LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD — *** — Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant; rated PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, brief drugs); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15; Century Theaters Sandy and South Salt Lake; Cinemark Jordan Landing; Megaplex District, Gateway and Jordan Commons; Red Carpet 5-Star and Gateway 8; Redwood Drive-in; Westates Holladay Centre.

If the "Die Hard" movie franchise continues after this fourth effort, the only way to top it will be to blow up the Earth!

"Live Free or Die Hard" escalates the action to an almost impossible and pretty silly degree. So many things get shot at and shot up, crashed and smashed, and collide, collapse or explode that it feels like a Michael Bay highlight reel.

And yet, as implausible and over-the-top as certain elements are, this is the one big summer movie that's actually fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it features so much action that you don't really have time to think about plot inconsistencies.

This time NYPD Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is taking on a crew of "virtual terrorists" led by former government consultant Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant).

Gabriel and his cohorts are staging a "fire sale," a three-prong attack on the nation's transportation system, financial base and utility services.

They're using a series of hacked codes and security systems to shut down vital services around the country, and then disposing of the programmers once they've outlived their usefulness.

In typical McClane fashion, our hero is outmanned, outgunned and possibly outwitted. But he does have the element of surprise, and he receives some help from Matthew Farrell (Justin Long), one of the hackers used by Gabriel.

The film represents a significant step forward for the career of director Len Wiseman, whose "Underworld" movies were incoherent blurs of quick-cut editing, muted colors and unconvincing computer-animation effects. But here he stages several impressive action sequences, including a thrilling tunnel chase and a stunning car-vs.-helicopter sequence, both of which really deliver the goods.

His star, Willis, is still surprisingly spry, and he has to stay on his toes just to keep up with Long's sarcastic hacker character. They make an appealing odd couple — and former Salt Lake resident Mary Elizabeth Winstead impresses as McClane's kidnapped daughter. (She's not exactly a hapless dame-in-distress.)

"Live Free or Die Hard" is rated PG-13 for strong scenes of action violence (shootings, brawling, vehicular and explosive mayhem, and some violence against women), occasional profanity and crude slang terms, some blood and gore, and brief drug references (sex aids and painkillers). Running time: 130 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com