Directed By: John Moore
Written By: Skip Woods
Based on Original Characters by: Roderick Thorp
Cinematography By: Jon Sela
Editor: Don Zimmerman
Cast: Bruce Wilis, Jai Courtney, Cole Hauser, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Sebastian Koch, Yuliya Snigir, Rasha Bukvic, Amaury Nolasco, Melissa Tang, April Grace, Megalyn Echikunwoke
The problem is that this doesn't feel like a DIE HARD film. This feels like a generic action film that has Bruce Willis in it as the hero. You Can see the big budget on the screen with plenty of action set pieces. Though the whole lure of the DIE HARD series was here was this regular cop caught up in extraordinary circumstances and watching him work through it the best he could though not always sure and the hero doesn't have an amazon of muscle look to him. he looked like a regular guy with an attitude and smart mouth someone the audience could identify with somewhat. Over the years with each sequel it seems to get farther from that conceit. yes he is in over his head but it always seems like just another day for him.
For instance in this film a bunch of trained assassians with machine guns come bursting in and instead of taking cover like his military trained son and like he would have in the original he just picks up his own Machine gun stands his ground and keeps firing Never taking cover yet killing them all sure it's cool but betrays the character and the logistics of the films.
It’s a shame as Bruce Willis seemed to be headed in a new direction showing some range and lending his weight to more indie projects that let him play different type of roles and gave him room to kind of change his image as well as time to time returning to big studio films.
It stated in part 3 which could be explained away by noting it was another script before it became die hard. Though at least it felt like it was in that world the 4th one while really over the top and ridiculous was at least a fun ride. This film just feels dreary everything looks drab and greenish and seems to take place in similar looking warehouses that look like sets.
One of the factors the films trademark on are memorable villains. This film lacks one. While it does offer a twist that you don't see coming. You also don't care once it does.
The action quickly become repetitive and boring nor do to care about any internal conflicts.
The film is disappointing on all fronts and while director John Moore hasn't been blazing trails at least with his film MAX PAYNE it was noteworthy from it's visuals here there is no evidence of that.
The screenwriter of the film is Skip Woods, who I was shocked wrote this i have usually enjoyed his work no matter how trashy or ridiculous it might seem to be at least it was entertaining here it feels like he Is on autopilot.
Noam Murro was originally the director, but his commitment to the film 300: Rise of an Empire prevented him from working on this film. Other directors considered including Joe Cornish, Justin Lin and Nicolas Winding Refn.
This was the first Die Hard film where the original script was explicitly written as an entry in the Die Hard series. The first Die Hard film in 1988 was based on a novel by Roderick Thorpe where the screenplay had originally been a possible vehicle for Frank Sinatra, involving a German conglomerate and villains from Chile. "Die Hard 2" was first written out as a script based on Walter Wager's novel '58 Minutes' with the story of a man having to save his wife when she onboard a doomed passenger flight fused into a Die Hard-based narrative. "Die Hard With A Vengeance" famously took its basic idea from Jonathan Hensleigh's screenplay Simon Says (about a man being targeted by someone he did something terrible to but then forgot existed). And "Live Free or Die Hard" was retro-fitted from the original screenplay WW3.com, which was nearly filmed on its own merits before the 9/11 terrorist attacks led 20th Century Fox to put a hold on the project while they figured out how and when a film about terrorism in the U.S. could be viable, if ever
Jai Courtney playing his son doesn't resemble Bruce Willis in any sort of way and while he looks like an action hero and acts like an action hero. He doesn't feel like one he lacks the charm and charisma of an action hero. It's the same problem with Sam Worthington these guys can act and have the look but bring nothing to their roles except the basics no extra that leaves t he films bland
This is the first "Die Hard" film where Bruce Willis’ character does not kill the main antagonist.
I can usually defend the films, Enough to register something or some reason to watch the films even DIE HARD 2 which I didn't like but this one I can't save or defend
Skip it
Grade: F
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