Neil Fox’s film reviews: A Good Day To Die Hard

A Good Day To Die Hard

He’s back, and he’s old, and slow, and his wisecracks don’t crack so wise. Another needless instalment in a franchise that has already had a second coming.

The original Die Hard is the greatest action movie of all time. Period. Die Hard 2 is a bad movie. The second coming for the franchise came in the form of the rollicking Die Hard With A Vengeance which redeemed the whole shebang with wit, a great story and brilliant pieces.

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Since then it has taken a serious nosedive into schlocky, derivative territory that no one comes out of favourably, and that includes the viewer.

This instalment is utterly preposterous, so much so that on the right night, with the right kind of audience and lubrication, it could be fun.

McClane is in Russia to try and help his son, in danger of going off the rails. Trouble is, he’s not off the rails, he’s as on the rails as they come, being a CIA operative and all, resulting in father and son attempting to foil a nuclear arms heist and save the world. Ludicrous.

The character of John McClane was fascinating as he grumped his way through situations that felt almost real or plausibly challenging.

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Here, there’s no care for the characters or any interest in evolving the entertainment and empathy so clear in earlier films.

Beautiful Creatures

Another teen literary hit brought to the big screen to squeeze the young person’s wallet.

Searching for the next Potter, Twilight or Hunger Games has seen Warner put their chips on this romance about a young boy and girl who fall for each other, only for dark family secrets to threaten their love and their lives. Decent cast, but a bit too sprawling.

Like the Hunger Games but nowhere near as successfully, it tries too hard to attract fans of all characters in the book, rather than maintaining a strong, cinematic narrative. The film meanders and is never as effective as it could be as a result.

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