Die Hard: Best Christmas Movie or Greatest Christmas Movie?

I've watched "It's a Wonderful Life", I've watched "A Christmas Story" now it's finally time to end this holiday right by watching the greatest Christmas movie of all time:

Die Hard.

 

I love it, but I'm in the camp that it's not a Christmas movie. It takes place around Christmas but it's not about Christmas.

 

I prefer Die Hard 2, though I will concede that Die Hard is the better made film.

 

"It's Christmas, Theo, it's the time of miracles!"

Die Hard & Die Hard 2
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Lethal Weapon
Christmas Vacation

all of the substantial part of the celebration.

Too bad that Terminator 2 doesn't take place around Christmas time. That would have turned it into the ultimate film.

 

If Gremlins isn't on the list, the list is automatically invalid.

 

Did I inspire this?

And how did songs from The Sound Of Music, and the movie itself become Christmas selections? Looks like summer in Austria to me.
I know my mom used to play the soundtrack year round

 

Maybe it has something to with "My Favorite Things": "brown paper packages tied up with string," "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes," etc. It sounds kinda like a holiday song.

That's all I've got.

Meanwhile, what about Batman Returns? Or that Tales of the Crypt movie where Joan Collins is stalked by Santa Claus?

 

Nope, it's a Christmas movie. It has Christmas themes, Christmas music is used in it, Christmas is referenced to many times it's a lot more than just happening to take palce around Christmas. Argument can be made that it's not "about" Christmas but even still we have a story about the redemption of character, realizing the meaning of family and thwarting the bad in the world.

Die Hard is a Christmas movie in my book!

 

Your poll is flawed. It lack the option "The Best and Greatest Christmas Movie."

 

Yes it is- it's about one man's desire to celebrate the true family Xmas and midwinter marking of the triumph of returning light dispelling the shortest and darkest day, over the efforts of both corporate commercialism (Miss Gennaro, etc) and outright greed.

 

In fact the argument for it being a Christmas movie, albeit an unconventional one, is in an early scene between McClane and Argyle the limo-driver.

:Argyle puts in a tape and a rap-song plays:
McClane: Don't you have any Christmas music?
Argyle: This *is* Christmas music.

So while Die Hard isn't a conventional Christmas movie it *is* a Christmas movie.

 

Die Hard- The Greatest Christmas movie. Although Gremlins was pretty good.

 

Don't forget Officer Fatass singing Let it Snow, Let it Snow (in L.A. no less).

 

I've always liked Lethal Weapon more.

 

I have never seen it.

 

I love Die Hard and it's definitely a better movie. However, as far as "Christmas" movies, go I think an argument can be made that the first "Lethal Weapon" is more purely a traditional "Christmas" movie.

The entire movie takes place during the Christmas season and filmmakers make it a point to remind us from the very beginning that it's set at Christmas. It opens with the Christmas song and ends with a Christmas song.

The protagonist is a man who is haunted by his past and contemplating suicide at the holiday season.

He has to save people from an evil businessman. He encounters a white haired fellow with special powers who tests him. He is reminded of the importance of friends and family.

And then, at the end, he realizes that his life has meaning and he sits down for a Christmas dinner with his new "family."

It is basically "it's a wonderful life" with explosions, car chases, Kung fu and machine guns.

 

You've never seen Die Hard?

I shall say a prayer for you.

 

Light a candle while you're at it.

 

I'll light two candles, even. You're worth it.

You should immediately add it to your watch list, though. Unless you utterly loathe Alan Rickman (And who actually utterly loathes Alan Rickman?), it's a must see.

 

Since you went through all that effort, I will try to find and watch it.