403 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

http://www.aintitcoo...ay.cgi?id=24058

Well, I'm glad that they've ditched the naff DIE HARD 4.0, although it seems they've done so in favour of an even worse title. I'm going to have to stop myself thinking of BORN FREE every time I read it! I'm a huge fan of the DIE HARD series, and have long been wanting them to make part four, but with Len Wiseman directing, and now this ludicrous title, all I feel like doing is.... well, starting a thread on CBn to bitch about it!

From what I've read concerning the script, though, it seems okay. Not amazing by any means, but certainly okay - like a feature-length episode of "24". Still, it comes to something when it looks as though the next Rambo flick (the story of which was previewed on AICN the other day, and boy does it sound absolutely rotten, basically a retread of RAMBO III right down to opening with Rambo bumming around in Thailand, with added "young sidekicks") has a shot at being a better film than the new DIE HARD outing.

[stamper]

I love this guy reply

it's a fantastic title
by newc0253 August 3rd, 2006
03:35:52 AM CST
plus it opens up a whole load of possible titles for sequels: TO LIVE AND DIE HARD IN L.A., DIE HARD ANOTHER DAY, LIVE AND LET DIE HARD, RAIDERS OF THE LOST DIE HARD, and so on.

[Thunderfinger]

DIE HARD 4-DIE HARDER THAN THE HARDEST DIEHARD DEATH

[Jericho_One]

Not a too creative title really, but one thought crosses my mind: Live free? Bruce Willies battling al-qaeda?

[doublenoughtspy]

Not a too creative title really, but one thought crosses my mind: Live free? Bruce Willies battling al-qaeda?

I think he is up against cyber-terrorists in this one.

I suppose I am unique in feeling that this title isn't that bad.

Maybe I'm just used to seeing the "Live Free or Die" on New Hampshire license plates.

[Loomis]

Maybe I'm just used to seeing the "Live Free or Die" on New Hampshire license plates.

Oh, so it's a play on a slogan already familiar to most Americans, is it? In that case, it might work. Outside the States, though, it's awful - it's complicated, doesn't flow smoothly, and isn't very memorable (I mean, even as someone looking forward to the film, I've been thinking of it all day as "Live Fast, Die Hard? Nah, that's not it; Born Free? Nope; oh, yeah....").

The "live free or" bit sounds like a tagline, which reads on to the "DIE HARD" bit, which will doubtless be in larger typeface on the promotional material.... leading people to assume that the film is just called DIE HARD (another remake, perhaps). Sheesh, why not simply call the flipping thing DIE HARD 4? Why the need to get all "clever" on people and pretend it's not just another crappy sequel? Still, I won't be surprised to see a title change outside the United States.

[Roebuck]

I'm a huge fan of the DIE HARD series, and have long been wanting them to make part four, but with Len Wiseman directing, and now this ludicrous title, all I feel like doing is.... well, starting a thread on CBn to bitch about it!

Actually, I thought Wiseman's Underworld pictures were nicely shot. What kept pulling them down were budgetary considerations coupled with clunky scripting. His direction of action scenes is competent enough, and there were elements of his last film that certainly suggested to me he could do a good job on a straight techno-thriller.

[Loomis]

I'm a huge fan of the DIE HARD series, and have long been wanting them to make part four, but with Len Wiseman directing, and now this ludicrous title, all I feel like doing is.... well, starting a thread on CBn to bitch about it!

Actually, I thought Wiseman's Underworld pictures were nicely shot. What kept pulling them down were budgetary considerations coupled with clunky scripting. His direction of action scenes is competent enough, and there were elements of his last film that certainly suggested to me he could do a good job on a straight techno-thriller.

I haven't seen any of Wiseman's films, actually, although I do note that his reputation doesn't seem especially high, to put it mildly. Then again, I don't think Renny Harlin's generally all that much cop, but feel he did a very good job with DIE HARD 2. Interesting that, between McTiernan hirings, the DIE HARD franchise has on both occasions gone for a relatively little-known, up-and-coming director fresh from a horror hit (Harlin made DIE HARD 2 after doing the fourth NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET).

Wish they'd gone for McTiernan, though, although I freely admit that that's sentimentality rather than logic talking, as DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE is (IMO) the weakest of the series, and McT hasn't exactly been on peak form over the past decade or so.

[Harmsway]

LIVE FREE AND DIE HARD is an appalling title.

I don't have much interest in this film - maybe a trailer will change my mind. This is one sequel that didn't need to happen. DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE was a nice closer, and was still pretty lackluster at that. Do we need an even *more* lackluster sequel?

[Loomis]

LIVE FREE AND DIE HARD is an appalling title.

Thanks, Harms. Was beginning to think I was the only one. Seriously, it really is pisspoor. I note that you typed it as LIVE FREE AND DIE HARD, which I think proves my point about how much of an unmemorable, confusing title it is.

This is one sequel that didn't need to happen. DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE was a nice closer, and was still pretty lackluster at that. Do we need an even *more* lackluster sequel?

