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

THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!

posted 6 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.

[–] PaladinNJ (21784) 5 years ago

With the season approaching the criticism begins anew.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1119) 5 years ago

Nobodies going to stop calling it a Christmas movie just because you posted "ok, just stop it, just stop it everyone". The reason most of us view it as a Christmas movie is because of the fact that it is different than the traditional Christmas movie. It's a Christmas action film that delivers as much action as an 80s action film was supposed to while including enough Christmas theme quotes, outfits, decorations, etc. Don't like that people believe this? tough.

[–] huwdj (4571) 5 years ago

Oh yes it is! And so is The Great Escape. Some traditions just cannot be broken.

[–] sslssg (35199) 5 years ago

I'm just curious why this isn't a Christmas movie because you don't feel that Christmas is essential to the plot yet 100% of Hallmark Christmas movies are just rom-coms set at Christmas and really could be set anytime of the year, yet no one is debating their status as Christmas movies.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7993) 5 years ago

I'll be honest. I don't watch Die Hard every December. Every December I watch these movies.
A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, Scrooged, and the first 2 Home Alone movies.

[–] sslssg (35199) 5 years ago

Most of those I would call Christmas movies, but if we are going by the rules which makes Die Hard not a Christmas movie, then I would say that It's a Wonderful Life and the Home Alone movies aren't Christmas movies either.

In all reality, I could really care less one way or another, I just find it amusing that so many people have such strong opinions on it. I like being able to call Die Hard a Christmas movie because of the amount of schmaltz associated with the typical "Christmas" movie and I would like to see more Christmas action or Christmas horror movies.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7993) 5 years ago

I could see an argument for it's a Wonderful life since an hour and a half of the film doesn't even take place at Christmas. I admit that one is mostly because all my life my mom and dad (who thankfully are still alive) only watch it at Christmas time. But Home Alone does all take place around Christmas and unlike Die Hard the majority of the movie isn't even violent. Plus you have a kid visiting his local Santa asking him to tell the real Santa that he wants his family back for Christmas. And he even goes out of his way to get a Christmas tree and decorate it. I admit the 2nd one isn't as good but I still enjoy it. It's not a must see. Also maybe I feel this way because traditional Christmas movies were what I watched growing up around Christmas. Not to mention nobody in my family likes Die Hard as much as me. In fact, my own father didn't like it when I watched it with him once. He's more into uplifting films like Forrest Gump and Driving Miss Daisy. He likes Terminator 2 though. Like I said though, I grew up on traditional Christmas films. I mainly only watch Die Hard in the spring and summer followed by Die Hard with a Vengeance for what should be obvious reasons.

[–] PaladinNJ (21784) 5 years ago

Last night my wife and I were out with friends. we got into this very conversation and one of my buddies just let off into this:
'Tis the season to watch Willis
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Then there’s Rickman. He steals the show.
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Troll the Nakatomi tower
Fa la la la la, la la la la

I wonder how far he would have gone if we all didn't start laughing so hard.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

Bumping to remind new posters to look around for a few clicks before making new topics.