Themes and content don't properly really fit. There's kinda just too much murder for it to really be a Christmas movie.
That would mean Gremlins isn't a Christmas movie, which it obviously is, so I think you need to go back to the drawing board.
Themes and content don't properly really fit. There's kinda just too much murder for it to really be a Christmas movie.
Because I think that it's wrong. If it really doesn't matter then why reply to my thread?
No, I understand why you and everyone else itt thinks it's a Christmas movie. It's an easy concept to understand. And it's even easier to see that it's wrong.
If the bar for Christmas movies is that they play during Christmas lineups on TV channels and theatres, then The Harry Potter movies are Christmas movies by that logic (They play those all the time up here in Canada around Christmas anyway).
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
No, because Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is a holiday movie, and Die Hard is not.
Funny enough, I think that Planes, Trains, and Automobiles would work better as a Christmas movie, but I accept that it's a Thanksgiving movie.
A Christmas movie is a movie that is primarily about Christmas in both plot and characterization. Die Hard is not about Christmas because, as I've said before, it's about a cop who gets caught up in a hostage situation. Though John arrives in this situation because of Christmas, he is not motivated to fight back for the sake of Christmas. He's fighting back because, like any other action movie, it's the right thing to do in the face of evil. I even called it in my OP that people will point out the "ho ho ho" scene as evidence that it's a Christmas movie, but it's just John using the time of year (read: the setting) to toy with Hans and the terrorists. The setting is Christmas, but as McScroggz said, it's tertiary to the film. Christmas is brought up in passing, through jokes, or offhanded remarks (such as Hans' Christmas miracle quote), it has no bearing on (let's say) John trying time kill Karl by hanging him with a chain.
I'm gonna use Home Alone as an example for a minute, because so many people in this thread love to use it as their "Aha!" response.
Home Alone is a movie about a large family who is going away on a Christmas vacation, but accidentally leave their son home alone in all of the hustle and bustle. The wet bandits are trying to rob the McCallister home during this time to take advantage of the family's absence. I would even go as far as to say that they're trying to steal Christmas from this family (upon their return).
As the protagonist, Kevin, has to cope with the fact that he's alone for the holidays and takes up the task of defending his home, protecting Christmas for his family. On top of all of this, there's the side plot with the scary old man who learns what Christmas means again thanks to Kevin's efforts. The setting provides set pieces and scenes throughout the film that work with the plot because it's a Christmas movie. Like the glass ornaments trap, or the the fake Christmas party. The movie doesn't even have Santa Claus himself, so no, a movie doesn't need Santa Claus to be a Christmas movie (and I wouldn't really argue against a movie that does).
For those who like to compare them: Die Hard lacks a lot, if not all, of what Home Alone brings to the table. It's a disingenuous comparison in regards to Christmas movies.
Ppl who say it's a Christmas movie are desperate for attention
How many people are actually killed in Gremlins, though? How many of them are killed by the protagonist?That would mean Gremlins isn't a Christmas movie, which it obviously is, so I think you need to go back to the drawing board.
I mean, there's definitely a lot more in Home Alone that solidifies it as a Christmas movie, but I was already bordering on a wall of text. Thank you for reading it though.I'm ambivalent about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie -- it's just a joke people have taken too far but whatever. That said, your contrast with Home Alone doesn't hold up at all. You've literally done exactly what you accuse Die Hard of doing -- you've spattered the word "Christmas" throughout your description just so you can claim it is a Christmas movie. Saying it's a Christmas movie because he used ornaments in a trap is just as superficial as "It's a Christmas movie because he says Ho-Ho-Ho in a 1-liner"
I've only noticed it this year, but they do seem to be pushing Gremlins more as the next "not really a Christmas movie" Christmas movie. Helps that it's a Warner flick, which means it won't be constrained by Disney's vault program for any themed rereleases in theatres.That would mean Gremlins isn't a Christmas movie, which it obviously is, so I think you need to go back to the drawing board.
I wouldn't say that Black Christmas or Silent Night Deadly Night were really Christmas movies either. They're just horror movies.
Krampus is kind of an okay fit though.
I am glad I do not have to resign.Die Hard is ABSOLUTELY a Christmas movie. This is the official ResetEra stance.
Halloween isn't a Halloween movie because reasons!Wait, what? How are they not? If the argument against something not being a Christmas movie is that they don't have stories that include the holiday being an integral part of the plot, then I don't see how these two aren't. Hell, Silent Night Deadly Night couldn't be done around any other holiday because the events that create the Santa killer are based on what he witnessed as a child during Christmas by some maniac dressed as Santa.
I think the argument is more that the movie should tie into the holiday's themes of goodwill and togetherness, and shouldn't really be about the entertainment value we find in the murder of dozens of people. I don't think "But he's trying to get back to his family" really cuts it as a way to explain how the film ties in with Christmas.Wait, what? How are they not? If the argument against something not being a Christmas movie is that they don't have stories that include the holiday being an integral part of the plot, then I don't see how these two aren't. Hell, Silent Night Deadly Night couldn't be done around any other holiday because the events that create the Santa killer are based on what he witnessed as a child during Christmas by some maniac dressed as Santa.
