chazraps
Wade Wilson
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Post by chazraps on Dec 6, 2016 19:54:14 GMT -5
Yeh, duh. It's an action film that takes place during Christmas. That makes it a Christmas film, even if the story is more about the hostage situation than "saving Christmas". I'm a bit puzzled where the debate is stemming from. if it's set at Christmas it's a Christmas film The argument isn't "if it's set at Christmas," plenty of movies are set at Christmas that aren't Christmas movies. American Psycho, Batman Returns, etc. It's more so, "Could this movie take place at any time other than Christmas..." and the answer is... I hear from some people that Christmas isn't important to the plot and that's why it's not a Christmas movie.... but it's essential! The Christmas Party was why they timed the attack. Getting together for the holiday was the main reason McClain was even back in town. Basically the entire reason anything happened was because of the holiday. If you take away Christmas, it's a lot harder to logically put together.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Dec 6, 2016 19:55:14 GMT -5
I'm gonna quote my post from another thread as I can't be arsed to type it out again. I'll watch Christmas movies any time of the year, thank you very much. Yeah. I can enjoy Nightmare Before Christmas and Rise of the Guardians at any point in time. And while we're at it, Batman Returns is a Christmas movie too.
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
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Post by chazraps on Dec 6, 2016 19:55:46 GMT -5
I know it was a summer movie in theaters, but the Christmas themes were so strong it was bound to become a holiday classic. You can shut down the "BUT IT'S A SUMMER MOVIE" argument with the reminder that the original 'Miracle on 34th Street' was a summer movie too.
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Post by "Cane Dewey" Johnson on Dec 6, 2016 19:57:39 GMT -5
Die Hard is a Christmas Movie and a Hot Dog is not a sandwich. But is Die Hard a hot dog?
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Dec 6, 2016 20:04:33 GMT -5
Die Hard is a f***ing awesome film and admittedly I do watch it every Christmas but it's just a film that's set at Christmas. Not a film that is about Christmas. You could replace McClane going to visit his family at Christmas with McClane going to visit his family on July 4th and still have essentially the same film (and just change the seasonal references). Change the seasonal references in just about any Christmas movie that doesn't revolve around Santa Claus and you get the same result. You can transplant The Christmas Carol to Easter or Thanksgiving with minimal changes, for example.
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
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Post by chazraps on Dec 6, 2016 20:12:34 GMT -5
Die Hard is a f***ing awesome film and admittedly I do watch it every Christmas but it's just a film that's set at Christmas. Not a film that is about Christmas. You could replace McClane going to visit his family at Christmas with McClane going to visit his family on July 4th and still have essentially the same film (and just change the seasonal references). Change the seasonal references in just about any Christmas movie that doesn't revolve around Santa Claus and you get the same result. You can transplant The Christmas Carol to Easter or Thanksgiving with minimal changes, for example. True story, my grade school is a musical non-denomination version of A Christmas Carol called 'That's the Way It Is, Mr. Scrooge' where we learn the true folly of Scrooge was that he didn't believe in himself.
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Post by Bob Schlapowitz on Dec 6, 2016 21:51:21 GMT -5
Yes. And so is Gremlins.
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Dec 6, 2016 21:53:32 GMT -5
I say no, it's a movie that takes place at Christmas. It being Christmas doesn't really affect the plot in any serious way. You can watch Die Hard any time of the year and no one would think you are crazy. People might if you say you watched like Christmas Carol or the like. I'll watch Muppet Christmas Carol at any provocation.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Dec 6, 2016 22:10:20 GMT -5
I'm in the minority but I'm right. It's not a Christmas Movie. I'd watch Die Hard anytime of the year. It's A Wonderful Life I'll watch between post-Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's the difference. Secondly to those who watch it at Christmas time or theater that show it at Christmas that's cool. Die Hard is awesome. People are gonna watch it year round. I just watched Robocop because it was on cable and I hadn't watched in a few years. Plus Robocop is also awesome. I just wanted to watch it because I like it. Yes Die Hard involves Christmas in the plot. But Christmas is close to a mcguffin. It's a device to get John to LA. then the action happens. Compare that to something like Miracle on 34th Street where the plot is literally all about Christmas. To me that's what a Christmas Movie. A movie where a significant portion of the plot revolves around Christmas. Not just a movie that is set around Christmas time.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on Dec 6, 2016 22:36:30 GMT -5
Just because a movie takes place during Christmas doesn't make it a Christmas movie. Same with Gremlins.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 22:55:23 GMT -5
Yeh, duh. It's an action film that takes place during Christmas. That makes it a Christmas film, even if the story is more about the hostage situation than "saving Christmas". I'm a bit puzzled where the debate is stemming from. So it's a story about a man whose saving Christmas for the hostages?
