An interesting thing happened to me this year. Someone at the church for which I work sat next to me at lunch one day and said "hey... what is your favorite Christmas movie?". "Die Hard." I said. "Really?" came the incredulous response. "Yes. Really."
What I didn't know was that the person asking me the question was basically working in "Press mode" as she was compiling a list of the staff's favorite movies for our big newsletter... it goes to the entire congregation... a couple thousand people. The best part was the way it was laid out in the newsletter. It was listed down a left side column in the middle of the newsletter, in a simple list form with the staff members name, and his or her movie pick. The list was something like:
"It's A Wonderful Life; A Christmas Story; It's A Wonderful Life; The Nativity; Christmas Vacation; It's A Wonderful Life; It's A Wonderful Life; It's A Wonderful Life; Home Alone; Christmas Carol; Elf; It's A Wonderful Life; DIE HARD."
Yupp... they put my choice at the very bottom so after you read all the "classics" and sweet picks, and funny kids movies you saw mine... a seemingly irreverent and sarcastic pick.
I cannot stress enough, however, how serious I am.
Here are some questions that always arise with this choice of movie, and the answers that I would put forth. Essentially, Die Hard Apologetics (great band name, btw... Dave Barry).
Q: How is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
A: How is Die Hard NOT a Christmas movie? The movie opens with Officer John McClane of the NYPD on a flight to L.A. to be with his children and estranged wife... for CHRISTMAS. Boom. If that isn't enough for you, the party in the Nakatomi building that is taken over by Hans and his thugs is a CHRISTMAS party.
Beyond that there are all the makings of a typical Christmas movie. Christmas jokes, Christmas references, a family trying to make things normal at the holidays, McClane ever tapes a gun to his back with Christmas tape at one point.
Also, the theme for the Bad Guys is a mix between a major and minor rendition of Beethoven's 9th symphony's "Ode to Joy"... both a classic Christmas tune, and a national song of Germany (quite the apropos double entendre).
Q: But even if it is a Christmas movie, how is it better than the classics?
A: First of all, it IS a classic. It has three sequels, two of which are great... and one of which is still fun.
Second of all, it has so many redemptive values. McClane realizes that he has been a jerk to his wife, and his wife realizes that she has been to hard on her husband.
Al Powell, the first officer on the scene down on the ground has never been able to fully serve in his capacity as a member of the L.A.P.D. because he made a mistake years ago. That guilt has been weighing on him ever since, and has crippled his ability to perform his calling. I won't give away the ending to anyone who has never seen the movie, but he is redeemed in the end.
Third of all, it is just a great movie. The cinematography is brilliant. Use of long lenses, and great depth of field add a feeling that at any moment I could freeze the frame and make it into an awesome poster (note to self... see if that market has been tapped). The subtle things like the above mentioned use of Beethoven's 9th, and "Singin' in the Rain" for the hacker on the bad guys team.
Also, the story telling is great. In the opening scene McClane is told by a fellow passenger that the secret to not fearing flying is to get off the plane, go to your destination, take off your shoes and make "fists with your toes" on the carpet. This seems like just banter to get the movie started, but McClane takes that advice, and because he does, he is shoeless when the terrorists arrive, and is therefore shoeless the rest of the movie. It ends up being critical.
Also in an early scene the limo driver tells McClane all the features of the limo, one of which is a TV and another a CB radio. Because of this, the limo driver is able to monitor what is going on through the news outlets, and he can hear everything that McClane and the police are saying to each other.
These are just a few examples of the brilliance in the story telling. There are many more.
Now don't get me wrong. I like Christmas movies. I grew up on The Santa Clause, and Home Alone (I and II), and both A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life are on my list of "classics". I just don't think it gets any better than Die Hard. Sure, it's a rough and tumble shoot 'em up, Action Movie with lots of guns and shouting in German, and I won't allow my children to see it until they are grown up and can understand it as it should be understood... but, I feel it stands up with the best of them. It doesn't try to be anything it isn't but what it is... is amazing.
