Every year, one of my christmas movies that gets an annual rewatch Episode Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GkfrwhbbiMZt94QoFtYIk?si=0NR8gop9QkCuxz8zQ-ecwA

Its Christmas Eve and New York police detective John McClane (Willis) heads to LA to reunite with his estranged wife Holly (Bedelia) at her companies Christmas party. The only problem is a group of high tech robbers led by the charismatic Hans Grueber are holding the party goers hostage in order to rob the company of $640m in bearer bonds. McClane has managed to hide, and is the only thing stopping them from getting the money. Quintessential 80’s action is only strengthened by the cast. Both Willis and Rickman were relative unknowns when they were cast as the hero and villain. What made Willis such a great lead was his ‘everyman’ look. This was the era of the Arnie/Stallon/VanDamme (who a couple of these are mentioned) action hero where the lead has muscles on top of muscles. Willis was against the norm, and did a great job. He has recently retired from acting, so it was great to watch this while he was in his prime. This was also Rickman’s first Hollywood film, having been a bit player in British television before this. One of his best moments is when the English actor, whose German character, is putting on an American accent. Bravo sir, we miss you! There has always been the argument that this is a Christmas movie or not? I’m in the side that says that this is a Christmas movie – aside from the obvious – that it is Christmas. There is also the fact that the lead female’s name is HOLLY, which is a clear reference to Christmas. There is also some instrumental Christmas Carols spliced within the score. The remainder of the score from the late Michael Kamen is also very well done. The action is a lot of fun, with the obvious suspension of disbelief of what characters are able to endure. There are some scenes that are a product of its time, with McClane able to have a gun on a plane, and smoking in an airport – however the rest of the film holds up very well, even over thirty years later. Solid Christmas movie! 4.5/5

Para la historia quedará que la película menos navideña de la historia, que se lleva a cabo en el Nakatomi Plaza es una de las películas más navideñas de Bruce Willis. En fin, John McClane es un detective de la policía que llega a buscar a su esposa Holly en su fiesta navideña en el Nakatomi Plaza y resulta que el edificio es tomado por Severus Snape digo Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman); es ahí cuando John hará todo lo posible por salvar a su esposa así tenga que destruir el edificio. Acción exagerada, comedia fina y un Bruce Willis en su prime con chiste y frases super icónicas que hoy recordamos con cariño. Pero ustedes se preguntarán y que tiene que ver la navidad con esta película, pues todo se llevó en la fiesta navideña del trabajo de Holly, así que lo quieran o no si es una película navideña. Y si no la consideran una película navideña me quedo con la frase más famosa de John McClane “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker…”

The biggest design flaw of Nakatomi Plaza is carpet in the executive bathroom... gross. I've always loved Die Hard and despite any of its 80s cliches (which I barely notice due to nostalgia blindness) it's still very much a solid movie. There's suspense, love, action, and that lovable hand-cannon sound effect when Reginald VelJohnson dusts off his revolver. Well-paced, well-written, and well-performed all around. Clever twists and turns and some genuine hate for Harry Ellis. Absolutely a favorite for an annual watch during the holidays. 487/500 movies & tv for 2023

“It’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza.” One of the most divisive holiday classics, the argument on whether John McTiernan‘s Die Hard is a Christmas film, finds its way to the forefront every year. Is it or isn’t it? For myself, the truth is indisputable. Die Hard is a Christmas film, no, a Christmas classic! Many will continue to argue the opposite. My best friend chose the latter, holding solid to her belief that Die Hard is an action film that just happens to occur during Christmas. One drinking game later, the participant was required to drink each time Christmas was referenced both visually and audibly, her stance has since changed. John McClane is the holiday action hero of the season! While Die Hard was the first movie role for the late Alan Rickman, it was also the first action film for Bruce Willis, who up until its release was seen as nothing more than a comedic actor. Each excels beyond exceptions, nestling themselves in the annals of both cinematic history and indisputable holiday classics. John McClane is the greatest action hero of all time! He’s losing his hair, his wife, his two kids, and most likely his mind from all of the killing that he has done over the years. He’s probably the only person with worse luck on Christmas than Macaulay Culkin! John McClane redefined the action hero for a new generation by embodying the everyman - relatable, flawed, and undeniably human. McClane is visibly out of his element, barefoot and underdressed for the situation he is thrown into. McClane’s enduring appeal lies in his authenticity, proving that sometimes, the most compelling heroes are those who reflect our own struggles, flaws, and triumphs. They really don’t make characters or films like this anymore. Hans Gruber is the kind of villain that other action movies could only dream of. Hans Gruber remains the undisputed champ of action movie villains. He is a great character, and epitomises a standard in cinematic knavery that few filmmakers have replicated. The filmmakers behind Die Hard set a template that should serve as a guide for creating strong genre villains. Simply put, Die Hard is a Christmas classic!