I think we can all agree upon the fact, that assembling a Holiday/Christmas movie can be quite the simple affair. Because this is a magical time of year, one that puts a smile on everyone’s face at some point or another, regardless of the tough days they may or may not face, simply because everyone is focused on the spirit of the season and that really does change the energy in the air. And when that level of joy is everywhere to be found, it’s easy to create stories that harness smiles and that’s why you see so many movies in this vein this time of year, because writers and directors and actors and producers everywhere, are able to seize the zeitgeist of the holidays.
 
But while it is nice to see that feel-good entertainment can flood streaming services and television and theaters with minimal fuss, these are movies we tend to forget about once the season comes to an end and there is good reason for that. Because quick flashes of joy never quite stay with us, and we need something far more palpable from these motion pictures in order for them to have a legacy. Which in turns brings about an important question; what is it then that separates the enduring classics from the stuff that The Hallmark Channel churns out? Well, the answer to that question is simple: substance. For the classics provide the audience with something powerful, something that resonates with us. It could be something as simple as capturing the spirit of the season, or in the case of the finest Christmas movie ever made, it could take the time to remind us of how we sometimes forget to celebrate the good things in our life. Which is the big problem that George Bailey faces in It’s a Wonderful Life.
 
Now this is one of those iconic films that everyone has seen or will see at some point in their life, which is damn impressive when one considers that it came out in 1946. Which means there will be no plot synopsis presented to anyone today. For it is best that we just dive right in and break down what makes this film so memorable and really the first element that allows for this movie to stick with the audience, are the characters present in this film. For every single person we meet in this story we’ve known a variant of, or we’ve been them at a particular point in our lives. And that allows for the audience to be drawn into a world of everyday people and since they’re good and normal folks, well minus Potter of course, we immediately want to root for them and see them succeed in life and oddly enough the relatability factor doesn’t end with characters that feel familiar.

​Because this movie does a frightfully phenomenal job of capturing some of life’s genuine struggles. Such as how our hopes and our dreams are sometimes dashed or altered by tragedy since George seems to be unable to escape the town, he ‘despises’ because of powerful events; such as the death of his father or Potter’s power play with the bank and well, we’ve been there. We’ve been ready to embark on an important chapter of our life only to have fate throw a wrench into our plans and we are forced to react on the fly and that really does strike one right in the heart, as does the film’s exploration of everyday anxiety. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of another Christmas themed drama that bothers to show the anxiety that comes with trying to tell someone we admire romantically how we really feel about them, or how the uncertainty of tomorrow can eat at our soul. But while all of this is powerful in its own right, it all pales in comparison to what this story examines in its finale.
 
For George’s decision to end his life, and the arrival of Clarence is where the movie dives deep into the need to take a step away from time to time and really examine our life and what it has gifted us with. Because we tend to forget, that we have people in our lives that really do go the extra mile for us and believe in us and worry about us day and night. And to complicate matters further, sometimes life and its incredible stresses get the better of us, prompting us to push those important people away. But when we do take that all-important moment to reflect and think about the good people surrounding us, it motivates us to be the person they admire, and give them every ounce of love they deserve and that’s a damn powerful message to be reminded of, one that really resonates with you long after this movie has come to an end.
 
If anything, I was ill prepared for how powerful and moving this movie turned out to be after all these years, and I suppose that’s my own fault for waiting so long to revisit this one. But I am glad that I did, because this really was a moving and engrossing viewing experience and man, it really does feature some next level storytelling, since the script is beautifully layered and of course, the performances are no joke either. Because the cast here really gives it their all, with a big shout out to Jimmy Stewart since he straight up puts on an acting clinic as George Bailey, and this film helps to remind everyone just how talented an actor that man was back in the day. But I digress, because what matters more here, is that this movie really is the standard when it comes to holiday films. Because it really does capture the spirit of the season and its meaning, and its exploration of how easy it is to get lost this time of year and its ability to give us pause and center us, makes it a truly unique motion picture, one that I imagine we will continue to celebrate for decades to come. 

Holiday traveling is something in life that no one ever looks forward to. When everyone is in a hurry trying to get to their destination as quickly as possible, attitudes tend to get a little worse for wear. The same thing happens to the people that are trying to help those get to their destinations, but they try to keep cooler heads than their customers.

Lt. John McClane is in Washington D.C. on one of his hardest assignments, dealing with his in-laws. Waiting for his wife Holly to arrive in D.C. as well, John’s instincts get the best of him when he notices some strange goings on around the airport terminal. Since he isn't a local officer, John is met with plenty of resistance from the locals, especially from Captain Lorenzo, the head of airport security.

