RBR: A Good Day to Die Hard

I don't write as many reviews for this blog that I do because it's a job or some responsibility, I enjoy it. It's enjoyable because I love movies. Even when a film is bad, there can usually be something enjoyable that can be derived from its awfulness. So when I say that watching the latest entry in the Die Hard was one of the most unpleasant experiences I had watching a film, you can know that it's not being said out of hyperbole. Frankly, this movie does not even feel as if belongs in the same universe as the previous John McClane films. This seems to be a failure at all levels of recognizing what made the franchise enjoyable in the first place. One such trademark was classic villains. Actors like Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons brought energy to their characters and made for great foils against Bruce Willis. In this film, the story is so convoluted that it is unclear who exactly is the primary antagonist. It just seems that every character in this universe has some level of evil to them, leaving McClane no choice but to shoot at anything that moves. This, then weakens the McClane character. One of his best features is the way he disrupts the villain's master plan. Here, neither he nor the audience, have a clue or a care as to who should be stopped or why. The fact that the film is set in Russia (McClane is visiting to try to save his son, who is on trial for murder) also proves to be a mistake. It's one thing for McClane to be a one man wrecking crew in his own country for the sake of saving it. Doing such wreckless acts of violence elsewhere comes off as mean and irresponsible. I could also criticize the cartoonish level that the violence takes on in the film, remarking that no human being could live through half the things that McClane does, but that's actually been a part of the series since the start. What I can complain though is the fake nature in which these over-the-top scenes are filmed. With the earlier films, directors had to be creative to make you believe he could survive those stunts. But with the excess use of CGI in this film, the audience gets completely taken out of the moment because none of it looks real or believable. Overall, there is such a pure lack of fun in this film. Even McClane's signature line (which was thankfully back to its R-rated completeness) is done in a lazy, throwaway manner. This fifth entry would suggest that the franchise has been tapped out of its creativity and usefulness, but I certainly hope that they make another film just so that the character can go out on a better note than this. If this is the end, then it's going out on a sad day to die hard. Rating: **

Dying is easy, math is Hard

In anticipation for the new Die Hard movie set to come out in a couple of weeks, the Internet has once again come through in the awesome department by creating these thorough infographics for the previous Die Hard films, which go into painstaking detail about all of the statistics that make up the world of John McClane. Posters have only been made for the first three films, but I'd imagine one for the fourth will be out shortly. Check these out in all of there wonderful geeky glory.

2013 Movie Preview (#12 - 7)

#12. This is the End (June 14)

Plot: The comedy "This is the End" follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Once they discover that they are experiencing the Apocalypse, they must come to terms with why they were left behind. Eventually they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

Personal Opinion: This has been in the cooker for a while now and I had actually made a post several years ago of a short that fueled the inspiration for this film. While the cast isn't perfect (I could have done without Danny McBride), but it does feature a lot of very funny people. If the movie is as crazy as the trailer I posted a few days ago, then this may be the surprise comedy of the summer.


#11. Oblivion (April 19)

Plot: Tom Cruise stars in "Oblivion," an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of "TRON: Legacy" and the producer of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man's confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Personal Opinion: Tom Cruise has proven time and again to always choose the right parts for himself. This latest sci-fi flick where he seems to play a human version of WALL-E seems like it has a lot of potential. Based on the trailer I saw, Joseph Kosinski, who directed TRON: Legacy has once again proven that he's got a flair for the visuals. With this, Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro's latest that just missed my list, and Elysium (yet to come on my list), 2013 could be a very big year for original sci-fi films.


#10. The Hangover Part III (May 24)

Plot: This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

Personal Opinion: A lot of people were disappointed with the most recent effort of the Wolfpack claiming it was nothing more than a carbon copy of the first one. While I agreed with those complaints to a certain degree, I can't help but still be interested in seeing the next adverture of this gang. My hope is that this film is being made as a make-do for the second one, similar to the way Ocean's Thirteen tried to erase the bad taste left in audience's mouths by Twelve


#9. A Good Day to Die Hard (February 14)

Plot: Since the first "Die Hard" in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

Personal Opinion: There are very few other franchises that I love more than the Die Hard films. Even though they vary in their quality, Bruce Willis simply IS John McClane and inhabits that role so nicely with each film. By coming out in February, this should be the perfect cure for the winter blahs. My only hope is that the filmmakers learn from the mistake of Live Free or Die Hard and make sure that this one is rated R. No one wants to see another muted version of McClane's signature line.


#8. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (March 15)

Plot: Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act, both onstage and off, if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Personal Opinion: As I mentioned yesterday, I'm always excited for movies that feature magic. I don't this one to be overly smart or clever, but that's all right because I fully expect to make up for that with plenty of laughs. Expectations are high considering the cast inlcudes Carell, Buscemi, Carrey, and Alan Arkin. Having just one of them typically guarantees hilarity, so all four should be simply magical. Yes, I'm embarassed by the pun, but I couldn't help myself.


#7. Thor: The Dark World (November 8)

Plot: Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel's "Thor" and "Marvel's The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Personal Opinion: After the huge success of The Avengers, the big question will be whether the members can go back to being successful on their own. While someone like Iron Man has already proven himself in solo ventures, the jury is still out on the Asgardian. The first film was solid but sagged under the weight of simply trying to introduce the character to mass audiences. I want to like the Thor character, so my fingers are crossed that this one is able to showcase the character's true potential.

Yippee ki YAY!

Believe it or not, John McClain is back for another Die Hard adventure. Here's your first look at A Good Day to Die Hard

More McClain

Are you a Die Hard diehard? Well get ready because everybody's favorite indestructible cop is going to be back for another go round. Here are the details from comingsoon.net:

The fifth entry in the Die Hard franchise officially has a title and a release date, with 20th Century Fox revealing that the film will be called A Good Day to Die Hard and will hit theaters on February 14, 2013.

The film, drafted by Skip Woods (The A-Team, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) will be directed by John Moore (Max Payne) and is officially described as follows:

Since the first Die Hard in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

The film is expected to begin production in January of 2012, filming on-location in Russia.