It’s a Wonderful Life:
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) is a timeless Christmas movie. George Bailey (James Stuart), faces challenges in his adult life and is on the brink of giving up on his community of Bedford Falls. As he gets drunk on Christmas Eve, an angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), appears and shows him his worth. With his lifelong dedication to good deeds, Bailey realizes how much he truly did for his community.
The film’s Christmas theme appears in the second half of the film, where Bailey faces financial ruin on Christmas Eve when the greedy villain, Potter, steals his money and puts him on the verge of bankruptcy. Feeling like a failure after being unable to fulfill his dream to travel the world, he reaches an all-time low. However, his angel, Clarence, saves him by showing what would have happened to Bedford Falls if he had not existed. In the end, Bailey receives his money back from all of the people that he has helped, conveying the message that finding space for others and how doing good churns ripples across one’s community. Overall, I love this movie as a vintage classic, a heart-warmer and an inspiring story.
Die Hard:
“Die Hard” (1998) is a Christmas-action classic, featuring New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis), who attends a Christmas party to see his estranged wife in Los Angeles. However, when German terrorists seize the building, McClane, with just a pistol, must rescue the hostages.
Having watched my fair share of action movies, “Die Hard” manages to stand out with its holiday season setting. Throughout the movie, Christmas trees and decorations fill the backdrop of fistfights and shootouts, tying a special bow on top. No matter what anyone else says, the Christmas memorabilia and party setting is enough for me to see it as a traditional movie for the holidays.
I tense up whenever I see a fight break out on the roof of the 40-story Nakatomi Plaza, and the gruesome fight scenes — while perhaps gory and not suited for those with weak stomachs — are more than just your average choreographed fistfight: Most of them include an unexpected, special twist within. Overall, “Die Hard” is a movie that can certainly be enjoyed as a holiday special, just maybe not with the family.
