Once upon a time, there was a film franchise, it looked at the every day antics of of a New York Police Officer, and the unfortunate turn of events that would plague his life. This film series was not only well Directed, but had a cracking story, excellent action sequences, was well photographed, and was an all round excllent collection of movies. Then six years ago it all went horribly wrong....
I am of course referring to "Die Hard". We had three wonderful movies from 1988 to 1995, and then someone had the bright idea to bring McClane back with "Die Hard 4.0", and oh my it was a dire effort. It was dreadful, and not a worthy addition.
Jump forward to 2013 and New York's finest is back in business, and this time in Russia. Not seeming the kind of man to be taking a vacation, he is actually there as his Son has been arrested and is involved in a plot to steal nuclear material. Father and Son are reunited and all hell breaks loose.
Quite early on there is a major vehicle chase, and though it is action packed, it has to rank with "Quantum of Solace" as having one of the worst photographed chases in film history. The Camera is just too close. This gives little or no opportunity to take in and enjoy what is happening on screen. Yet even when there are just dialogue scenes, a characters face, and I mean just above forehead to the chin, fills the screen. I have heard of in your face but this was bloody ridiculous. I do not know what compels some Cinematographers to shoot in this style, it is so unnecessary, and all it does is infuriate the viewer, and this one in particular. You only have to look at the work of past Masters of the Camera, like Peter Menzies, Oliver Wood and the main man Jan De Bont, all knew exactly what to do with a Camera and give the best visuals to the audience. Alas Jonathan Sela, who has been ear-marked as a Cinematographer of the Future, should give up and try another aspect of Cinema, as he clearly sucks as a DP. Editing also plays a key factor, and so for that Dan Zimmerman must take full blame, as his work is appalling.
The plot is laughable, the characters dull, McClane has been made into some kind of unstoppable, unbeatable, unbreakable Super Hero, despite all that he goes through, he only seems to suffer with superficial cuts and bruises etc. At least in the earlier movies, he was an ordinary having an unordinary day. Far from the case here. The additional characters fair no better, the villain is the worst there has been, and the relationship between Father and Son is tedious.
Die Hard should now just be allowed to die, as the once excellent franchise has become a joke, especially when comparing now to its former glory. Roderick Thorp would be shaking his head in shame.......3 out of 10
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