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cosmo
Samurai Cop
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Post by cosmo on Dec 6, 2016 23:04:57 GMT -5
Just because a movie takes place during Christmas doesn't make it a Christmas movie. Same with Gremlins.Hey now, let's not say things we can't take back. Words hurt.
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Post by Sir Woodrow on Dec 6, 2016 23:21:13 GMT -5
And then there is Die Hard 2, while not as good as the first is still a fun, decent action flick.
I mean, how could you not like a sequel that gives us Sipowicz, James from Good Times, Meat from Porky's plus Bill & Ted's Grim Reaper doing nude Tai Chi in one movie?
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Post by Duke Cameron on Dec 6, 2016 23:39:55 GMT -5
Hell no! A movie isn't a Christmas movie to me unless the main plot point and the end game focuses on Christmas.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Dec 6, 2016 23:57:31 GMT -5
There also seems to be some kind of weird justification to make it a Christmas movie to either justify watching it at Christmas Time, or so people can be cool and say that Die Hard is there favorite Christmas Movie. Not like any of that matters.
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StuntGranny®
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Post by StuntGranny® on Dec 6, 2016 23:58:22 GMT -5
I say no, it's a movie that takes place at Christmas. It being Christmas doesn't really affect the plot in any serious way. You can watch Die Hard any time of the year and no one would think you are crazy. People might if you say you watched like Christmas Carol or the like. Yep, this right here. It's simply a movie that is set at Christmas. The movie doesn't revolve around the holiday or really have anything to do with it at all. A "Christmas movie", in my opinion, is a movie that totally revolves around Christmas. Something specifically for the season. Something like It's A Wonderful Life, Scrooged, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation, Ernest Saves Christmas, etc. I just don't get the "DIE HARD IS DEFINITELY A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!" argument. It's just wrong. Gremlins? Now that's debatable. Gizmo is given as a gift for Christmas and Christmas KINDA plays a part in the movie. Die Hard? No. It's not a Christmas movie. It is an action movie that takes place during the Christmas season. That's the only connection. Saying Die Hard is a Christmas movie is like saying E.T. is a Halloween movie.
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Dec 7, 2016 9:38:06 GMT -5
So the answer is "depends on what your definition of a Christmas movie is."
I'd go with "does it feel Christmas-y?" which I don't think Die Hard does, even with the setting.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 9:57:13 GMT -5
I'm gonna quote my post from another thread as I can't be arsed to type it out again. That's because it's not a Christmas film! I have this argument every year with people. A Christmas film is a film you only watch at Christmas. Would it feel wrong watching Die Hard on a warm July evening? No. Would it feel wrong watching something like The Muppet Christmas Carol on the same night? Yes. Die Hard is a f***ing awesome film and admittedly I do watch it every Christmas but it's just a film that's set at Christmas. Not a film that is about Christmas. You could replace McClane going to visit his family at Christmas with McClane going to visit his family on July 4th and still have essentially the same film (and just change the seasonal references). You do realize you sorta shot your opinion in the foot by choosing (of all months) July, right? Because..... Christmas in July - a retail thing, but also to folks like The Hallmark Channel another month they can air Christmas movies for 30 days.....
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Push R Truth
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Post by Push R Truth on Dec 7, 2016 9:59:59 GMT -5
Is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or a Christmas movie?
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Post by Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill on Dec 7, 2016 10:07:14 GMT -5
Is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or a Christmas movie? You watch it in November.
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