The 1988 feature film Die Hard (Crystal Trap) still triggers a debate among many moviegoers today: Is it a Christmas film?
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This question stirs passions every year, especially during the holiday season, and may have finally found an answer. In fact, film historian and author Jeremy Arnold was asked about it by CNN host Jake Tapper and the expert's answer was clear: “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie.
The feature film is also featured in Mr. Arnold's new book, “Christmas in The Movies.”
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According to the author, the film starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman is a holiday classic, in part because the story begins like many other films in the genre.
“It’s the story of a dysfunctional family that tries to reconcile at Christmas,” explains the film historian.
The host also points out that the protagonist's wife is named Holly, reinforcing the connection between the film and Christmas. Additionally, the female character in the novel that inspired the feature film is named Stephanie, not Holly.
Although the main story of the film revolves around the hostage-taking of a group of thieves/terrorists, the main character's story is linked to the theme of reconciliation, mentions Jeremy Arnold.
“But the Christmas theme is used in different ways throughout the film,” he explains. The dialogue, the settings, the soundtrack and the sound effects.
“Now I have a machine gun, Ho! Hey! Ho!,” host Jake Tapper quotes to support his guest’s comments.
“Christmas goes a long way to lightening the spirit of Die Hard. It's a violent film, but not gruesome or unpleasant violence. It’s joyful and full of spirit,” says Mr. Arnold.
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In addition, the presenter adds that the moment when the hero triumphs requires the use of adhesive paper, which was on site due to the presence of Christmas presents. Without the context of the holidays, the outcome would not have been the same.
“If Die Hard were set at a different time of year, the plot would still work, but the Christmas theme reinforces the emotions and traditions we associate with the holidays; it intensifies it […] “Die Hard could be set on a different date, but it wouldn't be the same movie,” says film historian Jeremy Arnold.