As someone who’s spent countless winter nights huddled around the television, I can confidently say that Die Hard 2 is as much a Christmas movie as eggnog is a necessary holiday ingredient. The snow-drenched scenes and the frenetic pace of an overcrowded airport during the holiday season only serve to amplify the stress and chaos that come with Christmas – not unlike trying to find a parking spot at the local mall on Black Friday.
There’s often been debate about whether the original Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie, and this discussion tends to overshadow the status of the second film. This might be because the first movie, directed by John McTiernan, is more iconic. However, it’s strange because Die Hard 2 clearly fits the mold of an R-rated Christmas action movie, which strengthens the argument that the original should also be considered as such.
In essence, Die Hard 2 adapts the original storyline but shifts the action from a skyscraper to an airport. Renny Harlin’s film manages to hold its ground due to Bruce Willis’ endearing performance in the lead role and a surprising twist in the third act, not forgetting the ominous villain portrayed by William Sadler. However, what makes it a Christmas movie?
John McClane Might As Well Be Wearing a Santa Cap
In the initial movie, numerous elements directly tied to the storyline’s holiday setting were incorporated. For instance, John McClane carries a large teddy bear as a gift for his children in Los Angeles, Nakatomi Plaza is adorned with ribbons, he dons a Santa hat on a fallen terrorist and scribbles “Now I have a machine gun Ho-Ho-Ho” on the body’s chest, and holiday tunes such as Run-D.M.C.’s “Christmas in Hollis” are used throughout.
In the second movie, there’s an abundance of holiday-related references, which are consistently present. Moreover, the viewer is constantly reminded that winter is in progress, as snowfall fills each scene not set within the airport. It’s this specific setting that amplifies the Christmas movie vibe in the second film more than the first one did.
From the perspective of a seasoned movie critic:
Another Die Hard Christmas Tale
Similar to the initial film, Die Hard 2 incorporates several Christmas tunes in its soundtrack, such as “Carol of the Bells” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”. These songs are skillfully utilized and also function as indicators that the movie identifies itself as a Christmas-themed film, embracing the holiday subgenre.
In some parts, the dialogue directly connects to the holiday setting. For example, the movie begins with McClane receiving a ticket from one of the Lorenzo brothers’ security guards, who he pleads with to show leniency because it’s Christmas. This theme is later revisited when the other Lorenzo brother tears up the ticket and says, “Ah, what the heck; It’s Christmas!” effectively framing the story around this festive occasion.
Most notably is McClane’s self-expression: “I’d love just one simple, peaceful Christmas – some eggnog, a Christmas tree, and a bit of turkey. But instead, I find myself moving around in this cursed metal container.
Ultimately, Die Hard 2 shares more in common with McTiernan’s original film than anything else. Both movies share a similar tone, which sets them apart from Die Hard with a Vengeance, as the latter leans more towards a buddy cop genre.
What to Watch Afer Die Hard 2
Similarly to how Die Hard 2 complements other films directed by Renny Harlin, this action movie served as a successful follow-up after his initial studio project, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, which proved profitable. With the action genre becoming his preferred niche, subsequent movies like Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight, which either took place during holidays or were heavily snowbound, also fell under Harlin’s directing scope. Notably, The Long Kiss Goodnight was penned by Shane Black, a well-known Christmas enthusiast who has contributed to films like Lethal Weapon and Iron Man 3.
You can stream Die Hard 2 on Hulu-Disney+.
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2024-12-22 03:09