Y'know, for many years, DIE HARD 4 was the one sequel I really wanted to see get made, but now that it's actually happening I almost wish they weren't bothering. Along with INDIANA JONES 4 and RAMBO IV, it now seems far, far too late in the day, and, as with those two other long-in-development-hell sequels, all the advance word to date is painfully unexciting. Funnily enough, I don't think this is true of ROCKY BALBOA, which I reckon will be a surprisingly good film and a surprisingly big hit (not a PIRATES/X-MEN-type megahit, but a good, solid moneymaker, probably mostly outside the United States and on DVD, but, still....).

The reason is this: character. People like Rocky Balboa, and admire the good, honest, salt-of-the-earth qualities he stands for. People enjoy cheering him on and watching him knock the living daylights out of opponents, but he's also the kind of guy it'd be nice to have a beer and a few jokes with. Also, for Americans, I imagine there's the same patriotic feelgood factor that there is with Brits and Bond. He isn't just a wrecking machine (unlike Rambo, whose brand of patriotism is understandably embarrassing for many Americans; if Rocky represents the American dream, then Rambo is, to coin a phrase, the American nightmare).

Rocky is like Bond - people want to be him, albeit for different reasons to those creating Bond's appeal. But who the heck identifies with John McClane? Who admires or envies Rambo? I guess Indy might succeed again, as he has a bit of charm and wit (although that being said, Ford's performances became glummer and less charismatic as the trilogy went on), but I think it's all over for franchises like DIE HARD.

[Qwerty]

It's just boring.

[Johnboy007]

Live Easy would be better just from a parallelism standpoint.

In any case, it's still a lame title.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Lame title and yes, it sounds like '24' but No Diehard since 1 can touch '24'!

Title sounds like Fox news made it up...ugh

[Johnboy007]

Lame title and yes, it sounds like '24' but No Diehard since 1 can touch '24'!

Title sounds like Fox news made it up...ugh

It's on right after "The Cost of Freedom" on Sunday mornings.

[K1Bond007]

It's not bad. Not the greatest title though. Clearly a tongue-in-cheek to John Stark and the New Hampshire state motto.

Better than Die Hard 2: Die Harder.

[stamper]

How long before someone create that movie title generator for the Die Hard series ?

Live and let Die Hard in L.A.

[Thunderfinger]

Live Hard And Die Free would at least appeal to a rock

[Scottlee]

(Yes it's a rubbish title. Let me get that out of the way first)

I won't be looking forward to this one as much as I was Die Hard with a Vengence. That film was a disappointment, mainly due to its lacklustre ending. How can you show us 50 baddies all picking up machine guns and then not show us a big, raging battle? Furthermore, why is the entire film before that point completely devoid of any violence whatsover? There's nothing "Die Hard" about Die Hard 3. Even the gunshot deaths are skimped upon (think of the elevator scene).

My enthusiasm for Easy-Dying-living-harder (whatever), isn't exactly helped by hearing that none of the characters bar McClane are returning. I could do without Samuel L Jackson a second time around, but to omit Al Powell, Holly, and Dick Johnson..AGAIN? Come on!

I'll probably still go and see it out of curiosity, mind lol

[Loomis]

(Yes it's a rubbish title. Let me get that out of the way first)

I won't be looking forward to this one as much as I was Die Hard with a Vengence. That film was a disappointment, mainly due to its lacklustre ending. How can you show us 50 baddies all picking up machine guns and then not show us a big, raging battle? Furthermore, why is the entire film before that point completely devoid of any violence whatsover? There's nothing "Die Hard" about Die Hard 3. Even the gunshot deaths are skimped upon (think of the elevator scene).

All of that is very true, and, yes, what the heck happens to Jeremy Irons' army at the end? The film does not echo the feel of the first two, and is almost totally devoid not only of violence but also of suspense. McTiernan's disappointing return for DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE reminds me of Guy Hamilton doing GOLDFINGER and then rejoining the Bond series a few years later with DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - nails it as perfectly as could possibly be hoped for first time round, but goes bizarrely campy and wicky-woo the second.

As Leonard Maltin says (somewhat unfairly, IMO) of the first one, there are too many needlessly stupid supporting characters, and they get way too much screentime, presumably because the filmmakers are under the impression that they're hilarious and provide much-needed "comic relief", as though Willis' and Jackson's constant wisecracks aren't enough (see, for instance, the jolly fat guy bomb disposal expert, who's so overexposed that you wonder whether they were planning to give him a spinoff flick).

Eh, when I were a lad t'DIE HARD series were all about Bruce Willis, alone and tired at night and surrounded by dozens of truly vicious adversaries (by contrast, Irons and co. are almost cuddly) in enclosed surroundings. Nowadays it seems to be POLICE ACADEMY with added CGI. Expect LAUGH FIRST AND DIE HARD to be much more similar to the lacklustre third film than to the first two action thriller classics.

[Scottlee]

Well there are some things you can certainly predict in Die Hard 4...

