The tension that naturally arises from such an underdog scenario holds fast for the whole film. Plenty of gun-toting stars had gone up against armies of bad guys, but few were beat down against such insurmountable odds as John McClane was.

One can attribute most of that to its compelling setup, which the creators follow through with skill and precision. Easy competition aside, it's a rock-solid action extravaganza that stands out in a crowded market. The one that started it all, the original Die Hard would obviously take the top spot. These issues keep this revival from the triumph it aims for, but it's still much better than the other sequels. These cyber terrorists are more annoying than threatening, and they're made more unbearable by a miscast Timothy Olyphant as their leader. Further hammering home that lack of tension is the villains. It's hard to take any of this seriously when McClane walks away from a collapsing highway with nary a scratch. It stages spectacles that, while accomplished on the surface, severely strain one's suspension of disbelief.

Live Free or Die Hard exemplifies director Len Wiseman's penchant for serviceable-yet-toothless action flicks. RELATED: Modern Action Movies That Have Awesome Stunt Work This all may sound like a recipe for killjoy, but the film doesn't dwell on John's obsolescence he's still good at what he does.

This is personified in Mary Elizabeth Winstead's endearing edge as his daughter. More importantly, though, the story ably tackles the drama inherent in his lifestyle and the effect it has on his family. With that comes plenty of comedy about him being out of the loop. This belated fourth entry presents an older McClane.

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