely worse but I hope the president with discover his VETO pen and frustrate all efforts.
It’s so funny I have to laugh. Liberals believe that rabid conservatives have occupied the White House and the Congress these past six years. To this I can only respond "If only"! Nothing could be further from the truth. Was that the case we would not be looking at a new liberal majority.
In the final analysis Tuesday’s results might be for the best. For one thing the incompetent leadership of Denny Hastert, Bill Frist and Tom DeLay are all history. A new more principled, truly conservative leadership will hopefully take their place. Secondly, very little meaningful legislation will pass with such a partisan divide and the less Washington does the less they can screw up. That is of course if the President cowboys up and frustrates the will of the new majority (more on that later). Third, the liberals will go insane (they cannot help themselves). They will attempt to impeach Bush, raise taxes, increase spending more that even the worst Republican and generally do everything in their power to increase the size and scope of the Federal government. Lastly, this defeat makes it more likely that the GOP will retain control of the White House in the 2008 election (which begins now, by the way). If the GOP learns it lesson from this defeat it will emerge stronger as a result.
Bye, Bye Rummy:
In an act of extreme cowardice and political stupidity President Bush responded to Tuesday’s election results by giving the lib’s a present; the scalp of Donald Rumsfeld. Why now, why not six months ago when it could have done some good? What was he thinking? Is this any indication of what the next two years will bring? "Stretch" Pelosi and the New York Times OpEd say "jump" and the President says "How high?" Is this some misguided effort at bi-partisanship? If so I have news for President Bush. The Democrats have zero interest in working with you and finding common ground. They are out to destroy you and your entire administration on the path to what they hope will be the election of a Democrat President in 2008.
If capitulation is what is in Bush’s heart then why not go all out. I say replace Rumsfeld with Wesley Clarke. While he is at it he should ask VP Cheney to step down and make Hillary the new VP so as to give her a leg up as she pursues her own megalomanical dreams of power. As a cherry on the top of the sundae announce that he himself is now a Democrat.
It is time for the President to grow a spine, stop trying to be nice and stand up to these people. He has turned the cheek too many times.
RATS:
That sound of scurrying you hear is the sound of rats leaving a sinking ship. According to a Vanity Fair article linked on The Drudge Report many of the neoconservatives that sold President Bush on the idea of invading Iraq are now letting him twist in the wind. They are not saying that they were wrong but that the President did not properly execute the plan. I say again RATS. As the old saying goes "with friends like these who needs enemies". For years the president was warned not to be too trusting of the neocons. Old time conservatives like Pat Buchanan must be laughing their tails off at the betrayal.
Finally:
With more and more of President H.W. Bush’s associates finding their way into the administration of President W. Bush might this become the second term the first President Bush never had?
PS:
Anyone else notice how leftist, socialists, terrorists and American haters world wide were all celebrating Tuesdays election results??????
One final thought, what happened to the tradional liberal whining about voter supression and rigged voting machines? Notice how the GOP doesn't cry foul when it loses??
The Election:
The GOP got its clock cleaned on Tuesday night. Say hello to Speaker Nancy "Stretch" Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, or as Rush Limbaugh calls him "Dingy Harry". However, in the final analysis the GOP had it coming. The GOP Congress became soft and corrupt. They failed to use their majority to produce meaningful conservative legislation. Social Security remains a ponzi scheme, tax cuts were not made permanent and the border continues to leak like a sieve. What did they produce? Campaign finance reform, endless mountains of pork, insane increases in federal education spending and a general bloating of the federal government. Do I expect the new majority to be any better? Hell no. They will be infinitely worse but I hope the president with discover his VETO pen and frustrate all efforts.
It’s so funny I have to laugh. Liberals believe that rabid conservatives have occupied the White House and the Congress these past six years. To this I can only respond "If only"! Nothing could be further from the truth. Was that the case we would not be looking at a new liberal majority.
