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The Great Debate: Is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

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The Great Debate: Is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

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Old 12-25-10, 12:54 AM
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The Great Debate: Is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

This has been an ongoing debate between my sister, her husband, and me. She thinks Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are not Christmas movies. We both disagree with her.

Both take place during Christmas time. both have references to Christmas. Therefore I consider both to be a Christmas movie.

What do you guys think?
Old 12-25-10, 02:54 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

They're eligible for the Holiday challenge. They're not Christmas movies in sense that they're not directly about Christmas, but they are clearly set at Christmastime. Same with Batman Returns, On Her Majesty's Secret and this year's Red. There are a whole host of these set-at-but-not-about-Christmas movies out there.

Similarly, Jaws isn't about patriotism, but it's set around the Fourth of July. So, too, is I Know What You Did Last Summer. A holiday is ultimately just a date on the calendar and is as much a setting as it is a concept.
Old 12-25-10, 03:15 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?



Case closed.
Old 12-25-10, 03:48 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

"A Christmas Movie" is a movie centered around the Christmas holiday that explores the meaning of the holiday and the themes that are culturally associated with it.

If Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, then Black Sunday is a Sports Movie --and it is not.
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Old 12-25-10, 05:12 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by Count Dooku
"A Christmas Movie" is a movie centered around the Christmas holiday that explores the meaning of the holiday and the themes that are culturally associated with it.

If Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, then Black Sunday is a Sports Movie --and it is not.
I'm pretty sure love, greed, and fighting are all things that are associated with Christmas, for better or worse. Die Hard has all three.
Old 12-25-10, 05:44 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

I lean toward neither being Christmas movies.
Old 12-25-10, 06:32 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Die Hard 1 and 2, definately. The rest, not necessarily.
Old 12-25-10, 06:37 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

My mom and I watch Die Hard 1 & 2 every Christmas along with our holiday cartoons. To us, they qualify as Christmas films.
Old 12-25-10, 08:10 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

To me a Christmas movie is one that you'd have no desire to see any other time of the year. Nobody watches The Santa Clause in May. LW & DH work any time of year. Actually neither one were originally released anywhere near Christmastime.
Old 12-25-10, 08:22 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 08:24 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Badder Santa, not that's a Christmas movie... -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 09:34 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kd5
I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 11:44 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kd5
I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 11:46 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kd5
I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 11:53 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kd5
I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 11:56 AM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kd5
I wouldn't classify either of them as Christmas movies, neither one are about Christmas, the stories just happen to occur at Christmastime. -kd5-
Old 12-25-10, 12:06 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

When I want to watch a movie on Christmas, I want to watch something that has something Christmas-y in it. If you were to ask me if I'd rather watch Jaws or Die Hard on Christmas, I'd take Die Hard any day. Therefor to me, I qualify it as a Christmas movie (that has the advantage of being able to be watched any time of year). Lethal Weapon is the same way, along with Gremlins.
Old 12-25-10, 01:04 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

I'm sorry, but this is THE Great Debate?
Old 12-25-10, 01:16 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by kstublen
I'm pretty sure love, greed, and fighting are all things that are associated with Christmas, for better or worse. Die Hard has all three.


So, by your definition, this would be the new Christmas classic of 2010.
Old 12-25-10, 01:22 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

The only Christmas movies I watch this time of year are Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and Gremlins.
Old 12-25-10, 02:54 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by Count Dooku


So, by your definition, this would be the new Christmas classic of 2010.
Yeah that's obviously what he meant. Fact is even though it isn't a traditional movie about Christmas it still is taking place during the Christmas season so it kind of can count as a Christmas movie even though it really isn't. My opinion at least.
Old 12-25-10, 03:42 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

No. If you want subversive Christmas movies, go with The Ice Harvest.
Old 12-25-10, 03:55 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

Originally Posted by Mike86
Yeah that's obviously what he meant. Fact is even though it isn't a traditional movie about Christmas it still is taking place during the Christmas season so it kind of can count as a Christmas movie even though it really isn't. My opinion at least.
That settles the debate!
Old 12-25-10, 05:19 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

I think both do. I tend to watch Die Hard every Christmas season. I also think Love Actually is a Christmas flick, though some say it's just a romantic comedy set at Christmas. Gremlins also qualifies as Christmas IMO.
Old 12-25-10, 06:06 PM
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Re: The Great Debate ; is Die Hard and Lethal Weapon a X-mas movie?

The great debate.

All you have to do is define the term "Christmas movie" before you make your bold declaration. As others have pointed out, some define that as a movie about Christmas, while others simply think it's a movie which has a Christmas setting. So the next time you bring it up with your family, here's how you say it, "A Christmas movie is any movie with some Christmas stuff in it, but doesn't have to have a Christmas theme. Ergo, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are Christmas movies." If you put it like that, no one can argue with you. They may argue about your definition (as I would), but they certainly can't argue your conclusion based on your thesis.


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