Writer: Dzamira Dzafri

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Watch this if you liked: The rest of the Die Hard franchise

It literally started with a bang. I have never fully immersed myself into typical action films such as the "Die Hard" franchise as I have, but while they are typical, the good thing about these films is that they are fun to watch.

Having said that, "A Good Day To Die Hard" does stray away from the usual gun-slinging, face-punching and car-chasing showcase that only seem to please a smaller percentage of audiences. It still is the "Die Hard" franchise we are talking about here. While the story and script may be secondary to the stunts, the explosions and the amount of movie glass used, the film still gives you a reason to watch it for the loose plot.

The plot being how he finds his son caught in a tough situation as he is taken captive in the world of Russian politics, only to find out later that his son is, in fact, a CIA-operative, then the two go on to try to save the world together.

The father-son part of the story was really enjoyable, and the fact that McClane Jr. seemed to have fallen out with his father and then eventually reconciling their differences the McClane way was somewhat inspiring and I know for a fact that many fathers will find this very relatable. This idea for the movie is particularly clever when it comes to selling the story, as the young men who grew up watching Bruce Willis blow things up in the 80s have most likely become fathers in this current age.

Australian actor Jai Courtney played a very convincing American, and I have to say I was very impressed with this casting choice, as I had heard rumours during production that they were looking into actors like James Badge Dale and Aaron Paul and I almost had to laugh. They are terrific actors but I could not picture them at all as the son of John McClane. Jai Courtney, though barely recognisable unless you have watched "Jack Reacher" and "Spartacus", does have the same Bruce Willis pout. He had a Russian speaking part and that was pretty convincing as well. If there was any reason for anyone to watch this with their boyfriends, he would definitely be a good reason.

When it comes to Bruce Willis reprising his role as John McClane, I was a bit disappointed about his sense of humour trademark of the "Die Hard" franchise. Yes, there were a few funny bits here and there, but I guess this is all up to the scriptwriter. They were probably putting more effort into the father-son relationship. Although, the fatherly part of Willis showed in the film, when he goes through a whole world of trouble and damage just to protect his son. Ah, the things you do for your kids, like running over a massive amount of cars and trucks, and getting away with it.

This brings me to my next point. What separates the "Die Hard" franchise with other action films is the promise to deliver extremely outrageous acts of violence and stunts that cannot be done in real life without dying a horrible death. Only John McClane can get away with going over a mountain of civilian's cars (I am sure there were still people inside) and squishing them like tin foil, and especially when he and Jack walked into a dangerous radioactive site admittedly without a plan and just start wrecking things up for the enemies. Both the McClanes have that almost superhero-like quality in them that we all watch to root for, even though it will be hard to stop yourself screaming, "But that can't happen in real life!"

Sebastian Koch plays the guy Jack McClane was assigned to protect, Komarov, and actress Yuliya Snigir plays the role of his daughter. I am not going to reveal any other details but Sebastian Koch was absolutely satisfying to watch as the guy whom Jack risks himself for. The story of him and his daughter in itself is already something to love as well.

I have to applaud the stuntmen and the effects in this movie, as they have done some interesting and insane things for the sake of the film. I had a bit of trouble trying to figure out if some of the stunts were actually CGI or if they were actually that dedicated. Some parts were just downright ridiculous but it is all in good fun, from the perspective of the audience.

"A Good Day To Die Hard" is definitely one of the most entertaining films to watch this year so far with the non-stop action sequences and violent misdemeanours. You may have different opinions on which "Die Hard" film was the best but when it comes to this one, fans of the franchise will definitely need to watch it, as well as the newcomers who have absolutely no idea how much the term "Yipee-Ki-Yay" means to the rest.

Cinema Online, 07 February 2013