Boycott Die Hard 5 IF PG-13

[kalorama]

No I wasn't targeting Live Free when I mentioned the dumbed down part. I was just stating your recent PG-13 action films do tend to play it safe for the younger audience, with some exceptions being Live Free and the Nolan Batman Series.

I don't agree with that at all. The only thing that I see as toned down in PG-13 actioners is the more visceral elements of the violence. I haven't seen any particular trend that suggests a dumbing down of plot elements in PG-13 versus R-rated films in any general sense. There are smart PG-13 movies and dumb ones, just like there are smart R-rated movies and dumb ones. There's no real discernible pattern.

[kalorama]

I have to mildly disagree with this assessment. While there are gross violations of physics and such, tactically speaking the plans are well crafted without straining disbelief too much, and McClain defeats the plans by making a point to understand them at every opportunity, or attack them where they would logically be next.

I think Die Hard's appeal comes from the fact that it's always better plotted, and a little smarter than your average action movie, in both the bad guys and McClain himself.

Well, I don't see it. They're not as aggressively stupid as your average slasher flick, but they certainly don't require any particular heavy lifting mentally. (Unless you're comparing them specifically to Stallone movies, in which case they're like Fellini films, relatively speaking.) There are some plot twists thrown in, but those are pretty common for action thrillers. One of the joys of these kinds of movies is siting back and enjoying the visceral ride. Having to think too much is generally a detriment to enjoying the action.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Well, I don't see it. They're not as aggressively stupid as your average slasher flick, but they certainly don't require any particular heavy lifting mentally. (Unless you're comparing them specifically to Stallone movies, in which case they're like Fellini films, relatively speaking.) There are some plot twists thrown in, but those are pretty common for action thrillers. One of the joys of these kinds of movies is siting back and enjoying the visceral ride. Having to think too much is generally a detriment to enjoying the action.

Again, not saying it's a work of genius but they are always clever and intelligent, bad guys and McClain both.

In the first one, McClain checks the guy's ID, he writes down the names of everyone so he can keep track of them, he strings Hans along to get intel and then goes back to see what he was doing on the roof, etc.

In the second, he recognizes an upcoming ambush because it serves as a choke point, and figures that the bad guys have already thought of their backup plan, goes to the places where they would have to be broadcasting from, etc.

In all the Die Hards, McClain doesn't just shoot everyone and hopes that solves everything. He tries to understand the plan, and then work against it. Action flicks shouldn't require brains, but that doesn't mean you can't use it some ;)