Die Hard With A Vengeance, John McTiernan's superb second sequel to his classic 1988 thriller, is that rare exception to the rule.

By now, NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) has become as famous as Dirty Harry - a gritty, foul mouthed hero who could be the average bloke in the street. He has a rubbish love life (wife Bonnie Bedelia from the previous films has called it a day for this offering); has a little trouble in getting up in the morning, as the opening scenes prove, and has a terrible habit of wrecking just about everything he comes into contact with.

So what is it about DHWAV that makes it a cut above the average sequel? Well, unlike Renny Harlin's 1990 offering, Die Hard Two, this wasn't rushed into production to cash in on the success of the original.

Writer Jonathan Hensleigh (one of the brains behind Willis' current video smash Armageddon) sat down and came up with a cat and mouse game which takes McClane beyond the confines of a skyscraper or airport as seen in parts one and two. Here he has the whole of New York City to devastate, with a little help from nemesis, Simon (Jeremy Irons).

The fact that he's supposed to be terrorist Hans Gruber's brother seems a little convenient but does at least provide the necessary fuel for Simon's personal vendetta against McClane. From the opening, explosive shot of NYC on a hot day - the addition of the Lovin Spoonfull's Summer in the City is an added bonus - you know this is one piece of Eurotrash that means business.

Before long, a hungover McClane is chasing around the Big Apple, incensing the locals with a far from politically correct sandwich board and trying to solve tricky maths problems with the aid of shopkeeper Zeus Carver (Samuel L Jackson). Failure will result in another bomb being detonated, courtesy of Simon.

Both Willis and Jackson have the sort of onscreen chemistry that works a treat and the NYPD Blue style photography - all hand held cameras - gives this epic the feel of a documentary. None of the lush cinematography of parts one and two here. The film is not without its faults. After a terrific first half, the plot seems to get out of control and McClane and Zeus appear like cartoon characters as they risk life and limb to stop the mad Simon. However, McTiernan manages to add lashings of tension to the proceedings and proves that with this and current big screen hits The 13th Warrior and The Thomas Crown Affair, he is one of the most dynamic directors working in Hollywood today.

It wasn't a cheap film to make by any means but it seems the $90million budget was a good gamble after the movie grossed over $354million around the world.

No news yet of part four but it's not as though Willis needs the money, especially after his latest movie, The 6th Sense, became the second most lucrative film of the year - The Phantom Menace was naturally number one.

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