Iffy for 15+
Fifth in violent action series is also least entertaining.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that A Good Day to Die Hard is the fifth -- and least entertaining -- of the action-heavy Die Hard series. The attempt to tone down the previous entry, Live Free or Die Hard, for a PG-13 rating for has been abandoned this time out. Big, explosive action violence is evident throughout, with characters shot and killed (some with sprays of blood), huge crashes and explosions, and falls from heights, all without consequences. Language is also strong, with more than one use of "f--k," many uses of "s--t," and more. One female character's sex appeal is played up (she's shown in alluring outfits), bad guys are shown smoking briefly, and some brand names are shown and/or mentioned. But ultimately the biggest issue is the vigilante justice dispatched by the heroes; bad guys are killed without remorse or consequence.
- Families can talk about A Good Day to Die Hard's over-the-top violence. How does its impact compare to what you might see in a horror movie? Or a more realistic drama?
- Why are the main characters allowed to simply kill bad guys, rather than bring them to justice? What differentiates the "good guys" and the "bad guys"?
- How did you feel about the "tough love" relationship between the father and son? Why did the father ridicule his son for having feelings and weaknesses?
- How does the Die Hard series strike you as a whole? What's John McClane's appeal? Is he a role model?
The good stuff
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Messages: The "good" guys think nothing of simply shooting and killing all bad guys, with no consequences. At one point, the main character even brags that having a son in the CIA will get him off the hook, no questions asked. Also, the father character practices "tough love" with his son, ridiculing him for having weaknesses and feelings. That said, they eventually do get closer, and McClane is persistent, if nothing else.
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Role models: John McClane is still a vigilante, operating outside the law, stealing cars, and killing bad guys, justified by the notion that he's protecting the free world. His son is very similar. But they're both dedicated to their jobs and what they see as their duty.
What to watch for
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Violence: Constant, over-the-top action violence and destructive mayhem, including car crashes and helicopter crashes, falls from heights, hails of bullets, huge explosions, and dozens of dead bad guys. Some characters are shot graphically in close-up, sometimes in the head or other vital organs, with sprays of blood. Strangling, punching, helicopter battles. The "good guys" kill any and all bad guys without consequences. They're covered with bloody cuts and scratches throughout. One character removes a metal bar from another character's abdomen after he's been stabbed by it.
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Sex: One female character's sex appeal is played up. She wears a leather motorcycle outfit in one scene and alluringly unzips the jacket. (No nudity shown.) A man caresses and nuzzles her while both are clothed. One scene takes place in a nightclub, with some dancing girls in skimpy outfits shown in the background.
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Language: "F--k" and "motherf----r" are used several times, as is "s--t." "Damn you," "Jesus Christ," "goddamn," "jerkoff," "a--hole," "ass," "crap," "scumbags," "bastards," "goddamn," "oh my God," and "hell" are also used. A grown son tells his father to "shut up."
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Consumerism: In Moscow, Pepsi and Heineken signs are visible. Mercedes vehicles are prominent. A character mentions Bosco brand chocolate syrup.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some bad guys are seen briefly smoking cigarettes. One scene takes place in a nightclub, with some background drinking suggested.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
I'm on Vacation! by MedRed
Better than expected! This movies serves up the action in a big way! If you need a dose of testosterone, then look no further.
A Good Day to Die Hard, has a shallow plot, but makes the best of it with decent plot twists. The acting is also decent. What's evident is that Bruce Willis still has it. His acting was head and shoulders above Jai Courtney's. It seems that the Tom Cruises and Bruce WIllises of Hollywood still have a place until the younger guys can match their acting ability and athleticism.
This movie is no Casino Royale, but it will get your blood flowing. Just don't analyze plot points too hard and you will enjoy yourself.
If you like my reviews, add me as a fan. I'll add you back!
3
Worst one yet! by Billyboru
I went to this movie wanting to like it but it lacks the humor of the previous movies as well as a memorable villain. The reason I gave it a so so and not a no is that it is an action movie and there is plenty of it. But the little to no plot, one dimensional characters, lack of subtitles during Russian speaking scenes, and lack of humor left me feeling unfulfilled. Save the 13 bucks and rent it.
3
Weak for a DIE HARD by dprojoe
I'm a Die Hard / Bruce Willis fan, seen them all, from the beginning
many moons ago but this one is not up to snuff. I'll give Bruce
another chance in the new GI Joe out soon. Basically this one
DIED HARD with me.......................but I'm 65 now.......
3
Unfortunately unimpressed by yoda_oneforme
This is really difficult for a Die Hard fan like me to say, but the only thing I liked about the movie was the action. The stunts, the explosions, the fighting. But truthfully, they were the only things I enjoyed. Right before seeing the Die Hard "5," I watched the first one at home to kind of "get me back in the frame of mind" so to speak. I noticed a major difference: the new movie had little to no character development. In the previous movies, there was much more dialogue and that was noticeably missing.
There were funny "son and dad" moments that occurred but frankly, they just had so little substance. Additionally, during a couple of action scenes I had a hard time even hearing John McClane. Did the stunt sequences, explosions and car chases deliver? Absolutely. Unfortunately, I enjoyed watching the trailer more than the movie.
Definitely for the adult who strictly wants action with little to no story development.
Ill give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
1
Not close to being believable by BellyoftheBeast
O.K. the other films in the series were a bit over the top but this one just was way beyond that. Falling off a tall building and getting up running? Being skewered by rebar, having it pulled out, and no side effects? Multiple car crashes and walking away. Falling from a helicopter, all in a days work. Being blown up by a bomb in the court house, no problem. And all the while not even being concerned that something bad might happen. Think of the Expendables where you are impervious to any bad things happening. This film did a dis-service to the series.
Also, the camera work was horrible. Another of those films where the camera is constantly moving to mimic action. It just upsets my stomach.
The writer for this film should not be allowed to work in Hollywood again. No character development, no good dialogue. Willis goes all the way to Moscow and within 15 minutes runs into his son, who is on an undercover mission for the CIA. WOW!
4
Old school action movie by johnmichaelgross
I'd bet if you are a Die hard fan you'll like this movie, if gratuitous shootings, car crashes and explosions are not your thing, well, there's got to be some boring vampire movie playing now right? Compared to others in the series, bigger explosions, more bad guys go down, better car chases, fewer overall laugh lines (I mean, most of what he can say has been said now right? You'll predict most of his lines...)
One never looks to the Die Hard series for plot...just old-school action and a few laughs. A Good Day to Die Hard delivers on both counts. And there are enough plot twists to ignore the lack of plot in general but let's face it, Die Hard is about McLane shooting bad guys...as he says in the movie, it's what they do.
Go and enjoy...
4
Die Hard can still deliver by tmcgin7103
If you are a fan of Bruce Willis or the Die Hard series you should go see this movie. It has a so-so story line but the action is there.
3
Action NOT Writing by coachstevens
You know the action will be good but the writing with plot and dialogue was stilted at best and boring at worst. The beginning was a bit confusing. I'm and will always be a HUGE fan of Willis and DH movies but the script effort was C-. I recommend you wait for Blue Ray DVD to come out.
3
Good addition to the series by mcmiranda817
No surprises here, great to see Jai Courtney coming into his own as an action star, but he did better work on Spartacus season 1 and on Jack Reacher. Bruce Willis fans will be happy.
4
McClane Rides Again! by Alon Patterson
Nothing boring about this film. End to end action but a tad short on a real plot this time around. Still, who would dare balk at this generation's John Wayne? Willis fills that bill Pilgrim and then some. See this movie. It's worth the ticket price. You won't be disappointed.