The Holiday season is upon us. A time of hope, gift giving, helping those in need, self reflection, and family… and a time to watch Bruce Willis fight terrorists barefooted at the Nakatomi Plaza Christmas Party.
Now at first you may ask “but wait, I haven’t fought off terrorists at my wife/husband’s office Christmas party, how can Die Hard possibly be a Christmas movie?“, Say no more.
The Music and Setting
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. The entire movie takes place during a Christmas party, The sound of sleigh bells and traditional Christmas music are littered throughout the film, and it literally takes place on Christmas Eve. These three items are staples of many Christmas classics, but there’s much more than just what’s on the surface.
Themes of Family and Togetherness
The entire story is predicated on the themes of Family, selflessness, and making amends in order to come together. At the beginning of the story it’s very obvious that John McClane and Holly (CHRISTMAS) Genaro are in a bit of a rough patch. John refused to move with his wife to support her career, and Holly has decided to drop John’s name in favor of her Maiden name due to his inability to see beyond himself. He is selfish, and he is set in his ways, and because of that he is alone while his wife and children live across the country. Like many classic Christmas characters, he sees the errors of his ways, and through the events that transpire, he realizes how important his family is to him, that he’ll go above and beyond to save them, and ultimately give up his selfish ways in order to make things right.
Greed is the Enemy
Now every great hero needs a great villain, and what better grinch to steal John McClane’s Christmas than that of Alan Rickman’s Hans Grubor? Now on the surface, Hans may seem like any run of the mill terrorist, but he’s more than that, he is the physical embodiment of greed. He is after one thing. Money. And the only thing that stands in his way is the lone Cowboy, John McClane. Now if we take the themes previously mentioned, The story comes down to a battle of Family versus greed. In other words, finding the true meaning of Christmas, where family rises above greed.
Helping Those in Need
Now while it may seem like John McClane is an invincible action hero, he isn’t going about it alone, he has the help of a complete stranger.
Al Powell, an ordinary cop resigned to a desk intercepts an outgoing distress call from John and ends up being his “man in the chair” helping from the outside. Al decides to trust John and help, even when the FBI steps in and relieves him. He decides to act in the best interests of John and those at the party in danger, and in doing so helps save the day. All while the people who don’t look to trust John and don’t act in the best interest of others, get their comeuppance (looking at you Agent Johnson and Special Agent Johnson). Like every classic Christmas story, those who give and lend a helping hand to those in need are rewarded, and end up on the right side of the happy ending.
Along with the themes and setting, there are also several little Christmas inspired classic 80’s action movie one-liners, and some very creative usage of wrapping supplies. Front to back, Die Hard is packed full of holiday cheer.
So this holiday season, share time with your loved ones, lend a helping hand to those in need, don’t be an Agent Johnson or Special Agent Johnson, remember the true meaning of Christmas, and admit that Die Hard is the greatest Christmas classic of them all.
Yippee Ki Yay Motherf*cker. Happy Holidays.
FlickFix 