Filmmaker Len Wiseman, hand-picked by star Bruce Willis because of his impressive work in Underworld: Evolution, takes over the directorial reins of Live Free or Die Hard, the fourth installment in the Die Hard series -- previously directed by John McTiernan and Renny Harlin. This was a good choice, for Wiseman crafts a thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful film that draws the audience into its timely plot.    

After contacting Detective John McClane (Willis), the FBI asks him to apprehend a young hacker named Matt Farrell (Justin Long) who is suspected of hacking into some of the FBI’s most sophisticated computer mainframes. It seems that, along with several other hackers, Farrell recently received money from a terrorist cell led by Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) after they unknowingly provided this group with information and designed computer programs enabling Gabriel to plan a major terror attack on the United States. In order to completely shut down the US, the terrorists aim to hack into critical computer systems that control 911 emergency services, public utilities, bank machines and networks that are used by financial institutions.

Gabriel has sent men to plant and detonate explosives in Farrell’s apartment because the group has no other use for him and, of course, they don't want to risk leaving anyone who had contact with them alive. But these men cannot believe their eyes when McClane is able to enter the building and arrest Farrell after they just pressed a button that should have detonated the explosives and killed everyone inside Farrell’s apartment. Naturally, they continue to shoot at McClane and Farrell as they leave the building.

As McClane transports Farrell to the nearest branch office of the FBI, they find themselves stuck in a massive gridlock. The computer system controlling all the traffic lights in the city has suddenly failed. Realizing McClane and Farrell are stuck in traffic, the FBI tells their men located in the area to create a safe passage so the pair can drive to the nearest bureau office. Unfortunately, the terrorists overhear this transmission and try to lure them into a trap.

Farrell soon becomes invaluable to McClane when he figures out that Gabriel is attempting to execute a “fire sale” attack using three different waves of cyber attacks to take over the controls of all the crucial computer systems used by United States. Will McClane and Farrell be able to thwart Gabriel’s evil plans?   

Willis exercised sound judgment by selecting Wiseman to direct Live Free or Die Hard. Drawn to the vulnerability of the McClane character, Wiseman remains true to the original Die Hard films while adding his own unique twist here. Mark Bomback’s screenplay combines just the right amount of humor mixed with the fast-paced action sequences to satisfy viewers. As for the acting, Long holds his own alongside Willis, who delivers another strong performance in this third Die Hard sequel -- and Olyphant is solid in his entertaining supporting turn as the diabolical, obsessed villain.  

(Released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and rated "PG-13" for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual scene.)