Bruce is back in that dirty old vest again, but he loses a bit of humanity as well as blood in this story, which reveals all too clearly the writers' desperation in trying to come up with a third-time-round caper.

Jeremy Irons plays the brother of the bad guy Willis killed in the first film, planting a series of bombs across New York - seemingly as part of a plan to get Willis in order to avenge his brother, but actually a decoy to cover a more profitable plan.

Samuel L Jackson gets dragged along for the ride, but neither he nor Willis is allowed much chance to make us smile and much of the dialogue isn't as snappy as previous films.

Lots of violent action, though, including a spectacular subway crash.