Review of Die Hard With a Vengeance: Collector`s Edition (2 Discs)

Introduction

Think fast. Be alive. Die hard. The famous tagline to the famous movie series about a New York cop in the wrong place at the wrong time...John McClane is back and battling the mysterious terrorist Simon. Yippee-ki-yay motherf***er!This has now been re-released as a 2-disc special edition, as the original disc wasn`t exactly what one comes to expect from a DVD. Stateside, 20th Century Fox distribute all three Die Hard movies, but for reasons unknown, out of the States Buena Vista own the rights, hence why this movie was absent from the recent Die Hard boxset. Gypsies.

Video

A crisp 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen transfer, the palette is used well and there are no compression signs. The whole Die Hard series relies on big action sequences and effects, and the third installment is no exception. The print contains trademark explosions and big budget effects, and they are all replicated excellently within the print.

Audio

A good DD 5.1 track, with the surrounds used to good effect. The dialogue is always crisp and clear, so another good attempt. However, across the Pond, the Region 1 version comes equipped with a booming DTS track, so why this was taken off the Region 2 release is beyond me. Expect witty dialogue and the surrounds coming into their element when the action scenes start exploding onto the screen.

Features

Commentary, Behind the Scenes featurette, `A Night to Die For/McClane is back` featurette, Die Hard 3 featurette, 3x behind the scenes featurettes, interview with Bruce Willis, Villain`s Profile featurette, 7x visual effects sequences, storyboards, trailers, easter egg. The extras for the special editions of the first two movies weren`t groundbreaking, so from the start it is pleasing to see effort being put into this disc. The menus have great animations (tip: on the main menu, keep pressing right until the train `hold-on-rail` is selected, and press Enter. The DVD credits will be shown. This is not the proper easter egg, but a bonus. For the proper egg, go to the `Interview & Profile` section, and highlight the `Exit` sign. Click Enter and a gag reel will be yours...), and there seems to be a wealth of material. It is all good, and very insightful, covering every stage of the mammoth production. Highlights include all the behind the scenes featurettes, in particular the first two. The commentary is good, and the storyboards/trailers are the standard affair. The disc cover says there is an `alternate ending`, but I can`t find it, hence why I haven`t mentioned it before. Overall, a great package of extras that will leave you with information on every aspect of the movie.

Conclusion

John McTiernan, the helmer of the original movie, returns and produces and directs the second best installment of the trilogy (the original is still the best). The setting is New York, and the explosive stunts, good script and great performances do not detract an iota from your enjoyment of the movie. The set-pieces are handled well, and the dialogue is still witty, years after McClane first hit the big screen. Overall this is a good movie housed on an excellent disc. A great improvement on the disappointing standard edition, it shows Buena Vista are beginning to respect DVD. Long may it last...