TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, DAY 3: “DIE HARD”

EACH DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS, WE’LL PROFILE A TITLE WORTHY OF YOUR HOLIDAY VIEWING PLEASURE.

DIE HARD (R)

Article by Adam Mast

Yes, DIE HARD is a Christmas movie! Maybe a tad unconventional, but a Christmas movie nevertheless.

“Ho ho ho…Now I have a machine gun.”

“If this is their idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Years!”

“Let it snow.”

This is to say nothing of the fact that everything John McClane does in this picture–which, subsequently, takes place on Christmas Eve–he does to save his wife and protect his kids.

If all of this doesn’t prove once and for all that DIE HARD is a Christmas movie, then I don’t know what will.

For the few of you who haven’t seen it, the set up is simple; Police detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) leaves the confines of New York for Los Angeles where he hopes to reconnect with his estranged wife at a Christmas party being held in a big city high rise. Terrorists–led by charismatic Hans Gruber (played to the hilt by the great Alan Rickman)–eventually seize the building and it’s up to everyman McClane to single handedly take out the bad guys and save the day.

DIE HARD was directed by John McTiernan and released in 1988. It set a standard for a subgenre that some thought might have already run its course. It features some of the greatest action sequences ever committed to film, launched “Moonlighting” lead Willis to superstardom, and paved the way for two fun follow-ups and a couple of sequels that aren’t entirely worth mentioning.

DIE HARD is one of my all time favorite films. In fact, I love it so much, I was even prompted to put together a treatment for a potential final book end movie after having to endure the travesty that was the abysmal A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD.

What else can I say about DIE HARD that hasn’t already been said?

Summing up; DIE HARD is one of the greatest films ever made and…It’s a Christmas movie!

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Day 2- ELF – CLICK HERE
Day 1- KRAMPUS – CLICK HERE

About Author

Adam Mast

Adam Mast has been a lifelong film enthusiast dating back to age 6 when his parents took him to see a little movie called JAWS at a drive-in theater in Northern California. This would lead him to several writing stints for various publications and outlets. Mast would also have a hand in several film projects of various shapes and sizes. In 2014, Mast would join forces with colleague John Pugh to create Cinemast.net as a means discuss film from a fan and analytical perspective. Together, Mast and Pugh would also create the 501 (C)(3) nonprofit, Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU) in 2017. FMASU’s mission is to encourage, inspire and educate filmmaking talent and to preserve film history. Adam currently resides in southern Utah with his amazing wife, Tonja, and their four wonderful children.

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