MovieChat Forums > Die Hard (1988) Discussion > THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!

THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!

posted 5 years ago by lukejbarnett (1869)
63 replies | jump to latest

ok, just stop it, just stop it. everyone, everywhere stop foolishly sending out ill informed messages making this movie seem like a Christmas movie. this isn't a Christmas movie. the reason why is Christmas is always in the background and Christmas is not a big part of this movie. John McClane doesn't go out and buy a Christmas tree, he doesn't get ornaments, he doesn't shop for Christmas presents, he doesn't sing Christmas songs, you never see a Santa Clause, and this movie is not jolly and it doesn't have a Christmas spirit in it, and in the end, this movie isn't about Christmas. this movie is about survival, action, violence, and getting to his wife. Christmas is just used as a backdrop, a plot device, but it's not the main plot motive.

A Christmas movie has to be about Christmas in an essential way where it moves the plot in the direction of anticipating Christmas and thinking about Christmas and it has to have enough Christmas images to make you think of Christmas and a spirit of Christmas.

Also, the way you know for a fact that this is not a Christmas movie is when you were a little kid and you watched this movie did you think it is a Christmas movie? if the answer is no, then it's not a Christmas movie and when i watched this movie as a like 10 year old, i didn't think this is a Christmas movie i just noticed the slight Christmas presence in this movie. the reason i say this is because when you are from the ages of 4 to 12 years old and you watch a movie you don't overthink things so you form rational explanations and logical conclusions about things that are correct.

oh, and another point, does the cover on here show any Christmas related things? no, it doesn't because this is not a Christmas movie.

[–] Truthtalker (1870) 5 years ago

Absolutely right

[–] Bigcat (259) 5 years ago

Wrong, asshole!!(McLain voice) It is! It takes place in December. They are at a Christmas party. There is visible Christmas décor in the building. Hans reads the shirt, "Ho..Ho..Ho." And they play a Christmas song to end the movie.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 5 years ago

John McClane goes to LA to see his kids for Christmas. He meets his wife (estranged) at her place of work where there is an office Christmas party going on. Ergo it is a Christmas movie.
He doesn't sing songs but he whistles Jingle Bells
Run DMC's Christmas in Hollis is on the radio in the car
Sgt Powell hums let it snow
Let it snow is also played in the credits

You can dismiss it as a Christmas movie for yourself if you wish, but you don't have the right to tell anybody else to STOP IT, do you?

[–] lukejbarnett (1869) 5 years ago

yes i do. heck even the main star bruce willis said this is not a Christmas movie and he knows more about this film than anyone, he had to because he was in this film.

[–] jekporkins (1924) 5 years ago

I can call whatever the hell I want to a Christmas movie. It takes place on Christmas Eve, there is a lot of music and banter that goes with Christmas, and the end song is Let it Snow. I watch it every Christmas morning and have for twenty years.

Frankly, at this point, I don't care what Bruce says. He hasn't made a decent movie in over a decade.

[–] Rceditor (55) 5 years ago

"I can call whatever the hell I want to a Christmas movie"

Agreed.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

every Christmas morning? You must like this film even more than Jake from Brooklyn 99!

[–] wearsalan (5554) 5 years ago

Harrison Ford said Deckard wasn't a replicant in BladeRunner, Ridley Scott said he was. What's your point?

[–] lukejbarnett (1869) 5 years ago

i think knowing if a movie is a Christmas movie is a little easier than knowing if a character is a Replicant in a sci fi movie.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 5 years ago

Not by the standards you are setting. You state that Bruce Willis should know more than anyone. So by that mark so should Harrison ford. Yet the director says otherwise.
Why should they, they're just acting out a script? Their interpretation of what type of movie it is etc... is irrelevant.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The actors rarely know more than the fanboys whove over analysed every aspect of the film in far too much detail.
You reckon Bruce could reel off all the facts about when xmas creeps into the movie listed in this thread?

[–] wearsalan (5554) 5 years ago

Exactly

[–] Kino (441) 5 years ago

Christmas movies are serious business

[–] Bigcat (259) 5 years ago

Its Christmas Theo! Its the season of miracles.

[–] rcrxjlb (130) 5 years ago

It may not be a "Xmas" movie but, it's more entertaining than "Miracle on 34th Street"...

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7402) 5 years ago

If you don't mind me asking, rcrxjlb, what do you think of Driving Miss Daisy and Terms of Endearment?

[–] rcrxjlb (130) 5 years ago

I haven't seen Terms of Endearment but, it can't be totally bad if Jack Nicholson is in it.
Driving Miss Daisy- I thought the friendship between Hoke and Daisy was far fetched and unbelievable. I found the film to be about 30 mins too long and, I don't get the hype and praise this received when it was first released...

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7402) 5 years ago

So in other words you prefer action movies to dramas?

[–] rcrxjlb (130) 5 years ago

In short, well yes.

I have enjoyed some dramas (Wall Street, The Machinist).
I like thrillers also (Jack Reacher, No Country for Old Men)...

[–] bohemianroxie (2471) 5 years ago

To me it's a Christmas movie.
I watched it yesterday on Christmas Day..
...so there.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Agreed. Definitely a Christmas film.

[–] EvilPinata (1186) 5 years ago

Do you consider Home Alone a Christmas movie? Because it uses Christmas in the same way Die Hard does.

[–] FilmBuff (6691) 5 years ago

I've said literally the same thing, almost word for word. People either get it or they don't.

[–] EvilPinata (1186) 5 years ago

Plus people thinking it's a Christmas movie literally doesn't harm anyone.