12 votes

Using data to determine if Die Hard is a Christmas movie

12 comments

  1. [2]
    Devin
    Link
    I've grown up with die hard. I was 9 when it came out. Watched it probably in the 100 times or so. Never understood why people care if it's a xmas movie? My best guess is bloggers got bored and...

    I've grown up with die hard. I was 9 when it came out. Watched it probably in the 100 times or so. Never understood why people care if it's a xmas movie?

    My best guess is bloggers got bored and youtubers ranting could make some xmas viewer cash.

    3 votes
    1. cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Why do people care if it's considered an xmas movie? Honestly, I don't know that many really do. It's just a fun little debate/thought experiment, like "are hotdogs sandwiches?" And at least in...

      Why do people care if it's considered an xmas movie? Honestly, I don't know that many really do. It's just a fun little debate/thought experiment, like "are hotdogs sandwiches?" And at least in this particular case, I think it's less about the author caring about the actual answer to the question, and more just enjoying the exercise of investigating it.

      But as with all things, some people just take it way overboard. That's sometimes a good thing, like this author's efforts... and sometimes a bad thing, with people being assholes to anyone who disagrees with them.

      7 votes
  2. [5]
    Algernon_Asimov
    (edited )
    Link
    "Come on, kids! Let's all sit in front of the tree and watch a nice traditional Christmas movie: 'Die Hard!" Yeah... I'm not seeing it.

    "Come on, kids! Let's all sit in front of the tree and watch a nice traditional Christmas movie: 'Die Hard!"

    Yeah... I'm not seeing it.

    1 vote
    1. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        Because Christmas is a family occasion?

        Because Christmas is a family occasion?

        1. gtwillwin
          Link Parent
          You're imposing a pretty narrow definition of what a family is. Not every family has young children, whether they never had kids or the kids are grown. Sure, Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie for a...

          You're imposing a pretty narrow definition of what a family is. Not every family has young children, whether they never had kids or the kids are grown. Sure, Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie for a family with little kids, but neither is Christmas Vacation and that's indisputably a Christmas movie. The litmus test of "family friendliness" really breaks down when you look at any of the more adult Christmas movies out there.

          2 votes
    2. [2]
      StellarV
      Link Parent
      I've never known anyone to be serious about it being a Christmas movie. It's tongue in cheek. I do watch it around Christmas just for fun and if anyone asks I'll say it's a Christmas movie but I'm...

      I've never known anyone to be serious about it being a Christmas movie. It's tongue in cheek. I do watch it around Christmas just for fun and if anyone asks I'll say it's a Christmas movie but I'm mostly joking. Christmas just happens to be the setting but most of it doesn't really matter when it happens. It's just an excuse for the building to be mostly empty and a few jokes about it. It could be New Year's Eve or Halloween or any major holiday and it would work just fine.

      1 vote
      1. gtwillwin
        Link Parent
        I don't know, it definitely is kinda tongue in cheek, but I actually seriously believe that Die Hard should be a Christmas movie. If it walks like a duck... If it's about Christmas (or at least if...

        I don't know, it definitely is kinda tongue in cheek, but I actually seriously believe that Die Hard should be a Christmas movie. If it walks like a duck...

        If it's about Christmas (or at least if Christmas is the setting) and people generally watch and/or talk about the movie around Christmas, which the article shows people do, then I'm inclined to call it a Christmas movie.

        1 vote
  3. Adam_Black_Arts
    Link
    Trancers will always be my favorite Xmas movie.

    Trancers will always be my favorite Xmas movie.

  4. [4]
    Cosmos
    Link
    My least favorite part about Christmas is this pointless debate. It's sad seeing people waste so many resources into something so inconsequential.

    My least favorite part about Christmas is this pointless debate. It's sad seeing people waste so many resources into something so inconsequential.

    1. [3]
      Kraetos
      Link Parent
      What an odd thing to pass judgement on. If people enjoy performing the analysis, and other people enjoy reading the analysis, what's "sad" about it?

      What an odd thing to pass judgement on. If people enjoy performing the analysis, and other people enjoy reading the analysis, what's "sad" about it?

      8 votes
      1. [2]
        Cosmos
        Link Parent
        It's not the enjoyment that is sad. It's the heated debates over something so pointless. Most often when I see this topic brought up, people don't seem to be enjoying it.

        It's not the enjoyment that is sad. It's the heated debates over something so pointless. Most often when I see this topic brought up, people don't seem to be enjoying it.

        1. Kraetos
          Link Parent
          I have literally never encountered this "debate" in any context other than a humorous one. I mean, come on, just look at the first two sentences of this article:

          I have literally never encountered this "debate" in any context other than a humorous one. I mean, come on, just look at the first two sentences of this article:

          Ok, enough bickering and fighting. Let’s settle this once and for all in the only way I know how – going into a topic in way too much detail.

          As we prepare to enter the year 32 ADH (a.k.a. After Die Hard), the world is gripped by a constantly nagging question.