Or is the new Die Hard film simply living safely and dying limply with a lousy PG-13 rating?
Ratings have been a topic of discussion here lately as my blog recently earned a ridiculous NC-17 rating which is absurd. But according to Mingle2.com, that's what I got. You can click here to find out what your blog is rated. Thanks to Meleah Rebeccah for pointing this one out.
So back to Die Hard 4 or as the studio is calling it, Live Free or Die Hard or if you're in Europe, Die Hard 4.0. All the names already! We have a series of films that I LOVED growing up that had R ratings. While I was WAY under 17 for the first installment back in 1988, I saw it anyway. I saw lots of R rated movies back when I shouldn't have with no adverse effect. Why? My grandparents had the sense to talk to me and tell me that this wasn't real and if I tried any of it they would break my neck. Message received and understood.
Bruce Willis as Detective John McClane has become an icon over the years for the action film genre. He was an ordinary man placed in extraordinary situations who rose to the occasion to fight the bad guys. He bled when he was cut and felt pain when he was hit. In each movie he would be injured, badly. He was a nice contrast from the action film stars of the late 80's/early 90s like Arnold and Stallone who would give but a slight grimace to an injury and proceed on as if nothings happened. Action films are never known for their realism but there is a connection that audiences made with Detective McClane; vulnerability.
McClane also would swear like a drunken sailor. Phrases like "oh fuck" or "oh shit" were the cornerstone of his vocabulary. But it never seemed inappropriate in the context of these films because what else could an ordinary guy say in the face of heavily armed and highly sophisticated terrorists? McClaine and the Die Hard series was an action getaway for adults. Each one provided a sanctuary for grownups to indulge in a little violent debauchery while not being treated like a child. All until this summer. This one is PG-13.
WHAT THE FUCK?!?!
This was not only my reaction but also the cry of many when the news broke. How could the studio do this? How could they sand down and neuter one of the greatest action film franchises ever done!?!? What will I do when it comes out? Will I see it? Will I not see it? Will he be able to say his trade mark phrase "Yippie Kiyay mother fucker?" I hear he can but only once! These things are important to me damn it! I mean really.....what the fuck? And certainly we won't be able to see things like THIS!
Not just the violence but the banter. Do you see what I mean? Can't have it on this one. But you can have shooting with no blood. The other Die Hard films had lots of blood and guts. These things are what action films are made of. It's why the series has been so successful.
No blood, no swearing = no Die Hard that I know.
YOU MUST CHOOSE!
John McClane is a foul mouthed detective. Take that away and you have a generic action hero. I'm sorry but that's just the way it is. Or is it? You, dear readers, will have you chance to decide if I see this movie or wait for the unrated DVD to come out. If I see it, I'll do a review and tell you all about it. It's a genuine choose Ricardo's adventure at the movies. Not sure about Live Free or Die Hard? There a sample with the first 8 minutes of the film below. I keep waiting for him to say "Get the fuck down!" or yell "Oh shit!" but it's not there. Just silence and gunshots. John? Are you there John? Detective McClane!?!? HELLO!?!?!
Next up on U N L O A D E D...... Summer lust. I may just live up to that NC-17 rating after all.
