REVIEW: ‘Die Hard,’ the most unorthodox Christmas movie
Staff Writer Charlie Hynes writes that although many don’t consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie, it provides an unorthodox thriller to enjoy during the holidays.
December 22, 2021
I guess the title should have given it away. However, when my mom recommended “Die Hard” as a good Christmas movie, I foolishly expected a lighthearted, nostalgia-filled film with scenes of stockings hung by roaring fires, cheerful Santas and peaceful snowfall.
Instead, I got murderous Germans, mayhem of the highest order and bad guys dropping out of 30th-floor windows to the sidewalk. Not to say that I was disappointed—actually quite the contrary; I got exactly what I should have expected from a movie called “Die Hard.”
The 1988 film centers around John McClane (Bruce Willis), a clever New York cop who visits his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), an executive at the LA-based Nakatomi Corporation, on Christmas Eve. As the movie begins, the company holiday party is in full effect at the opulent Nakatomi Plaza skyscraper, which is soon held hostage by a German terrorist organization led by the brilliant Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). His goal? To obtain $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds from their vault.
What Hans and his henchmen didn’t plan for was John McClane. Secluded in the bathroom and determined to thwart their efforts, John takes matters into his own hands to stop the terrorists and save the employees—most importantly, Holly. It’s definitely one of the more extreme examples of trying to win a girl back.
The acting is stellar—especially by the leads, Willis and Rickman. They are perfect adversaries with the buttoned-up, sophisticated Hans losing his cool exterior in the face of wise-cracking John’s one-liners.
“Die Hard” has everything you want in an action movie: iconic quotes, entertainingly creative fight scenes and incredible explosions. Interspersed among the explosives, too, is a love story and a quest for redemption. It has characters you’ll adore, others you’ll despise and some that are exceptionally annoying, such as the coke-snorting Harry, a sleazy salesman who flirts with Holly. This combination will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last scene.
Meanwhile, “Die Hard” is everything you wouldn’t expect from a traditional Christmas movie, while still maintaining themes such as the importance of love and family. The movie’s lack of sentimentality, snow and magic make for an exhilarating change of pace from the conventional Christmas movie.
Adding to the vast array of emotions is the movie’s diverse yet fitting range of music. When there is a feel-good scene, you may hear some upbeat Run-DMC. When Gruber and his gang of strongmen, marksmen and hackers arrive, you are met with ominous foreboding music that supplements their already sinister aura. And sprinkled throughout the movie are hints of Christmas music, fitting its setting.
So, is “Die Hard” really a Christmas movie? In short, mostly. One thing is undeniable: the movie would not have worked unless it occurred on Christmas Eve; it was the catalyst that led John to cross America to see Holly. Every other company in the building besides Nakatomi had left because it was a holiday party. Coined as a MacGuffin by Alfred Hitchcock, Christmas Eve is a necessary means of advancing the plot and the context that gives the film its spirit.
My only critique of this movie stems from the fact that it can be unrealistic at times. There are sequences that, while physically possible, are extremely unlikely, such as when McClane miraculously grabs onto an opening when falling down an elevator shaft. Perhaps the most unrealistic part of all is the glimpse of a gas station sign advertising 74 cents a gallon, almost qualifying “Die Hard” as science fiction.
As students transition into the holiday break, anyone could certainly use two hours and 12 minutes to write an essay or read a few chapters of a book, but if you’re looking for some heart-pounding holiday fun, treat yourself to “Die Hard” (free on Amazon Prime Video or Peacock) instead.
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