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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 4:29:02 GMT
As my final 🥳 thing to do, I will watch Die Hard and render the final answer to the question: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? I’ve not seen it in quite a while, so don’t tell me how it ends. As I listed above, the “criteria for a Christmas movie is how is the narrative enhanced by the Christmas spirit.” That is only one critical point. Another is how does this movie use Christmas tropes, such as a) the Gift of the Magi…  b) how some ghost scare bejesus out of a crotchety old man…  c) specific things and events surrounding the holiday itself, like family…  b) and of course, Santa.  “Don’t worry little girl, Santa does want your sucker.” So, using the above methodology above, I will check back later and let you know. l’ll add that I’m using what’s known as a “thick description.” |
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 4:35:10 GMT
I have just started it, if anyone wants to watch along with me.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 4:42:24 GMT
Running notes…
So far, it’s pretty Christmasy.
A man is returning home from a long journey to his estranged family for the holidays bearing gifts for them. The wife and mother is an official in large Japanese corporation which is none the less holding a celebration for the employees. In the wife’s office is a very pregnant assistant.
At 6:00 minute mark.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 4:53:49 GMT
A young man named Argyle chauffeurs the father from the airport through a smoggy sunset LA, asking personal questions about his passenger’s family, who asks him to play some Xmas music, which is a rap song about a funky Santa.
Father has no place to stay, he goes seeking shelter in his wife in a cold, nearly empty office building. The room in the inn is in full swing. He’s greeted with a kiss by someone named Jesus.
At the 12:00 mark.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 5:19:22 GMT
The father is escorted into the wife’s office by the CEO himself and we get our first snow.
Eyes meet. They sweetly greet. But her CEO’s gift is a Rolex, while his is an overstuffed bear.
The wife offers a spare room, but instead of accepting, he is upset that she has instead dishonored the marriage vows by not keeping his name. They part.
As night falls, a black truck arrives with “Pacific Courier” on the side; a gray Mercedes is in the lead.
These are not shepherds or placid barriers of gifts, but men of ill-will here to do something bad. They commandeer and lockdown the building.
The man in charge is a dead-ringer for the Devil.
21:09
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 5:23:04 GMT
No, definitely not shepherds.
24:00
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 5:42:27 GMT
The barefoot father retreats to an unfinished office to assess the situation. Did I mention he’s NYPD, a Blue Knight, as it were.
The Devil addresses the now hostage Xmas party as austere preacher reading from what appears to be a black ledger, condemning their global greed, and are to be witnesses to a lesson in the “real use of power.”
The Devil calls out the CEO announcing his laurels, then has his henchmen shepherd him away while humming Ode to Joy, the film’s leitmotif plays as a dirge. He quotes Plutarch to show off his smarts.
He’s there to rob the place.
30:00 time for a pudding cup.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 5:48:36 GMT
What’s started as a family at Christmas drama has turned into a mega-robbery movie. The CEO is dead.
I’m going to pause my description to follow the action, but the Christmasy portion is over. I’ll pick it up if the theme returns.
35:00
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Post by ShadowSouL Likes This on Nov 14, 2023 5:52:09 GMT
This sounds like a whole bunch of other movies other than Die Hard.
Either that, or I probably did drugs while watching the movie.
And I've never done drugs.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 6:22:20 GMT
In self-defense, the father kills one of the henchmen, puts a Santa hat, and writes a message to the Devil, signed Ho-Ho-Ho.
41:45
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 6:28:34 GMT
After several shootouts, the father manages to alert the police and has a brief conversation with the Devil about Hollywood action heroes like John Wayne and Roy Rogers (the Singing Cowboy) and dubs himself “Roy” as his radio call sign with a fellow knight in the LAPD.
1:00:00
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 6:29:09 GMT
This sounds like a whole bunch of other movies other than Die Hard. Either that, or I probably did drugs while watching the movie. And I've never done drugs. It’s a play-by-play. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2023 6:31:22 GMT
Of course not. Only when Harry Skywalker is around. Then yes.
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 6:41:44 GMT
The wife meets with the Devil and negotiates a couch for the pregnant lady telling him her unmarried name.
The LAPD under the direction of the ubiquitous asshole police chief storm the building as the tech guy watching them on the security cameras recites a parody of the Night Before Christmas.
1:12:00
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Post by PaulsLaugh on Nov 14, 2023 6:50:48 GMT
The douche bag snowman offers the Devil a gift.
1:20:00
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