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What’s that? Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie you say? Wrong! If anything it’s one of, if not the best Christmas movie ever made. The year is 1988, George Bush Snr became President, Roy Orbison passes away, while Rihanna is born (Figure that out) and the best Action movie ever made with a slight Christmas underlying theme was released in the States in the middle of July.
For the three people out there that haven’t seen the original movie (We’re heading up to five now) it’s about a tough, hard-headed New York City Cop: John McClane (Bruce Willis) who flies to Los Angeles to attempt to patch things with his estranged Wife Holly Gennaro (Bonnie Bedelia) at Christmas time. Unbeknownst to them a group of terrorists led by the suave and conniving Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his European crew take hold of the building in which they reside, holding the employees hostage. They want the $640 Million dollars in the vault; McClane just wants a peaceful holiday.
Bruce Willis does a fantastic job as McClane, The ultimate Action Movie tough guy. McClane plays out as a likeable, believable and smart-mouthed person armed with only a small sidearm, his wits and snappy one-liners as he triumphs over every adversity that comes his way. Gruber played articulately brilliant by Rickman, does everything in his power to thwart our hero and is the equivalent Henry Potter to the George Bailey of the film, The Oogie Boogie to the Jack Skellington or the Bad Kids who receive lumps of coal to Santa Claus if you prefer. As you watch you can’t help but wish that his comeuppance comes sooner rather than later.
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With a soundtrack comprised mostly of Christmas tunes, including “Let it Snow” Performed by Vaughn Monroe, Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” and the quintessential “Jingle Bells”, it really sets the mood for the fast paced action of the plot. Director John McTiernan takes an unorthodox approach to the classic formula of most Christmas movies, mostly delving in opposites to the norm. Instead of the spirit of giving, here we have the spirit of taking; Taking Money, taking opportunities and taking lives. Instead of a Charlie Brown trying to save Christmas, we have a John McClane trying to save the lives of hostages and instead of reconciliation amongst companions and the coming together of loved ones, it’s about the Isolation and loneliness of one man against the world. That’s a Christmas message I want to share with you and my peers.
If you’re tired of the severely lacking explosions and violence in most Christmas movies, sick to the stomach of the cheerful wholesome messages they shove down your throat and rather see a dead Santa as opposed to a live one (OK ~ A terrorist in a Santa Hat) Then “Die Hard” is the Christmas Movie you can watch over and over again at any time of the year.
