Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

[overgeeked]

Some people have the most intense feelings about the dumbest possible things.

 

[Umbran]

From the use of music, the family unification theme, the date it happens, to the setting (an xmas party), a christmas miracle (the vault being opened is framed - comically - as that), and so on. . . I think there is plenty that comes obvious from multiple modes of analysis.

The family unification theme is the only solid bit here. Unfortunately, it isn't sufficient on its own, especially when much of the rest of the film is spent... killing people who are also likely to be members of families. The bloody, explosive deaths kind of undermine that point.

The rest are merely Christmas references. Do you figure all that is required to be a Christmas movie is to reference Christmas enough times?

 

[el-remmen]

Do you figure all that is required to be a Christmas movie is to reference Christmas enough times?

Uh, yes?

But I think Die Hard does more than that. . . but you can continue to be stubborn about it. The Grinch is part of Christmas tradition too!

 

[el-remmen]

Being able to steal from a vault doesn't really fit the paradigm.

It is not the act itself, but how it is framed with the build up, music, and reaction that perfectly emulates the christmas miracle pay off. This is not some out of blue obscure thing. It is very obvious. My wife and I literally watch it every every year on Xmas Eve (though last year a little earlier b/c we got to see it in a theater for the. . . Annual Xmas Movie Film Festival. Ahem.

I guess folks don't think of Home Alone as a Christmas movie either?

 

[Umbran]

Uh, yes?

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that position. I just think it has no value in terms of either critique or genre classification.

I have no real desire to continue with you on the subject, especially given the next bit....

But I think Die Hard does more than that. . . but you can continue to be stubborn about it. The Grinch is part of Christmas tradition too!

Riiight. Because, making the discussion personal when you can pretend it is a joke is okay?

Have a nice holiday.
I'm out.

 

[el-remmen]

 

[dbolack]

Some folks really really hate Die Hard being a Christmas movie. They simply cant see the joy it brings to a lot of folks and just demand that their standard of a Christmas movie must be adhered to. It just feels totally out of the spirit of the season to me.

The Spirit of the Season was slain by Gimbels in the final battle of the War on Christmas.

 

[Ryujin]

I think you are mixing the sequel up here?

Nope. Whackadoodle colonel and his loyal idiots seize an out building at Dulles, take over the automated navigation system, and hold all the planes awaiting clearance hostage.

 

[payn]

Nope. Whackadoodle colonel and his loyal idiots seize an out building at Dulles, take over the automated navigation system, and hold all the planes awaiting clearance hostage.

lol, I missed the "-er" part in the post.

 

[Ryujin]

The family unification theme is the only solid bit here. Unfortunately, it isn't sufficient on its own, especially when much of the rest of the film is spent... killing people who are also likely to be members of families. The bloody, explosive deaths kind of undermine that point.

The rest are merely Christmas references. Do you figure all that is required to be a Christmas movie is to reference Christmas enough times?

I tend to lean on the concept that if a movie could easily be reframed to occur at any other time of year, then it's not a Christmas Movie. I was once of the "Die Hard is a Christmas Movie" camp, but the afore-mentioned requirement doesn't support it. Take out the surface level Christmas references and make the party about landing a big contract, and the movie still works perfectly.