I feel like the next big "ThIS is AcTuAlLy A cHrIsTmAs MoViE!!!" film should be Batman Returns. I would love to see that in theaters again. Die Hard isn't going to happen anymore because Disney will not allow it. I'm sure Warner Brothers would love to step in and have one of their heavy hitters take its place.I've only noticed it this year, but they do seem to be pushing Gremlins more as the next "not really a Christmas movie" Christmas movie. Helps that it's a Warner flick, which means it won't be constrained by Disney's vault program for any themed rereleases in theatres.
I feel like the next big "ThIS is AcTuAlLy A cHrIsTmAs MoViE!!!" film should be Batman Returns. I would love to see that in theaters again. Die Hard isn't going to happen anymore because Disney will not allow it. I'm sure Warner Brothers would love to step in and have one of their heavy hitters take its place.
Nerdist tried to make it happen a couple years back, but the meme didn't really catch fire the way Die Hard has:
It's basically your only choice for alt-Christmas Tim Burton movies, now that Disney has decided that Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands are not allowed to be shown theatrically.This just makes me realize I don't remember a single thing about Batman Returns
I was just having that thought earlier today while reading this thread, and yeah, given the fact that it's Batman, Batbros would probably as doubly obnoxious on that front.I feel like the next big "ThIS is AcTuAlLy A cHrIsTmAs MoViE!!!" film should be Batman Returns. I would love to see that in theaters again. Die Hard isn't going to happen anymore because Disney will not allow it. I'm sure Warner Brothers would love to step in and have one of their heavy hitters take its place.
Nerdist tried to make it happen a couple years back, but the meme didn't really catch fire the way Die Hard has:
Pretty much yeah. I know it as a Christmas movie, but do I actually care that it is. Not really.Every year, no matter what, around the Holidays:
The Internet: DIE HARD IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE
Everyone else: Sure, fine, who cares.
I just finished watching Die Hard for the first time last night and its just straight up unsettling that there are people who will claim that it's a Christmas movie. Just because the movie takes place on Christmas Eve doesn't mean that the movie is about Christmas. Die Hard could have taken place on any other holiday or occassion and the movie would still work without any major changes to the plot, but some people out there are still gonna call this a holiday classic just because John McClane put a santa hat on a dead terrorist.
Anyway, Die Hard is an awesome movie, but anyone who says it's a Christmas movie should never be allowed to watch it again. Yippie-ki-yay, motherfuckers.
I was pretty happy and had a lot of fun watching it as an action movie tbqh.It is a Christmas movie. You're just the fun police, you miserable git.
There doesn't even need to be a holiday. John could have just wanted to see his kids again because he's been in New York for so long.Any movie that requires that it be Christmas for the plot to happen is a Christmas movie. McClane wouldn't be in LA if it weren't Christmas, ergo it's a Christmas movie.
There doesn't even need to be a holiday. John could have just wanted to see his kids again because he's been in New York for so long.
My point is that John wanting to see his kids doesn't necessarily make it a Christmas movie, despite many people in this thread using that as their argument. Yes, family is a very Christmas theme, but John isn't even focused on that throughout the movie. He's practically fighting for survival once Hans and his goons are on to him.This is true. But guess what? It DOES happen at Christmas and we get some fun Christmassy zingers. So this is all just hypothetical.
My point is that John wanting to see his kids doesn't necessarily make it a Christmas movie, despite many people in this thread using that as their argument. Yes, family is a very Christmas theme, but John isn't even focused on that throughout the movie. He's practically fighting for survival once Hans and his goons are on to him.
Ppl who say it's a Christmas movie are desperate for attention
Couldn't you say that about quite a few Christmas movies? Home Alone 1 & 2, Gremlins, Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, etc. The setting being Christmas is enough for a lot of people to consider it a Christmas movie. Just let folks be happy.
it's pretty much this. I know I'm cynical, but it's jsut people wanting to get a reaction of "but wuuuuut!? That's not a christmas movie!" and then they argue that it takes place on christmas so it's a christmas movie. Great movie, but certainly not what people are looking for in a "christmas movie".
The opposite can also be true.Personally I find the opposite to be true. That it is a Christmas movie being he default position and anyone arguing against it just being argumentative.
Personally I find the opposite to be true. That it is a Christmas movie being he default position and anyone arguing against it just being argumentative.
Some opinions can be factually incorrect. I'm not saying that's the case here, but when the average person is asking for "christmas movie" it's clear they're not looking for an action movie that has a few christmas things in the background. (most of the time)
They're usually asking for a movie that makes them feel Christmassy.
There doesn't even need to be a holiday. John could have just wanted to see his kids again because he's been in New York for so long.