BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 2/15

A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARDA Good Day To Die Hard

“The low-key, workingman’s energy of the original has been replaced with action-hero mythology, blockbuster-sized stunts, and sub-Stallone quips. John McClane used to be rough. Now he’s smooth. That’s the problem.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“The editing, especially during the opening car chase, is amazingly sloppy. Much of the remaining film looks a blend of shaky-cam video, close ups, zooms and whip-pan shots that were dumped into a Cuisinart.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“Willis seems to have forgotten how to play McClane, just squinting and insulting people while looking vaguely disinterested in the mayhem all around. He’s pushy and bullies his kid. When did John McClane become such a dick?” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“You’ll probably think about what a stupid waste of time the whole thing is, or how relentlessly boring the action scenes are. A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD may just be the last American action movie you will want to see for a long, long time.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“The whole film looks and feels astonishingly small and cheap.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Witty exchanges are almost non-existent between the characters. There’s a whole scene which literally involves people yelling at each other to ‘shut up’ like sixth graders.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“It’s pure hokum, including the occasional wink at the audience that they know how absurd it all is, and then it’s on to the next big plot twist and action set piece.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

Beautiful CreaturesBEAUTIFUL CREATURES

“The supernatural stuff is a metaphor for the intense emotions of adolescence, but there’s no question that writer-director Richard LaGravenese has taken the material seriously, and crafted a serious – if somewhat overlong – adaptation.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“There’s an air of contempt to the picture, with a lot of bored, talented people openly acknowledging that they probably should be doing something more productive with their time.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“It’s almost impossible to enjoy even on a trashy, so-bad-it’s-good level, though bless Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson for trying to bring the film to that sort of plateau.” – Andrew Crump, Go See Talk

“Your typical sappy, young-adult romance that centers on the stereotypical causes for adolescent angst. Despite its tired themes, it’s surprisingly witty at points.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“And here we go again. Set your eyeballs to ROLL.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“It’s a Southern-fried supernatural teen romance that’s all empty calories and rich taste—just the thing for a Valentine’s Day release.” – Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

 

Safe HavenSAFE HAVEN

“Sparks has said what he wanted to say several times over. We really don’t need another story in a Southern small town about star-crossed lovers, secrets, death, and love conquering all.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

THE LAST REEFThe Last Reef

“You’ll be tempted to reach out and touch the hovering schools of jellyfish. Just try not to get stung.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix