And there is never a shortage. The cold war may be a fading memory, and C.I.A. superspies (like the younger McClane) may have displaced big-city cops (like his dad) in the pop-culture pantheon. But this off-the-shelf blend of car chases, fireballs and the rat-a-tat, thunk-a-thunk of automatic weapons fire is not likely to go out of style. Style, sad to say, is precisely what is missing from "A Good Day to Die Hard," the latest entry in the flourishing geezer-action genre. Directed by John Moore ("Max Payne," "Behind Enemy Lines"), it consists of a handful of extended set pieces — each more elaborate and therefore somehow less exciting than the last — linked by a simple-minded plot and a handful of half-clever lines, most of them muttered by Mr. Willis. A.O. Scott, New York Times

So a weak screenplay, lousy action sequences, and flat wisecracks. But surely, there must be something good to be said for "A Good Day to Die Hard," right? Actually, no, I've saved the worst for last. You know, that whole idea - the central conception of this installment - of having Willis share the spotlight with Jai Courtney as his screen son, John McClane Jr.? Not good at all. It adds a note of sentiment, but of false sentiment. And instead of watching McClane (Willis) deal confidently with villains, we get to watch him treading lightly around his grown son, hoping for his approval. Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle