A Good Day To Die Hard - Blu-ray Review

'a spin-off to an alternative universe, so ashamed that it has buggered its lead character beyond belief that it hides the 'franchise' title at the end of its own moniker, an epitaph to things now past'

At the start of A Good Day To Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis), is on a mission. A bad father, he's missing his son, aware that young Jack (Jai Courtney) is in trouble; he must save him from harm and travel halfway around the world to do so. Eventually seeing his son for the first time in several years, McClane proceeds to chase him across Moscow in two different vehicles - one hijacked, one stolen - destroying a plethora of other transport along the way in a spectacular opening chase that must go on for a good fifteen minutes. On what logical basis is this the way to achieve the character's stated reconciliatory aims, outlined a mere few scenes ago?

This though is an Action film with a capital 'A', meaning there's little point in examining whether it has any brain cells or stated relationship to logic. The rest of the elements of the film though, are fair game.

This is part of a franchise, so lets examine the notion of 'franchise' for a moment. Normally franchises feature a consistent character or characters, reappearing in marginally different guises, at different points during their life-cycle. In its purest form, A Good Day To Die Hard does appear to have John McClane, but does it really? Is this really Die Hard's John McClane? He's lifeless, devoid of wit, uncaring for the local population, borderline xenophobic, charmless, often bored. This isn't a franchise film: it's a spin-off to an alternative universe, so ashamed that it has buggered its lead character beyond belief that it hides the 'franchise' title at the end of its own moniker, an epitaph to things now past.

Opening chase aside - which is, if you can ignore the people involved, like a spectacular episode of Top Gear's Greatest Hits - there's really little here to recommend this as a non-Die Hard Action film. The plot is the normal rubbish, culminating in the use of a tragedy it now appears popular culture thinks it is OK to laugh at, or at least manipulate for fictional gain.

Along the way, director John Moore takes us to the token situation room (broom cupboard small) and gives us token situation room direction. Is there no other way to show these places without quick cuts to disembodied voices shouting meaningless upper-class military babble: 'bravo charlie', 'horay victor', 'excellent echo 1', '4 runs for Hampshire'.

It ends as it began; in a decent action scene, devoid of interest and investment in an unrecognisable McClane or a truly terrible Courtney, who suggests he has either had a sense of humour transplant, or desperately needs one.

A Good Day To Die Hard is released on DVD, Blu-ray and download in the UK on Monday 10th June.