The fifth entry in the Die Hard franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard, was released back in 2013 to largely negative reception. There were clearly still plans to continue the series with a sixth film, as a new entry appeared on 20th Century Fox’s slate of films for 2021, only to later be removed once Disney finalized their acquisition of Fox.
With a reboot likely incoming, A Good Day to Die Hard is almost certainly the end of the road for Bruce Willis’ iteration of John McClane. The film, however, did not provide a satisfying ending for the iconic action hero, who has had over 20 years of on-screen character development. John McClane deserves a much better send-off than the generic action flick that was the fifth Die Hard film.
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It Doesn’t Feel Like a ‘”Die Hard” Film
At the heart of the films, Die Hard is about a street-smart cop caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the fifth film indeed captured that element, the similarities stopped there. There were many issues with A Good Day to Die Hard — namely the characterization of John McClane, as well as the over-the-top villains and unnecessary spy elements.
Throughout the previous films in the franchise, John McClane always came up with a clever plan to outwit his enemies in overwhelming situations, as opposed to heavily relying on guns, as he does here. He is often shown taking a strategic approach and being physically vulnerable. There were often personal stakes involved, and these moments defined McClane’s character, making him a relatable and realistic action hero. He is an ordinary cop who barely survives the film, whereas A Good Day to Die Hard turned him into a near-invulnerable superhero.
Additionally, A Good Day to Die Hard‘s weak villains in Irina and Komarov give McClane zero chances to show off his trademark wits. The villains in the previous Die Hard entries have had great chemistry with McClane and were interesting enough to present a unique challenge to the reluctant cop.
The CIA aspect in A Good Day to Die Hard also sullies the spirit of the franchise, making the film needlessly complicated with spies and nuclear materials, closer resembling a bad Bond film than a Die Hard entry. The situations that McClane previously faced, while extreme, were ones that a police officer could realistically find themselves in. The fact that most of these scenarios could potentially happen in real life with gritty consequences made the films interesting.
John McClane Deserves Better
In the end, A Good Day to Die Hard was a generic film with a convoluted plot and almost none of the trademark moments that fans have come to expect from the franchise. While the film didn’t flop at the box office, it received largely negative reviews from audiences and critics, resulting in a stunning 14 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Willis’ McClane should receive a proper ending before the franchise gets rebooted. By bringing back the personal stakes on a smaller scale, and an interesting villain that presents an intellectual challenge, the franchise can correct all the wrongs made in A Good Day to Die Hard and finally give the iconic protagonist the proper sendoff that he deserved.
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