- Some stressed out police chief at some point will say "McClane!! If you don't buck up, you're going to be back on traffic duty!"
- McClane will make cheesy references to the fact he always seems to get a ludicrously bad day at the office i.e. "How can the same happen to the same guy 4 times?" (Probably said to hmself as he crawls away from some gunfire) or "Relax, I've done this before" (To some cutie).
- Halfway through the film McClane will deduce right out of the blue that it's not about releasing Mark Chapman, but a robbery. And the chapman thing was a diversion.
- McClane's first big chat with the bad guy will be over walkie-talkie.

[Loomis]

Well there are some things you can certainly predict in Die Hard 4...

- Some stressed out police chief at some point will say "McClane!! If you don't buck up, you're going to be back on traffic duty!"
- McClane will make cheesy references to the fact he always seems to get a ludicrously bad day at the office i.e. "How can the same happen to the same guy 4 times?" (Probably said to hmself as he crawls away from some gunfire) or "Relax, I've done this before" (To some cutie).
- Halfway through the film McClane will deduce right out of the blue that it's not about releasing Mark Chapman, but a robbery. And the chapman thing was a diversion.
- McClane's first big chat with the bad guy will be over walkie-talkie.

LOL!

- Someone, probably a senior cop, will make a dismissive reference to McClane being an alcoholic scruffbag.

- Followed, most likely, by a reference to how rubbish he is at keeping his marriage together.

- The notoriously technophobic McClane ("For me progress peaked with frozen pizza" - DIE HARD 2) will labour for hours trying to complete a would-be conciliatory e-mail to Holly, whom he hasn't seen in eight months following an argument over his refusal to take the trash out during The Contender, typing away at snail's pace with one finger, and he's finally figuring out how to send the thing when his computer crashes (the first sign of the terrorists' plot to crash America's systems).

- He ought to have dictated it to his son, who's a dab hand with computers. McClane, Jr. thinks his dad's a blowhard dinosaur with anger management issues, while McClane thinks his son's an undisciplined young punk. The film will end with them departing happily for a male bonding fishing trip, cracking jokes to each other.

- As the film progresses, McClane will somehow shed his clothing to the point where all he's wearing above the waist will be a white vest, which will mysteriously turn dark green by the very end.

- McClane will take on a hulking henchman with the aid of a chain and an endless barrage of pop culture-referencing wisecracks. Said henchman will later turn out not to have died.

- However, somewhere along the way, McClane will manage to kill a baddie in an incredibly elaborate, gory fashion (icicle-meets-eyeball in DIE HARD 2, goon cut in half in DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE).

- The supporting characters will include a bunch of immensely arrogant, stupid and annoying cops and FBI agents.

- While not exactly coming across as a Klansman, McClane will nonetheless display the sort of world view that would generally be described as "politically incorrect".

[Scottlee]

- He ought to have dictated it to his son, who's a dab hand with computers. McClane, Jr. thinks his dad's a blowhard dinosaur with anger management issues, while McClane thinks his son's an undisciplined young punk. The film will end with them departing happily for a male bonding fishing trip, cracking jokes to each other.

Great ideas. The one i've quoted is my favourite.

[DLibrasnow]

Maybe I'm just used to seeing the "Live Free or Die" on New Hampshire license plates.

The New Hampshire license plates slogan was the firat thing that came to my mind too.

[stamper]

Actually, the 3rd is interesting for the first half hour, when McClane is playing games to prevent another bombing. That should have been the complete movie, the "I hate Niggers" thing in the Bronx is bold and outrageous, as well as the subway crash. Then the movie just goes off the rail.
What made the first so great, was the fact that the police were total incompetents, except for the only friend Al, none of them believe Al or McClane, they all think they can outwit the terrorists, who are brilliant. That, in a nutshell, is america, the second movie totally missed that point.

[marktmurphy]

Maybe I'm just used to seeing the "Live Free or Die" on New Hampshire license plates.

Oh, so it's a play on a slogan already familiar to most Americans, is it? In that case, it might work.

Much like 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'! I don't suppose many people outside of the UK get letters from the Inland Revenue!

Didn't I read somewhere that Die Hard With a Vengence was originally a Lethal Weapon script? Makes sense.

[Thunderfinger]

I also predict that the villain(s) will have German or British accents,and that McClain will be bloody and his clothes will be torn halfway in the film ...

[MarcAngeDraco]

IMO, it'll be hard to ever beat Die Hard 2: Die Harder in the awful title sweepstakes..

[Harmsway]

IMO, it'll be hard to ever beat Die Hard 2: Die Harder in the awful title sweepstakes..

I prefer DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER to LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD.

[Thunderfinger]

DIE HARD 5-LIVE FREE 2-LIVE FREEER OR DIE HARD FIVER

[Loomis]

IMO, it'll be hard to ever beat Die Hard 2: Die Harder in the awful title sweepstakes..

I prefer DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER to LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD.

DIE HARDER was never part of the film's official onscreen title, which is simply DIE HARD 2.

A few months before its release, I remember reading in the UK press that the second DIE HARD flick would be called DIE HARD 2: THE TAKING OF LOS ANGELES CENTRAL (an obvious reference to THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE), which doesn't make sense when you consider that the airport in the film serves Washington, not Los Angeles, but there we go.