In the final analysis Tuesday’s results might be for the best. For one thing the incompetent leadership of Denny Hastert, Bill Frist and Tom DeLay are all history. A new more principled, truly conservative leadership will hopefully take their place. Secondly, very little meaningful legislation will pass with such a partisan divide and the less Washington does the less they can screw up. That is of course if the President cowboys up and frustrates the will of the new majority (more on that later). Third, the liberals will go insane (they cannot help themselves). They will attempt to impeach Bush, raise taxes, increase spending more that even the worst Republican and generally do everything in their power to increase the size and scope of the Federal government. Lastly, this defeat makes it more likely that the GOP will retain control of the White House in the 2008 election (which begins now, by the way). If the GOP learns it lesson from this defeat it will emerge stronger as a result.
Bye, Bye Rummy:
In an act of extreme cowardice and political stupidity President Bush responded to Tuesday’s election results by giving the lib’s a present; the scalp of Donald Rumsfeld. Why now, why not six months ago when it could have done some good? What was he thinking? Is this any indication of what the next two years will bring? "Stretch" Pelosi and the New York Times OpEd say "jump" and the President says "How high?" Is this some misguided effort at bi-partisanship? If so I have news for President Bush. The Democrats have zero interest in working with you and finding common ground. They are out to destroy you and your entire administration on the path to what they hope will be the election of a Democrat President in 2008.
If capitulation is what is in Bush’s heart then why not go all out. I say replace Rumsfeld with Wesley Clarke. While he is at it he should ask VP Cheney to step down and make Hillary the new VP so as to give her a leg up as she pursues her own megalomanical dreams of power. As a cherry on the top of the sundae announce that he himself is now a Democrat.
It is time for the President to grow a spine, stop trying to be nice and stand up to these people. He has turned the cheek too many times.
RATS:
That sound of scurrying you hear is the sound of rats leaving a sinking ship. According to a Vanity Fair article linked on The Drudge Report many of the neoconservatives that sold President Bush on the idea of invading Iraq are now letting him twist in the wind. They are not saying that they were wrong but that the President did not properly execute the plan. I say again RATS. As the old saying goes "with friends like these who needs enemies". For years the president was warned not to be too trusting of the neocons. Old time conservatives like Pat Buchanan must be laughing their tails off at the betrayal.
Finally:
With more and more of President H.W. Bush’s associates finding their way into the administration of President W. Bush might this become the second term the first President Bush never had?
PS:
Anyone else notice how leftist, socialists, terrorists and American haters world wide were all celebrating Tuesdays election results??????
One final thought, what happened to the tradional liberal whining about voter supression and rigged voting machines? Notice how the GOP doesn't cry foul when it loses??
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Venezuela Oil Pimp Can Have the U.N.
Following Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's bizarre speach before the UN General Assemby, The New York Daily News ran the best editorial I have ever read. I share it here for you to enjoy.
"May your prayers be answered, Señor Chavez. May the United Nations leave New York for residence in Venezuela, so very far from the diplos' lush and cushy berth on the East Side. The sorry organization isn't worth the gridlock.
You're more than welcome, please, to take the atrophied, self-abasing remains of a global ideal 2,100 miles to Caracas, where you can play the messianic oil baron game to your heart's content with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fresh in from Tehran, perhaps with a dirty bomb in his suitcase.
You can take the UN, and you can shove it - there.
And you can shove the gasoline you sell to Americans through Citgo, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Venezuelan national oil company through which you are bribing your way into international power.
It is, frankly, un-American for U.S. citizens to pour money into any bank account that bears the Hugo Chavez name, you being despicable enough to suggest that "the U.S. empire planned and conducted" the 9/11 terror attacks "against its own people" as an excuse to go to war.
And you can shove the fuel oil you are offering at a discount to some poor Americans, including folks here in New York with the aid and comfort of the moronically misguided Rep. Jose Serrano. This is nothing but a public-relations stunt by a populist poseur on the order of, well, Fidel Castro.
As for your address to the General Assembly yesterday, it troubles us not that you referred to President Bush as a Devil of rank sulfurous odor - although it is of more than passing interest that back at home, a Chavez critic who dared voice such colorful language about El Presidente would risk prison or, worse, a bullet.
Far more pertinent is that oil-bought Chavez cronyism is pervasive enough among UN member states to put Venezuela in serious contention for a spot on the Security Council, the body the world is forced to rely on to stem Ahmadinejad's atomic aspirations. Once there, Venezuela would work to help Iran become the world's most dangerous country - one dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
Saddam Hussein had his way with the UN by corrupting the oil-for-food program to buy his way out of having to comply with weapons inspections. Today's trade is oil for nukes, and the UN is again reclining into a supine position.
