A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) - Originally Written 7/12/2014

 A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

 

Watching the Movie: 

Most of my comments about this flick as a movie will be served up in "The Bottom Line", but the best way to fairly critique this movie as a movie is to forget that it is part of the Die Hard Universe and just call it; "big dumb action movie," when you do that, it screens considerably better.
 
Yes there are stupid stunts; yes there are plot holes big enough to fly a 747 through, and yes the hero(s) is(are) just a little too at ease with the seriousness of the situation they find themselves in; but at the end of the day, it's a big dumb action movie full of car chases, explosions, and gunfights. If you enjoy those kinds of things and can separate this film from it's predecessors in the film's lineage; you can have a pretty decent time watching this flick.

Screening the Film: 

Parental roles; old vs young, American exceptionalism (one of the major themes of the movie), information asymmetry; law enforcement and judicial practices, tactics and adaptability, (long term planning and adjusting on the fly), there are a few environmental images as well when you factor in Chernobyl; but it's pretty insignificant.

Best Dialogue:

John McClane: [during a shoot out] You remember the last time we talked just before you went away?

Jack McClane: Ah no. No! No, no, you're not gonna open up to me before we die. That's not your thing, John.

John McClane: What's my thing?

Jack McClane: Fucking killing bad guys, that's your thing!

John McClane: [preparing to return fire] You're not gonna die today.

The Bottom Line: 

Most of the bile and venom this movie gets is from the fact that more is considered from a movie with the words "Die Hard" in the title; and this film suffers because it feels the most forced out of any film in the series (only slightly more so than Die Harder...). 
 
In Nakatomi Plaza, John McClane was clearly terrified and was constantly working his way through the ever changing situation; he survived on his brain power and will. Here McClane might as well be some bastard spawn of Superman, James Bond, and the Terminator; as he barely breaks a sweat at any absurd situation thrown at him. Even for a guy who continually finds himself in the worst possible place, at the worst possible time; NOBODY is going to be as cool, calm and collected as Willis portrays his most well known role.
 
As a big dumb action movie, it's fine. As a Die Hard Movie, It's a pretty offensive offering to the character and the legacy.

2.5 out of 5.

* - For those who may be wondering, my official "Die Hard" film ranking from worst to best is:
6. Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
5. Live Free or Die Hard (PG-13 cut) (2007)
4. A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
3. Live Free or Die Hard (Unrated Edition) (2007)
2. Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995)
1. Die Hard (1988)

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