10 AWESOME Movie Trailers (Then The Film Sucked)

4. A Good Day To Die Hard

Terminator Salvation
20th Century Fox

The Trailer

Given that the Die Hard franchise hadn't delivered a miss yet, it was easy to get excited about the fifth film, A Good Day to Die Hard, even with Max Payne director John Moore at the helm.

The trailer teased everything you'd expect to see in a Die Hard movie - that is, John McClane (Bruce Willis) reluctantly kicking ass while totally out of his depth in an unfamiliar place. In this case, Russia.

Set to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" - a franchise staple since its inception - it not only showed Willis giving a seemingly enthusiastic performance but introduced us to an amusing dry-witted villain in Alik (Radivoje Bukvić), demonstrated fun chemistry between Willis and screen son Jai Courtney, and a ton of visually electrifying action.

The Film

Give the trailer editors an award for somehow making this utter mess of a film somehow look good.

For starters, the action sequences are choppily assembled by director Moore, the plot is forgettable nonsense, the villains suck, and Willis gives a mostly tired, can't-be-bothered performance alongside an ill-cast Courtney.

Though some of the individual shots are undeniably gorgeous, as a package this braindead actioner brought the beloved action franchise to a most embarrassing, depressing conclusion.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.