Number One of my Top Five Christmas Films
1. Die Hard
This is the ultimate Christmas film.
Funny. Edgy. Exciting. Gripping.
And yet with a deftly minimalist nod in the direction of Christmas schmaltz.
Die Hard is almost worth watching for the sight of a young Bruce Willis with hair.
John McClane (Bruce Willis) takes on a group of criminals led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman, yes him off of Love Actually).
Originally intended for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the lead role was eventually offered to Bruce and, frankly, we are all so much better off for Arnie turning the job down.
The film’s use of the iconic, and almost scene-stealing Century City in LA as the site of Nakatomi Plaza, was a masterstroke of location-setting.
But the casting is the icing on this piece of celluloid cake.
Die Hard is, without the shadow of any doubt, a Top Christmas Film.
Yipee-ki-yay Melon Farmers.
You matched with Radio 1 for the top spot!
Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
However, I have to agree, it’s a cracking good film and easily the best of the franchise, although 2 & 3 were pretty damn good too (we shouldn’t mention 4 & 5).
Yippee-ki-yay coffee maker… as the hamster said in the kids film G-Force
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAvczhO09-Q
I think matching R1 is probably not a good thing! Thanks for the G-Force reference. I’ll have a look at that shortly.
Ah, now we are talking. This one I have seen. Many a time. And it is always worth a watch. Alan Rickman plays his stock baddie and is none the worse for it. Although in the maelstrom of celebrity deaths this year he tends not to be so high in peoples memory, he will be greatly missed on film and stage.
Love the Rickman in Die Hard. But do come again for a view on celebrity deaths