No, we can't blame Die Hard Christmas opinions for everything... although I do wish we could blame One Thing for everything.
It's weird, when you read into the (massive) amount of Internet Writing on this movie. I mean, it's solid enough, and Rickman + the directing of the action scenes are both excellent! But the amount of writing on this movie, you'd think it invented breathable air or something.
Good guy singlehandedly defeats all the baddies in an imposing big setting, and there's explosions, how new! Eh, not so new. Make the imposing setting horizontal instead of vertical, and that's basically "The General." We can forget about the "good guys" being Confederates in that one, which is a bit sticky... the point is, the formula ain't new!
I agree that the "is it a Christmas movie?" angle is WAY overplayed! For me, it just so happens to be such a good movie and tangentially set around the holiday that each December provides a great opportunity to watch it again!
I really like Willis' performance. He perfectly embodies the smirky, cock-sure New York detective/cop. I love the scene at the very beginning where he gets off the plane and sees the blonde woman in the skin-tight pants jump into the arms of her boyfriend/husband/whatever. He mutters "California" in a derogatory yet somehow also comical tone under his breath. That instantly makes him a relatable character to many audiences.
Of the Planet Hollywood gang--Bruce, Sly, & Arnie--I think Willis is the best pure actor for roles like this and The Sixth Sense.
I think my theater teacher was right -- Willis had some acting chops. Arnie and Sly have their own appeal, and I'm not gonna knock it today, it's got its place. But they’re not actors. Willis could actually act. The scene where he’s dragging his bloody feet into the bathroom is genuinely hard to watch, and it’s not just the blood; Willis sells it!
I have NO IDEA what kind of accent Rickman is doing here; it certainly isn’t German. (I think Herr von Maximllian Kepler would back me up on that one.) But you can tell he's really having a blast doing it. I love how sharply he clips the ends of all his lines. It's a vocal snap of the fingers. Every line has this wry, crisp, tight enunciation. What a star! And he did the same thing in Galaxy Quest, and it's great there, too.
And, no, it's not fair to blame "is Die Hard a Christmas movie" internet fights for everything wrong in the world. But I am sick of people debating it as if it fu***ng matters, and saying "yes" makes you a daring rebel. Ooh, how different you are! You've labeled a well-directed action movie a Christmas movie, how quirky and unusual!
Watch any version of A Christmas Carol instead. And enjoy how much the message is pure & true. Then go back to Die Hard, and like it because it's well-made and Rickman is cool.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
No, we can't blame Die Hard Christmas opinions for everything... although I do wish we could blame One Thing for everything.
It's weird, when you read into the (massive) amount of Internet Writing on this movie. I mean, it's solid enough, and Rickman + the directing of the action scenes are both excellent! But the amount of writing on this movie, you'd think it invented breathable air or something.
Good guy singlehandedly defeats all the baddies in an imposing big setting, and there's explosions, how new! Eh, not so new. Make the imposing setting horizontal instead of vertical, and that's basically "The General." We can forget about the "good guys" being Confederates in that one, which is a bit sticky... the point is, the formula ain't new!
One of my all-time favorites!
I agree that the "is it a Christmas movie?" angle is WAY overplayed! For me, it just so happens to be such a good movie and tangentially set around the holiday that each December provides a great opportunity to watch it again!
I really like Willis' performance. He perfectly embodies the smirky, cock-sure New York detective/cop. I love the scene at the very beginning where he gets off the plane and sees the blonde woman in the skin-tight pants jump into the arms of her boyfriend/husband/whatever. He mutters "California" in a derogatory yet somehow also comical tone under his breath. That instantly makes him a relatable character to many audiences.
Of the Planet Hollywood gang--Bruce, Sly, & Arnie--I think Willis is the best pure actor for roles like this and The Sixth Sense.
I think my theater teacher was right -- Willis had some acting chops. Arnie and Sly have their own appeal, and I'm not gonna knock it today, it's got its place. But they’re not actors. Willis could actually act. The scene where he’s dragging his bloody feet into the bathroom is genuinely hard to watch, and it’s not just the blood; Willis sells it!
I have NO IDEA what kind of accent Rickman is doing here; it certainly isn’t German. (I think Herr von Maximllian Kepler would back me up on that one.) But you can tell he's really having a blast doing it. I love how sharply he clips the ends of all his lines. It's a vocal snap of the fingers. Every line has this wry, crisp, tight enunciation. What a star! And he did the same thing in Galaxy Quest, and it's great there, too.
And, no, it's not fair to blame "is Die Hard a Christmas movie" internet fights for everything wrong in the world. But I am sick of people debating it as if it fu***ng matters, and saying "yes" makes you a daring rebel. Ooh, how different you are! You've labeled a well-directed action movie a Christmas movie, how quirky and unusual!
Watch any version of A Christmas Carol instead. And enjoy how much the message is pure & true. Then go back to Die Hard, and like it because it's well-made and Rickman is cool.