Uhg. All of you ‘Die Hard is a Christmas movie’ people have ruined an action classic. It’s not a Christmas movie, it is a film that takes place during Christmas. Yes, there is a difference. It’s about as much a Christmas movie as Lethal Weapon, which also takes place during Christmas, with Jingle Bell Rock as the opening song, and the opening scene being a drug bust in Christmas tree shop.
Then we must also consider Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky IV. As well as The Karate Kid as ‘Christmas movies’ (The All Valley Tournament takes place Dec 19). Every movie listed here is a great flick, and it actually shortchanges Die Hard to relegate it to ‘Christmas Classic’. Now people seem to only watch it at Christmas, and it really has become a tired cliche.
I think it’s also indicative of how Americans have ruined Christmas, just in general. I’ve thought this way since my childhood, of the disconnect between Baby Jesus and the way our consumerist culture (which I normally champion) has perverted Christmas. Where people are judged on the quality of gifts given, and apparently where we celebrate Jesus birth with machine gun fire, C4 explosions, and bazookas on film huddled around a christmas tree?
I like the action movie Die Hard EyesofTX, but to have it celebrated as an American Christmas classic is a sign of our cultural rot and degeneracy.
Also what is with the commentary that Die Hard is unique for being the first true action movie? Just in the 1980’s, did you somehow miss First Blood, or Rambo First Blood part 2? Where did Commando and Predator disappear to?
It’s totally a Christmas movie. It’s a Christmas movie for people that can’t stand the saccharine pap that passes for Christmas entertainment. That’s how a friend of mine introduced me to it. It was coming on Christmas time and I was complaining how awful the entertainment of the world gets this time of year, with Burl Ives crap fests, and the teary BS. And he said “watch Die Hard”. Great advice. There actually is a pro-family message in the movie. And it’s probably the most technically perfect action movie ever.
It’s no more cultural rot than all the other Christmas movies. Actually it’s much less. Because 90% of the “traditional” Christmas movie Die Hard is actually a good movie.