Last year, I wrote an article for The Lambert Post asking students what their favorite Christmas movies are. Among the list was the movie “Die Hard”. The 1988 film tells the story of an NYPD officer, John McClane (played by Bruce Willis), who attends a holiday party that turns into a hostage situation. The movie was released in JULY of 1988 and the only thing that makes it a “Christmas movie” is the fact it takes place at a Christmas Party. Besides this, it is just an action movie, yet this movie is considered one of the best Christmas movies. I personally do not understand why. This movie is highly overrated, Christmas movie or not. 

The movie’s protagonist McClane attends the party and when he slips away for a few minutes, the party is taken over by Hans Gruber. After a while, the FBI is sent in to investigate, but they don’t see anything suspicious. Right as they are about to leave, one of the terrorists, who was killed by McClane, is dropped onto a police car. Then, more violence and running around. Next, McClane speaks to a police officer, Al Powell, who tells him to sit tight. Does McClane do that? Of course not! He continues to harass both the terrorists AND the police officers. More chaos ensues as Harry, a hostage is killed due to McClane not conceding to Gruber, inciting a fight. In the end, Gruber falls to his death and McClane saves his estranged wife. He is thanked by the police and reconciles with his wife. This is the most basic dudebro action movie I have ever seen. It is the definition of the action movie that your dad praises and forces you to watch (for example, it’s my dad’s favorite movie). I have watched this movie twice, once on a date and once at my grandma’s house on Christmas with my family. Both times, I felt so sad that I had just wasted two hours of my life that I could never get back watching Bruce Willis say the f-word and think he was better than everyone else. Here’s the thing: Willis had good intentions, I will give you that. Eventually, though, the FBI and police show up and ask him to stop because he is the reason the hijackers will not negotiate, and he insists on helping. Again, good intentions but the FBI is a little more equipped to handle the situation, don’t you think? This is when I don’t understand it, why can’t he let the FBI handle it? Why does he HAVE to do this? Well, at the end of the movie we find out why. His wife loves him again. Yup, at the end of the movie, he makes up with his wife and all is good in the world again. Except it’s not! Troubles of the past don’t magically disappear, they have had problems, she is said to be ‘estranged’ for a reason! Just because he saved her doesn’t mean he is any better of a person than he was before. This is the type of movie that teaches women to ignore the red flags! 

The only positive takeaway from this movie is the song “Christmas In Hollis” by Run-D.M.C. This was my introduction to Run-D.M.C. and it was the perfect one. This song, accompanied by “Christmas Is”, is hilarious and always makes it to my Christmas playlist! They are a nice break from the slow, classic Christmas songs and I love it. Although the songs in the movie are great, it isn’t worth it to watch this movie. Just listen to the songs and don’t let anyone make you lose two hours of your life that you can never get back by watching this movie.