Flash, bang, wallop. Again...

Film review: A Good Day to Die Hard (12a)
Running time 97 minutes
Rating:***
RUSSIA has become increasingly frequented by movie and television units filming characters either sneaking about Moscow streets looking furtive (think Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) or drawing attention to themselves with careless driving in crowded Russian streets.
Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye was among the first, with some improper use of a tank, then Jason Bourne had a go, and now we have Bruce Willis, with regulation dirty vest, totally trashing several miles of Moscow street furniture in A Good Day to Die Hard.
Mr Willis plays the infamous John McClane, who has survived tower block terror, airport angst, Wall Street robbery, cyber attack and now stumbles across the theft of weapons-grade uranium from Chernobyl.
With each passing episode, McClane becomes tougher-skinned – with less hair – and time shows how it is always his bad luck that puts him in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Die Hard 5 (as it should be more honestly called) has more than the regulation number of bomb blasts, shoot-outs, narrow escapes and nasty villains – but this time McClane has a partner.
Enter Jack McClane – McClane Jnr (played by Jai Courtney), who appears to be a troubled son in trouble in Russia. In trying to effect a reconciliation, dad goes to help out and steps right into gang warfare between ex-billionaire businessman Komarov (Sebastian Koch) and the Russian Defence Minister Chagarin (Sergei Kolesnikov).
Amid much street mayhem, the McClanes rescue the seemingly commendable Mr Komarov and his exceptionally eye-pleasing daughter Irina (Yuliya Snigir), but no-one turns out to be what they say they are.
The action eventually brings the characters to Chernobyl and a secret cache which would create a handy income for anyone wanting to initiate terrorism and global mayhem.
Amid great explosions, stunning work from stunt people, and an understandably low level of dialogue – it’s hard to hear anyone speak above all the noise of the action – everything is resolved.
From the above, you might assume that this is not an intellectually taxing film (although some of the plot jumps do wrinkle the brow in puzzlement) and you would be right. This is an action film with plenty of bangs for your entrance bucks. And on that basis it’s a cracker. The special effects and stunts are top-notch with just enough colour in the characters to make them recognisable.
I really think though that Bruce Willis needs to slow down a bit. Jumping off buildings, crashing into scaffolding and dodging bullets is all very well for the youngsters, but he’s creeping ever closer to the stage of Extreme Enjoyment in a Golf Buggy and will eventually have to hand in that bloodstained vest.