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9/10
Live Free and Date Hard
1 July 2007
During my July 4th holiday, I got to see LIVE FREE AND DIE HARD the latest in the DIE HARD series.

I can usually watch BRUCE WILLIS in anything. He's funny in the TV show FRIENDS, great in action movies, science fiction like THE FIFTH ELEMENT, great in most comedies, but can he pull off being tough guy John McClane one more time at his age? Or will he be like Clint Eastwood, trying one time too many to be DIRTY HARRY in the lame DEAD POOL or Charles Bronson putting out way too many DEATH WISH movies.

Happily, Willis succeeds in this DIE HARD after a 12 year layoff as the character. The action is incredible, and it's not just all some movie technician computer-generating it from their cubicle somewhere, when they fly a car into a helicopter, they actually do it, and you can see and appreciate the difference on screen.

Of course the plot and stunts are outlandish, but the film makers keep it believable enough it doesn't spoil the movie. Kind of like the better James Bond movies where the villain is trying to take over the world, and instead of saying HOW STUPID, you pause and say MAYBE THAT COULD HAPPEN.

Willis jumps, punches, crashes and wisecracks his way through the movie. And he has a great cast to support him. Timothy Olyphant is a great menacing villain even though its hard to top Alan Rickman from the first DIE HARD. Justin Long, who is excellent in comedies like DODGEBALL, THE BREAKUP, and even Apple computer commercials, surprised me on how well he does in this serious dramatic/action role. And Kevin Smith and Maggie Q fans will love them in the smaller roles that they bring to the movie.

I wish I could say more, like what happens to a tractor trailer, the elevator scene, but then I would be spoiling the movie. But sufficient to say, action movie afficionados will love the new DIE HARD.

It kind of reminds me of the last JULY 4TH movie I went to see, which was Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to be the TERMINATOR one more time in TERMINATOR 3 JUDGEMENT DAY. He made it work, and BRUCE WILLIS you nailed it too!

KUDOS BROTHER, I'm OUUUUUUUUUUUUUT.
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Casino Royale (2006)
6/10
Live and Let Spy
25 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Many moons ago, my parents took my sister and I to the drive thru to see DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. I'm sure sis and I would have preferred a Disney movie at the time, but even at our age, it was pretty impressive when Sean Connery got his Mustang up on two wheels. Between that fateful starry night and now, I have ended up seeing every James Bond movie.

So the idea of working off some Thanksgiving day turkey and taking my son 30 years later to see CASINO ROYALE was fun. This movie features Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. And a new James Bond with an advertised new attitude. No more invisible cars, rocket back packs, laser beam wrist watches, or ejector seats.

I had seen Daniel Craig in LAYER CAKE and MUNICH and was already a fan, and he brings great acting chops, athleticism, and toughness to the role. Supporting Craig with their own wonderful acting are Judi Dench as "M' and Eva Green as the female lead.

And the villain of the movie? Goldfinger, Dr No, no the real villain is the pacing. The movie starts off all action, then builds the plot, then gets into the high stakes poker game and kind of bogs down. The writers even try to throw in some Idi Amin African type baddies in the middle of the poker game to break the monotony. Finally the poker game is over, and James Bond jumps in his Aston Martin to chase after the bad guys. Everyone in the movie theater straightened up in their seats for the finale. 30 seconds later, he is out of the car, with barely one fast slide through a curve.

1/2 hour later the movie is still going, and at the beginning of every new scene, the people in front of me 'sigh'. Finally the movie ends and a sigh of relief comes out of the crowd, no cheering, no applause, just relief. No one wanted to walk out in the middle, you want to see how the characters end up, but the 'natives' were definitely restless.

We walked into the theater at 7:10 and walked out at 10:00. If they would have made the movie 1/2 hour shorter and had that car chase everyone wanted for the finale, they would have made 100 million dollars more.

So the verdict is keep Craig, fire the screenwriter, kudos for attempting to have James Bond grow up, now if only I would grow up.
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