"It's boometime in the big apple - Think fast. Look alive. Die hard."

"This time, it's personal. John McClane is about to have a very bad day."

Already reeling from his dissolving marriage, and from being suspended from the police force, John McClane's troubles are about to grow still. When a mad bomber strikes in New York that has a grudge against John McClane, and a feisty Harlem resident, Zeus Carver (Samuel Jackson) become unlikely partners, as they race around town, trying to either stop the bomber, or stop people from getting hurt, while being forced to play the vengeful bomber's sick game, "Simon Says," solving demeaning and dangerous puzzles. They run, they jump, they shoot, and a bunch of stuff blows up.

With the help of Zeus, McClane discovers that this mad bomber has a reason for his madness. While the police are tied up and distracted with the bomb business, the bomber and his gang are busy clearing out a New York Federal Bank of billions of dollars worth of gold.

For those familiar with the "Die Hard" film series "With a Vengeance" is better than "Die Hard 2", but not as involving as the original "Die Hard." They'll have their work cut out for them trying to top this for "Die Hard 4."

The screenplay, the direction and the fabulous cast delivers a pretty good, manly man plenty of fun action film, complete with cat and mouse suspense, great moments of wit, a dastardly villain, great buddy teamwork, and a rollicking ending.

The fine direction, by John McTiernan makes this film a great action film, as McTiernan has had plenty of experience with directing successful action flicks, such as the original "Die Hard," "Predator," and "The Hunt for Red October."

The screenplay, by Roderick Thorp and Jonathan Hensleigh, offers the action film enthusiast plenty of suspense, skin of your teeth escapes, fabulous car chases, a spectacular subway train bombing, and other thrills, as well as an interesting plot that includes cleverly written Simon Says sick games and revenge parts,basically aimed at John McClain.

Willis and Jackson together gel as partners with the same goal, though they are not sure they like each other, until the end. As actors, they have great screen chemistry, playing off each other's performances, making the script live up to the writer's expectations.

Jeremy Irons gives a highly entertaining performance as the bomber, Simon Peter Gruber, the brother of Hans Gruber, who "Die Hard" fans all know, was the German terrorist and all around nasty guy, that John had to deal with and throw out a high rise building window in the original film, "Die Hard." Jeremy excels in playing villains, which to some are a lot of fun to portray. While he's not necessarily believable, he's obviously having a blast so he's fun to watch.

Because McCain, Carver, and Gruber, it seems, never went to finishing school, and use street language, with lots of potty words & F words, which are liberally sprinkled throughout this exciting yarn, and because of the violence, mainly the bombings, this film is not recommended for anyone under 17.

If you like "Die Hard With a Vengeance" you may enjoy "Die Hard," "The Long Kiss Goodnight," "Speed," "Lethal Weapon 2," "12 Monkeys," "Armageddon," and "Jumanji."