Stumbling onto a plot that goes much deeper than expected, John uses all of his resources and winning personality to find out as much as possible and he comes to discover that he is up against a team of local terrorists that are highly trained by the U.S. military. Led by Colonel Stuart, the team is highly motivated to achieve their goal of raising havoc on the airport all in the hopes of freeing a foreign drug dealer. 

​Taking away the tower's communications, the terrorists have the airport along with all of the planes on approach in limbo as no one is allowed to land. With a blizzard moving into the area as well, the surrounding planes have no visibility to the airport or the runways. Not knowing what is happening on the ground and running on fumes, the pilots are anxious for any word from ground control on when to land. This proves to be a deadly situation for the flyers around the D.C. area as they are being directed by the terrorists who are looking for nothing more than to prove their power.

Die Hard 2 (which is also known as Die Hard 2: Die Harder) is the second installment in the series as John McClane is once again thrown into another panic filled Christmas. Trying with all of his might to save the unknowing passengers from an untimely demise, he is more focused on trying to save his wife who is onboard one of the planes circling the airport. The security force at the airport try as hard as they can to correct the issue at hand, but not knowing what they are up against, they call in one of the top military units. Knowing nothing about the unit's past, the D.C. crew is happy for the help, but are not prepared for what will ensue. 

Action, adventure and a reluctant hero make this a great movie overall. Die Hard 2 stays true to the original as John McClane continues to be the only person that can save the day. Trying to save everyone he possibly can, John is shocked by the lack of response that the locals can provide. With his wife’s life in trouble once again, he tries to take his game up to the highest level possible, but with it being around the holiday, he is held back from what he is really, really good at. Keeping it cool during the holidays could be one of the hardest things to do, but pulling that off during this stressful time is what really shows everyone what you are made of. Happy Holidays!

As the holidays approach, most people are looking to travel to see their loved ones out of state. Traveling this time of year is certainly one of the most taxing events anyone does during the holidays, so when you arrive to your destination, you are looking to sit back, relax and have some eggnog. Also, working to keep any brewing issues on the bench during this special family time is key, since all you’re trying to do is make sure everyone enjoys the holiday.

The same can be said about John McClane as he is on the way to visit his wife and kids who moved out to California. John will admit he has never been the best husband or father but is shocked to find out upon arriving at his wife’s office that she is going by her maiden name. Kelly Gennaro is a prominent part of the Nakatomi Corporation and is being treated as such by the company. Without missing a beat, John and Kelly get back into one of their standard arguments, but it is cut short by the Christmas celebration outside of her office.

With the marriage seeming to be on the rocks, John stays in his wife’s office and tries to clear his head when the sound of gunfire echoes through the building. Being a NYPD cop, John is trying to find a way to protect everyone in the party and comes up with a plan to have the local police come down to the building. Having his first attempt called off by the cunning terrorists, John takes more drastic measures to protect the hostages and himself. Having brought nothing to the party, John has to make do with his scavenger skills and is able to subdue several of the terrorists to make up his own arsenal.  

Hans Gruber is leading the charge on the building and is trying to unlock the secrets of the Nakatomi fortune. Having assembled an unstoppable force of mercenaries and a computer tech to crack electronic safes, Gruber is ready to take down the building and steal all of its treasures. Being a holiday, the police are hesitant to send any officers out for prank calls but have been pestered enough by McClane to send one car down to check out the situation. Being in the area, Sergeant Al Powell is called into to investigate, but is in for more than he could possibly imagine.  

Die Hard takes you on a fantastic ride as Detective John McClane goes from enjoying his vacation to battling ruthless terrorists. He is anchored by Hans Gruber who is looking to rid himself of the only threat that can keep him from accomplishing his goal. Having his best man look for McClane, Gruber is certain that his plan will go off without a hitch, but not knowing your adversary is a very dangerous problem as Hans works to get to know his.          

This movie features action to the max, and some of the best one-liners a movie can offer during the holiday season. Watching as a normal guy tries to save the day is just fantastic, and with it being set on Christmas Eve, well that only adds to the holiday cheer. As McClane moves around the building, taking out the threat along with trying to save the hostages, it makes you think about what the holiday is really about. Being with your family along with helping those in need is really the meaning of the season and yes, this action flick features that kind of theme! Happy Holidays!