Yippy Kai Yay, Mother….you know the rest. That quote has become one of the most recognizable in cinema and it comes from one of the most iconic and beloved action films of all time. In a time when action heroes were big, buff, fearless and extraordinary, Bruce Willis came along as John McClane, an everyman average Joe who is suddenly forced to into a terrorist plot at Nagatomi Plaza in L.A. McClane is a New York cop and is in California to visit his wife, Holly, who got promoted to work out west while John stayed in the big apple for his work. Terrorists take hold of the building and suddenly, it’s John versus the world. Oh, and it takes place right before Christmas. But just because it’s set around Christmas, does this mean it’s a Christmas movie? According to a recent survey, the answer is no, Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. But there are two kinds of people in this world, those who think this seminal action film is a Christmas film and those who are wrong. Let’s find why.
Die Hard is a relatively simple film, but it stands as one of the best action films of all time. The story is confined to one location, a skyscraper in L.A. which has been taken over by terrorists, led by Alan Rickman’s beloved Hans Gruber, who is without a doubt one of the best movie villains of all time. It’s McClane’s job, as the only good guy with the training to stop them on the inside, to save the hostages and stop the bad guys. The catch is he’s not equipped for the job. He’s sporting a pistol and left his shoes and socks in his wife’s office. So already he’s at a huge disadvantage and that’s not even taking into account that McClane isn’t Rambo any of the countless 80s action heroes.
But the main drive for McClane, the reason he’s in L.A., is to see his estranged wife, who moved away due to her job-and a mighty fine job it is. But being away from the kids and his wife has put a bit of a strain on the relationship and McClane is in L.A. to try and fix his marriage before it’s too late. Of course, his plans go down in a flaming building but that doesn’t stop him. A common theme in Christmas movies is the idea of “coming home for Christmas”. There are films and songs written about this concept, that no matter how busy it is or how far you have to travel, you have to be home on December 25th.
But wait, there’s more! Throughout the film, John is on his own in the building fighting the terrorists with little support from the outside world, who wonder if he’s not in on the act. But John has one ally on the ground and that was the first officer on the scene. That officer was Sgt. Al Powell, played by Reginald VelJohnson. He firmly stands behind, motivates and believes in McClane and the two end up bonding over the course of the night. Powell’s determination to help a stranger is 100% fitting with the spirit of Christmas, helping those in need.
Finally, 20th Century Fox just seems to think so, by releasing this trailer a few months ago.
I for one watch Die Hard every Christmas and totally believe it’s a Christmas film. It’s not only set during the Christmas season, with music and decorations to be seen throughout the film, but it also shares some Christmas values and themes that we find in other holiday classics. IWhile there are many films that can be set at Christmas time, such as Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang or Iron Man 3 for example (good ol’ Shane Black and his love of Christmas) that doesn’t mean those films are Christmas movies. Die Hard, on the other hand, I’d very much say is. But what do you think though? Is this action classic just that, an action classic set during the holiday season or is it actually a Christmas movie that just also happens to be one of the greatest action movies ever made? Let us know what you think in the comments below and check out our review of The Last Kingdom season 3 and our thoughts on a recent South Park segment looking into the tragic absurdity of climate change.
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