The parliament of mankind? Naw. A cheap bordello."
You're more than welcome, please, to take the atrophied, self-abasing remains of a global ideal 2,100 miles to Caracas, where you can play the messianic oil baron game to your heart's content with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fresh in from Tehran, perhaps with a dirty bomb in his suitcase.
You can take the UN, and you can shove it - there.
And you can shove the gasoline you sell to Americans through Citgo, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Venezuelan national oil company through which you are bribing your way into international power.
It is, frankly, un-American for U.S. citizens to pour money into any bank account that bears the Hugo Chavez name, you being despicable enough to suggest that "the U.S. empire planned and conducted" the 9/11 terror attacks "against its own people" as an excuse to go to war.
And you can shove the fuel oil you are offering at a discount to some poor Americans, including folks here in New York with the aid and comfort of the moronically misguided Rep. Jose Serrano. This is nothing but a public-relations stunt by a populist poseur on the order of, well, Fidel Castro.
As for your address to the General Assembly yesterday, it troubles us not that you referred to President Bush as a Devil of rank sulfurous odor - although it is of more than passing interest that back at home, a Chavez critic who dared voice such colorful language about El Presidente would risk prison or, worse, a bullet.
Far more pertinent is that oil-bought Chavez cronyism is pervasive enough among UN member states to put Venezuela in serious contention for a spot on the Security Council, the body the world is forced to rely on to stem Ahmadinejad's atomic aspirations. Once there, Venezuela would work to help Iran become the world's most dangerous country - one dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
Saddam Hussein had his way with the UN by corrupting the oil-for-food program to buy his way out of having to comply with weapons inspections. Today's trade is oil for nukes, and the UN is again reclining into a supine position.
The parliament of mankind? Naw. A cheap bordello."
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11 Remembered.......
Today is September 11. It was a sparklingly clear late summer morning when the unthinkable occurred. At 8:46 AM American Airlines Flight 11 carrying 92 passengers was crashed in to the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes later at 9:03 United Airlines Flight 175 carrying 65 passengers was crashed in to the South Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:37 AM American Airlines Flight 77 carrying 64 passengers was crashed in to the Pentagon. At 10:03 AM United Airlines Flight 93 carrying 45 passenger was prevented from reaching its intended target when the passenger attempted to retake the jet from the terrorist filth. The effort resulted in the plane crashing into a field in Shanksville, PA. At 10:05 AM the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. At 10:29 AM the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. In the end 2,986 lives were lost than day making it the single worst attack on the United States of America. Five years later many things are still not the same but all too many things have gone back to the way they were on September 10, 2001. Since 9/11/01 we have undertaken military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Saddam Hussein sits behind bars but Osama Bin Laden, presumably, remains at large, assuming he is not already dead.
For posterity I would like to transcribe the journal entry I made on the morning of 9/11/01 from my desk at Convent Station.
September 11, 2001 - 10:41 AM My Desk at Convent Station ->
To paraphrase….September 11, 2001 a date which will live in infamy. As I write this the Twin Towers are no more! Washington, DC is being evacuated! A coordinated terrorist attack is in progress against the United States of America! Words fail me right now! I’ve never seen anything like this in 32 years. I must admit to being freaked out myself. The military is patrolling the skies of DC. Reportedly a hijacked plane was just shot down outside Pittsburgh. Another is approaching DC. 11:15 AM this plan may have been shot down. There is a great deal of rumor and false info. Everything is happening very fast! 11:20 AM the plane is still heading for DC. 11:35 AM not surprising a pro-Palestinian group is claiming “credit” for this attack!September 12, 2001 - 1:27 AMAfter all of today’s events I admit to being afraid to go to sleep! I cannot put in to words right now exactly what I am thinking and feeling. This much I know, I cannot bear to watch anymore video recaps of today’s event. I’ve seen the Towers collapse time and again on video and I can’t stand to see it anymore. Another sight I can no longer bare are images of the second plane crashing into the Tower.Someone has to pay for this outrage and pay dearly!
