What is it with aging movie stars coming back to their old franchises, blowing the dust off of them, and then making an amazing new installment?

Last year, Sly Stallone did this with his Rocky franchise. And now, Bruce Willis is back with a new Die Hard – and after seeing this movie, I believe that’s just how it will do in the box office – it’s going to be hard to kill this thing.

Why do I say that? The week after it comes out, Transformers opens. There’s also competition from all the other big movies already playing.

Why will it be hard to beat in the box office? Why will this film “die hard” you ask?

Because it’s a good movie. No, strike that. It’s a great movie. The very definition of a crowd-pleaser.

Live Free or Die Hard does not succumb to the usual “fourth movie” syndrome, where it’s the death knell for a series. (Think Alien: Resurrection, Batman & Robin, The Next Karate Kid, etc.) Not at all. Director Len Wiseman, of the Underworld movies, brings just the right amount of style into this new installment with exciting action, humor that is spot on, and a perfect return of John McClane (played by Willis).

This time around, McClane gets wrapped up in a plot by cyber-terrorists to dismantle all technology in America. Wait, what? John McClane fighting nerds on computers? How could this be thrilling?

Trust me, it can. With their keyboards at their fingertips, the villains use America’s own technology against it, taking control of and making weapons out of everything. From the get go, there are explosions, gun fights, and daring escapes.

The advancement of CGI has definitely helped find new ways of putting our hero in insanely dangerous and complicated situations, and having him escape from them. From cars flipping in the air to going head-to-head with a fighter jet, the action is breathtaking.

In some movies, an actor can’t bring back the magic and charisma of their characters in a sequel, such as in Be Cool, but Willis picks up John McClane right where he left him, with all the right moves and attitude.

The plot has its clichés (the main baddie has been wronged by our government and now is taking his revenge, for example.) but it works because you’re not there for the intricate plot. You’re there to see stuff blow up and John McClane kick butt. And you do. A lot.

Justin Long as Matt Farrell makes a good sidekick. He has the potential to be annoying, but actually his character has a lot of heart and makes a great character to bounce humor off of McClane. And Maggie Q is gorgeous as ever as Mai Lihn, the love interest of the main villain, played by Timothy Olyphant. Olyphant plays the villain in a standard way – we’ve seen the same character before a hundred times – but then again, no one is going to see the movie for the villain. They’re there to see John McClane prevail.

This is a must-see movie of the summer. Of all the big blockbusters, it’s one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen so far this season. In fact, I will say it’s one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen in a long time.

So, sit back, relax and watch John McClane do what he does best.

Yippie Ki Yay.