FAQ

Because Matt was obviously aware of the security system in the model of car. So he knew that if McClane tried to hotwire it, it would simply disable the vehicle. As Matt says moments later, he's done it before.

When the FBI's computer system is breached over the Fourth of July holiday, NYPD detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is asked to pick up and transport computer hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long) to FBI headquarters in Washington D.C. for questioning. It doesn't take long for Farrell to recognize the breach as a terrorist-initiated "firesale" in which all of the nation's computer-controlled systems—transportation, telecommunication, financial structure, and power utilities—are systematically shut down, totally crippling America's economy. While FBI Deputy Director Miguel Bowman (Cliff Curtis) tries to handle the breach from FBI headquarters, McClane and Farrell attempt to stop the terrorists, reverse the shutdowns, and rescue McClane's daughter Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who has been taken hostage.

The film was based on a magazine article about a cyber-warfare "firesale" by British journalist and author John Carlin. Titled "A Farewell to Arms", the article was published in the May 1997 edition of Wired magazine. It was originally made into a screenplay by American screenwriter David Marconi for an earlier movie. When that project stalled, however, the script was reworked for Live Free or Die Hard by American screenwriter Mark Bomback. The character of John McClane was introduced in the novel Nothing Lasts Forever (1979), by American writer Roderick Thorp. Live Free or Die Hard is the fourth movie in the Die Hard series, preceded by Die Hard (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and followed by A Good Day to Die Hard (2013).

No exact time span is given in the movie. However, it was mentioned in this film that John McClane had been a cop for 30 years. He said he had been doing that for 11 years in Die Hard. This movie would have been exactly 19 years later, so it is happening 12 years after Die Hard with a Vengeance.

"Firesale", as the term is used in this movie, refers to a a three-stage attack on a country's Internet infrastructure, either as a form of jihad or as a preliminary step prior to actual physical attack. One-by-one, each of a nation's various computer systems are selectively shut down. First to go is the transportation system, shutting down traffic signals, aircraft, and trains, resulting in general public chaos. Second to go are systems involving telecommunications (phones, satellites, etc.), financial information, law enforcement, and government agencies. The third step is to shut down all utilities (electricity, gas, water, nuclear and solar energy plants, etc.). The term "firesale" is used because of its previous reference to the sale of goods at extremely discounted prices, usually due to a fire, and to the commercial catchphrase: "Everything must go!"

Yes. The article can be read on Wired Magazine's archives here.

There's two possible reasons. On the DVD commentary, Wiseman reveals that, in scenes that show McClane conversing two-way with Gabriel, no dialogue was written. Willis was instructed to speak gibberish so that he looks like he's talking to Gabriel, and the dialogue was filled in later. Another possibility is that the film was originally rated R, and they just toned it down by changing the lines so the film could be viewed by a wider audience.

Live Free or Die Hard is a reference to New Hampshire's state motto "Live Free or Die". Since people outside the USA are unlikely to know anything about that motto or about New Hampshire, Die Hard 4.0 has been used for the international title. Die Hard 4.0 was actually the working and planned title for this movie until it was changed during post-production.

According to Soundtrack.net, the trailer music is as follows (note that some of the music comes from licensed trailer music producers only and may not be commercially available): "Goth (Remix)" - 615 Music / Craig Sharmat, "Cycler" - RipTide Music, "War Zone" - audiomachine, "Rankle" - X-Ray Dog, "Adrenaline Surge" - Future World Music, "Suicide Mission" - Wild Whirled, "Ode to Joy" - Sorman Nystrom, "Full Throttle Part #2" - Static, "Hits, Swooshes and Rises" - Distortion Music.

"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It is also played in an earlier scene (where McClane and Farrell are driving). McClane even mentions the name of the band, prompting Matt to scoff at McClane's taste in older music.

The previous "Die Hard" films were rated "R" while this one was edited down to a "PG-13" rating which came as a surprise and shock to most people. Fox especially have had a record of re-releasing titles as unrated or "R"-rated cut DVD editions such as Alien vs. Predator, Daredevil and Mr & Mrs Smith. Also, Justin Long has said in interviews that alternate takes were filmed in some scenes that would be held back for future use in a possible "R"-rated or unrated version of the film. Further evidence for the possibility of an unrated Die Hard 4 DVD was the numerous moments when character's mouths moved but they didn't say anything, or they said something that doesn't match their mouth movements. An unrated DVD became available on November 20th, 2007, either by itself or with a second disc of bonus features. The Blu-ray releases of Live Free or Die Hard and the "Die Hard Collection" do not include the unrated version, as these discs were authored before work on the unrated cut was finalised.

The unrated cut features more explicit violence and much more foul language that was cut to make the film PG-13.