There you have it. Five years later we are still at war with Islamo-fascism and I imagine we will be so for some time. We should not rest until everyone responsible for this outrage has suffered a horrible death. May God bless the victims and their families, may God bless the United States of America and may God DAMN all those responsible and all who celebrated it!
For posterity I would like to transcribe the journal entry I made on the morning of 9/11/01 from my desk at Convent Station.
September 11, 2001 - 10:41 AM My Desk at Convent Station ->
To paraphrase….September 11, 2001 a date which will live in infamy. As I write this the Twin Towers are no more! Washington, DC is being evacuated! A coordinated terrorist attack is in progress against the United States of America! Words fail me right now! I’ve never seen anything like this in 32 years. I must admit to being freaked out myself. The military is patrolling the skies of DC. Reportedly a hijacked plane was just shot down outside Pittsburgh. Another is approaching DC. 11:15 AM this plan may have been shot down. There is a great deal of rumor and false info. Everything is happening very fast! 11:20 AM the plane is still heading for DC. 11:35 AM not surprising a pro-Palestinian group is claiming “credit” for this attack!September 12, 2001 - 1:27 AMAfter all of today’s events I admit to being afraid to go to sleep! I cannot put in to words right now exactly what I am thinking and feeling. This much I know, I cannot bear to watch anymore video recaps of today’s event. I’ve seen the Towers collapse time and again on video and I can’t stand to see it anymore. Another sight I can no longer bare are images of the second plane crashing into the Tower.Someone has to pay for this outrage and pay dearly!
There you have it. Five years later we are still at war with Islamo-fascism and I imagine we will be so for some time. We should not rest until everyone responsible for this outrage has suffered a horrible death. May God bless the victims and their families, may God bless the United States of America and may God DAMN all those responsible and all who celebrated it!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Sports: "World Cup 2006 - Day1"......
Day 1 of the 2006 World Cup is history. Playing in Munich before a crowd of 66,000 the German National Team defeated Costa Rica 4-2. The Germans got two goals from 2002 World Cup hero Miroslav Klose and one each from Phillipp Lahm and Torsten Frings. Frings goal in the 87th minute was an amazing 40 yard cannon blast that found the top corner of the goal.
All in all, Germany played rather well despite the fact that they were without their captain and best player Michael Ballack. The bad new was the plat of their new starting goalie Jens Lehman. Facing little challenge in the game he looked very bad on the two goals that were more than likely not even his fault.
Germany goes on to play Poland on Wednesday. Poland lost to Ecuador 2-0 in embarrassing fashion and will certainly be playing with a great deal of desperation when they face Germany.
The United States opens its campaign against the Czech Republic on Monday. In my opinion, the the US is an overrated squad. Though they possess a decent defense and above average goal tending they are pathetically anemic on offense. But time will tell.
All in all, Germany played rather well despite the fact that they were without their captain and best player Michael Ballack. The bad new was the plat of their new starting goalie Jens Lehman. Facing little challenge in the game he looked very bad on the two goals that were more than likely not even his fault.
Germany goes on to play Poland on Wednesday. Poland lost to Ecuador 2-0 in embarrassing fashion and will certainly be playing with a great deal of desperation when they face Germany.
The United States opens its campaign against the Czech Republic on Monday. In my opinion, the the US is an overrated squad. Though they possess a decent defense and above average goal tending they are pathetically anemic on offense. But time will tell.
Monday, June 05, 2006
3 People.......
If you had an opportunity to have dinner with any three people alive or dead who would they be?
I will start:
My grandfather: he died seven years before I was born. Because like me he was a staunch Republican, a Met fan and loved cigars.
Thomas Jefferson: author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the great geniuses of all time. The span of his knowledge and expertise in so many areas was staggering.
Leonardo DaVinci: long before Dan Brown I was fascinated by a man who was perhaps histories greatest genius and like Jefferson his genius was near all encompassing would you pick?
I will start:
My grandfather: he died seven years before I was born. Because like me he was a staunch Republican, a Met fan and loved cigars.
Thomas Jefferson: author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the great geniuses of all time. The span of his knowledge and expertise in so many areas was staggering.
Leonardo DaVinci: long before Dan Brown I was fascinated by a man who was perhaps histories greatest genius and like Jefferson his genius was near all encompassing would you pick?
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