Bruce Willis has thrown in the rug, but he hasn't given up on John McClane.

It would be interesting to see a count on the number of bad guys McClane has sent to the Infernal Regions in "Die Hard" (1988), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" (1995).

It won't surprise anyone who has seen those films that McClane adds considerably to the body count in "Live Free or Die Hard." What is new is the methodology and weapons he employs, and your ability to accept and enjoy his new strategies will determine how good you think the film is.

This time, he is called away from an argument with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), to pick up a computer hacker, Matt Farrell (Justin Long). Officials of the U.S. government, which in the midst of a devastating cyber attack, want Farrell to answer some questions. The people leading the attack want Farrell dead. The latter's desire would be accomplished easily were it not for McClane.

So the now-bald New York City detective is what stands between civil and financial chaos and us. I, for one, am glad he's on our side, however unlikely I may find it that he is able to do what he does.

"Live Free and Die Hard" cedes to computers and those who can bend computers to their will almost limitless power. (Anti-technology paranoids will find a wealth of affirmation in this movie.) Farrell helps McClane to track the villain hackers; McClane will take care of kicking their various hindquarters.

The supporting cast is a good one. Timothy Olyphant is Gabriel, a former security specialist who has turned rogue. His main allies are Mai Lihn (Maggie Q) and Yorgo Constantine. Both are computer geniuses; she's also capable of kicking a man to death, and he's got the moves of Spider-Man.

On his side, McLane has Agent Bowman (Cliff Curtis) and Lucy, who is as tough as her old man, whom she hates but knows to call on when she's in trouble.

Much of the first half of the film is prime "Die Hard": great action and funny throwaway lines. As the movie progresses, however, the action sequences, one of which is featured in the trailers and involves McClane taking out a helicopter with a flying car, grow increasingly incredible.

I may be stodgy in my desire for a film to stay within shouting distance of reality. Maybe "Die Hard" fans expect the plausibility to decrease as the action moves toward it climax. If that's the case, "Live Free or Die Hard" will satisfy.

For my part, I enjoy McClane most when he seems to live in the same physical sphere as I do.

Local veteran journalist Jim Gordon reviews movies for The Times. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at jamgordo@iun.edu.

onscreen

"Live Free or Die Hard"

Grade: B -

Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant,

Director: Len Wiseman

Rated: R