1. **State the problem:** Calculate the value of the expression $-2 - 4 - 4 \times 4 \times 7 \times -2$. 2. **Recall the order of operations:** Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction. 3. **Calculate the multiplication part first:** $$4 \times 4 = 16$$ $$16 \times 7 = 112$$ $$112 \times -2 = -224$$ 4. **Rewrite the expression with the multiplication result:** $$-2 - 4 - (-224)$$ 5. **Simplify the subtraction of a negative number:** $$-2 - 4 + 224$$ 6. **Perform the addition and subtraction from left to right:** $$(-2 - 4) + 224 = -6 + 224 = 218$$ **Final answer:** $$218$$