Die Hard (8.1/10)

Watching Die Hard for the first time—and on Christmas, no less—was a fun experience, but I still don’t consider it a Christmas movie. The story simply takes place on Christmas Eve; the holiday itself isn’t central to the plot.

That said, I really enjoyed it and can see why it kicked off such a popular series. John McClane is a solid, entertaining lead, and the movie balances action and humor well. It’s definitely a bit cheesy at times, but in a way that adds to its charm rather than taking away from it. Overall, it’s a fun, classic action film and a strong start to the franchise—even if I’m not fully sold on its holiday status initially. "New York City policeman John McClane is visiting his estranged wife and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there's no one to save the hostages -- but him."