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Die Hard: With a Vengeance
- Review Date: November 29, 2005
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1995
Common Sense Media says
John McClane takes NYC in this thrilling sequel.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes constant violent episodes and a series of threats of violence. (This installment in the Die Hard franchise does, however, have less hand-to-hand combat and individual violence. Instead, it includes larger explosions that target an increased number of innocent citizens.) Both good guys and bad guys use vulgar language and physical violence to get their points across. McClane drives recklessly when in pursuit of the villains. Parents may seriously want to consider the effects of watching this film in post-9/11 America. The bad guys blow up city blocks, plant bombs in parks, and target the subway system. It may be a little too close to real life for comfort. In addition, as with all of the Die Hard films, the protagonist John seeks justice through his own means (and contrary to rules of law).
What's the story?
It's round three for John McClane (Bruce Willis). His wife has left him. He has been suspended from the NYPD. Nonetheless, trouble finds him. A mysterious man calling himself Simon (Jeremy Irons) wants to make McClane pay for his past sins. (If you've seen Die Hard, you'll understand why.) He must either jump through Simon's hoops or risk a series of explosions around the city. McCane must find Simon and save the city, but this time he has a partner. Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson), a Harlem shopkeeper with less than friendly feelings toward white society, finds himself paired with John's wing nut style of justice. Will they find Simon before he says "boom?"
Is it any good?
One might consider Die Hard with a Vengeance a kinder and gentler Die Hard. Straying from its traditional shoot 'em up scenarios, this film balances action with ruminations on race relations and an individual's responsibility to the greater good. (And is the first time McClane isn't trying to save his wife.) The presence of a buddy also allows for the "real" John McClane to come through in dialogue. There are some excellent explosions, yet the third installment lacks the excitement of the first two films.
Parents may seriously want to consider the effects of watching this film in post-9/11 America. The villains blow up city blocks, plant bombs in parks, and target the subway system. It may be a little too close to real life for comfort. Families that have experienced the lost of love ones in such attacks might find the movie traumatizing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about issues regarding race and public knowledge. What drives Zeus's feelings regarding race? How do his actions adhere to or deviate from the opinions he expresses early on? How can individuals work though such feelings? During the film, the police know of a threat on a public school. They withhold this information in an attempt to avoid a citywide panic. Should the police have shared this kind of information with the public or keep it a secret in to attempt to maintain public safety?
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AGE
Pretty Good...
You know, I think it's great. Great on TV. I don't know how anyone would care to watch a movie with a sware in every sentance. It is also very offensive to both black and white people. When John is walking around NYC with a sign hanging over his neck saying I Hate N*****s. Besides that, I think it was great.
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AGE
Good movie, but not intended for kids
This is the 3rd movie in the Die Hard franchise and one of my favorites.
As always, John McClane is stuck in bad situation and has to save the day, this time alongside a racist black man from NYC.
Violence is extreme with lots of blood. There are 98 uses of f--k and drug use.
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AGE
More Excellence
Incredibly entertaining. Funny and violent. Samuel L Jackson is perfect partner for Bruce Willis. Plot revolves around terrorist/bomb threat in New York City. Bombs blow up city blocks and kill innocent people; many more are placed around the city and in a school filled with small children. Sporatic violence: gunshots produce spurts of blood, an innocent man's neck is slashed multiple times causing blood to spray out all over walls, a man's head is pushed barely offscreen and shot point blank resulting in lots of blood and brains splattering over walls and people, a man is cut in half by a wire (at a distance but clearly visable onscreen), villan kills innocent people with no remorse, and as usual McLane is soaked in blood most of the movie. Constant strong language: almost every sentence contains explicit language, around 100 uses of f--- alone, with just as much with other foul words, constant use of the N-word by and against black people, McLane is forced to walk into Harlem with a sign saying "I HATE N******" (not censored in film). Racism is a very big topic here, and is suprisingly thoughtful. McLane drinks and is addicted to painkillers.
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AGE
Most Enjoyable Die Hard...and the least questionable.
The Die Hard movies have always been incredibly entertaining, hard-R rated Indiana Jones adventures for adults. DIE HARD 3 is no exception. However, though it is just as entertaining, it is also less questionable than its predecessors. Though it deserves its R rating (mainly for language), it could prove a better alternative to the other two films.
Violence is pretty much your standard John McClane stuff: people are shot and held hostage. Some perish when building or helicopters explode. However, unlike the previous Die Hard movies, only a few of these violent acts are very graphic. Though most feature some blood, only a shoot-out on a boat and a brief attack on terrorists in an elevator are explicit. This movie relies more heavily on stunts than violence. The pervasive language is the big reason for the R rating. There are more than 100 "f" words, but most are said quickly out of frustration and are not sexual in context. There are also some derogatory racial terms. A man and a woman briefly start to make out (he opens her shirt to reveal her bra) but they are interrupted by a big bang (literally). Parents should still view this before watching it with their teen to make sure it's appropriate, but you have a better chance with this Die Hard than the others.
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AGE
classic 15 and ovier
great movie lots of action
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Kid, 12 years old
July 8, 2010
AGE
ONE OF THE BEST DIE HARD MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!
AN AWESOME ACTION MOVIE!!!!! lots of action violence. an awesome action movie. i recommend it to kids over 10.
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AGE
better than the 2nd worse than the 1st
I thought this movie was really good. There was a LOT of strong language like there was 93 uses of f--k,and there was 3 uses of n----r (one on a sandwichboard). There was a lot of violence too. There was slits of throats,shootings,explosins, and beatings. But if your parents don't care about language in a movie I would say for 12+.
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AGE
Much less harsh violence and gore than the previous outings, still some profanity there. But is suitable for ALL over 9.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | John McTiernan |
| Cast: | Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 131 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 18, 1995 |
| DVD release date: | March 9, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence and pervasive strong language |
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