10 'Alternative' Christmas Films That Still Employ Classic Festive Themes

2. You'd Better Watch Out, You better Not Cry, Better Not Pout, I'm Telling You Why. Because Terrorists Have Taken Over The Nakatomi Plaza: Die Hard (And Die Hard 2: Die Harder)

And talking of action, Christmas violence doesn't get any better than a bare footed Bruce Willis running through the corridors of a skyscraper in LA, taking out baddies with quotable quips like 'Yippie-ki-yay, motherf**ker!" This is 80's action at its very best. Willis' is a loveable rogue as John McClane, blowing up elevators with C4 explosives and gunning down the terrorists while the FBI and LA police department look on helplessly. (Except Officer Powell of course, who demonstrates an ounce of common sense). Bonnie Bedelia plays off well as John's estranged wife Holly without coming off too bitchy or cold. And Alan Rickman is at his 'moustache-twirling' villain best as terrorist leader Hans Gruber. With some exciting moments; McClane saving the captors as the FBI helicopter closes in, exploding on the top of the Nakatomi Plaza is possibly the highlight. But while there's plenty of leave your brain at the door' action to be had, it has the charm and festive cheer to make this a great alternative Christmas film too. Not just in the setting, but the idea of John McClane fighting the odds to save his wife and reunite his family for Christmas too. If you ever thought battling snow-swept roads on Christmas Eve was a challenge, try taking on 12 terrorists! And then Die Hard 2 adds on the Christmas snow as terrorists put Holly's life in danger once again as they threaten to crash her plane as she returns home to him for the holidays. Plenty of carnage later (including the shocking destruction of another plane), John McClane shows that nothing gets between him and family at Christmas...