'A Good Day to Die Hard' review: No good days left for this abysmal sequel

"A Good Day to Die Hard" is a glaring example of disposable entertainment. Its biggest special effects moments are a throwback to the technical heyday of "The Matrix Reloaded." The action eye candy can't even manage to squeak beyond what the film's promo materials have revealed(that's right….there's no big action moment that hasn't already been spoiled in trailers and television spots). And when the movie isn't managing to make the viewer feel like they are playing a video game more than watching a motion picture, its digital projection is reminiscent of something you could pause to run to the fridge at home.

Apparently New York City's eight million stories aren't enough for John McClane anymore, because this time around he can't wait to leave the country. He's off to Russia in search of his son, and soon learns that Jack(Jai Courtney, the tough guy from "Jack Reacher") has been working for the CIA. Jack is in the middle of something big, so John gets involved(of course). Some thugs are after some sort of evidence file that they can use for blackmail, bribery, etc, etc, insert cause here(because the train wreck of a screenplay doesn't make a motive all that clear).

It's always nice seeing Bruce Willis on the big screen, but it's a head-scratcher as to how he can fluctuate between a dynamite film like "Looper" and utter garbage like this-and all within a six-month time span. Is he contractually obligated to do "Die Hard" sequels? "A Good Day to Die Hard" is reminiscent of "Taken 2"; a quick money-grab behind a story that barely feels like it's finished. It's hard to imagine that anything was left on the cutting room floor from this flick, as it stretches out pointless moments with his daughter to breach the 90-minute mark.

It doesn't matter if the potential ticket buyer is a huge Bruce Willis fan or a huge "Die Hard" fan-this film should be avoided at all costs. The moviegoing public must speak with their dollars on this one. If "A Good Day to Die Hard" posts a big fat loss for Twentieth Century Fox, perhaps the studio will get the hint that they can try to force this mess down moviegoers' throats, but the moviegoers won't swallow. One can dream of making such a difference, right? Although, that would probably just lead to a 're-imagining' of the whole series, right? They could start with a younger John McClane, perhaps played by the likes of Taylor Lautner! Golly, it's easy to hate the movie business sometimes.