EXPLOSIONS! BLOOD! GERMAN TERRORISTS!
Not quite the recipe for a Christmas film is it? WRONG. That is in fact the perfect recipe for a Christmas film because all of this is in Die Hard and Die Hard is one of the best Christmas films of all time.
"Oh but it's an action film so it can't be a Christmas film". SHUT UP. Die Hard is so a Christmas film, and I'm going to tell you why. But first, have a gif.
Santa hat = Christmas
If you've never seen Die Hard, then you're a disgrace. In all seriousness Die Hard is one of the best and most defining action films of all time. At a time where action films were full of ripped, indestructible heroes like Stallone and Schwarzenegger, John McClane is thrown into a situation where he is the underdog. And instead of fighting his way through all of the bad guys easily like Stallone and Arnie, he has to go through absolute hell just to get to the end. And that makes him a relatable hero. Having a likable villain is what also makes Die Hard so good. Hans Gruber is definitely one of the best movie villains. He's sophisticated, smart, calm and collected and absolutely bad ass. And in case you weren't aware, Die Hard was Alan Rickman's DEBUT movie, and he absolutely smashed it.
So just fucking watch Die Hard 1-3. But don't watch the others, they're shit.
Anyway I digress, now to tell you why Die Hard is definitely a Christmas film.
For one, it takes place at Christmas! In the first two scenes we see John McClane land in LA on Christmas Eve and see him holding a big cuddly toy; a Christmas gift. He's off to a Christmas party at his wife Holly's firm. So the whole reason he is there in the first place is because it's Christmas!
Movie = Christmas
Christmas is referenced constantly throughout the film, and there's even a Christmas miracle!
Basically, John McClane is Santa and a weary traveller much like Joseph and Mary in the Nativity story . He gives the gift of freedom to all of the hostages and he has travelled long and far to see his family. Okay the weary traveller thing is a bit of a stretch but I don't care.
And the last reason, and it's a great reason, is that Die Hard contains the spirit of friendship. Christmas is all about goodwill to all men, and the strong bond between John and Sgt. Al Powell is touching, and when they finally meet there is always a tear in my eye.
So there you have it, Die Hard is a Christmas film and I refuse to believe otherwise because it would destroy me because it's one of my favourite films of all time. I watched it when I was about 7 (sorry mum) and was the only one at school who had seen it, as well as other films like Terminator, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween (sorry again mum) and I never tire of watching it.
If you're still not convinced then I guess there's just no reasoning with some people. Just know that you're a terrible person.
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