Wrapping Up The Week Because It's "A Good Day To Die Hard"

A chip off the old block.

The Story:

John McClane (Bruce Willis) returns...but this time to the streets of Russia!?  It seems his son, Jack (Jai Courtney) is in a Russian prison, and John's on his way to try and help.  What he doesn't know, is Jack is undercover for the CIA and is trying to get some information from deposed Russian leader Kamarov (Sebastian Koch) before he is silenced forever.

Nothing says 'bonding moment' like fighting Russian extremists!

Okay, so I went to see this one in theaters, and I had a blast.  For what it is, it's the latest part in the legacy of John McClane.

At the time I gave it a B+.

Time passes...

The Sprinter chase is still a fun...

But the buddy-cop enjoyment of 3 & 4 vanish.

It could be the fact that the son is mainly in the same line of work as his dad.  He's not a novice thrust into this situation.  He's an equal...mostly.  Though still not quite as good at is as his old man.

I would say the least enjoyable aspect of this movie is Jai Courtney.  He is just a sour dude, from start to finish.  He's angry, and never stops being angry.

You would think McClane's family would give him some sort of break, I mean he's only saved the world a few times, and their mom too.

How does she repay him?  She divorces him.

No, instead, this one will wear the mantle of worst part of the franchise.

John McClane is not supposed to be a fish out of water.  He's supposed to be the fly in the ointment.

Again, this movie reeks of political intrigue moreso than heist caper. 

That appears to be the big undoing with the weak links in all of the less enjoyable films. 

Cops stop crooks.  Madmen driven by political schemes are best left to Secret Agents.

I want McClane...not Bond.


That said, if you do rent it/buy it... don't watch the extended version.  For some reason, they excise the most redeeming portions of the theatrical release, and all of the Lucy McClane scenes are removed.  Dumb move.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It sits on the mantle next to the rest of the franchise... but it will see the least rotation.  Once in a blue moon...