Die Hard isnt a Christmas movie

Die Hard isnt a Christmas movie Dec 9, 2018 21:44:26 GMT taylorfirst1, poelzig, and 1 more like this

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Post by Salzmank on Dec 9, 2018 21:44:26 GMT

Dec 9, 2018 21:43:01 GMT @bartlesby said:

Dec 9, 2018 21:28:10 GMT Salzmank said:

I can’t entirely agree with your reading– aside from another message of the film i.e. the value of a man and how everyone makes a difference in the lives of those around them, sometimes in unexpected ways.

However, the anti-capitalist message absolutely is present. Mr. Potter is depicted as a fat cat concerned only with money. When George sees the alternate reality where he never existed, Potter has transformed the town from small town Americana to a seedy and callous neon strip. He puts profit over the lives of others, no matter the consequences, and is representative of unfettered Capitalist greed. When George Bailey’s business is saved at the end, it is because the common people (stand-ins for the working class) come together to save his loan company. Socialism saves the day from the uncaring capitalist.

And I certainly cannot agree with your reading, especially because the hero is a small businessman. It’s not the government saving the day, it’s each person banding together–community, not communism. Under your reading, it’s the least-convincing anti-capitalism film ever made, one in which a capitalist businessman is the hero and a fat cat in bed with the government is the villain.

Of course the movie believes that virtue is better than profit, but many people who believe in a free-market do too (myself included). That doesn’t make the film anti-capitalist, simply pro-virtue. Politically, the movie seems to be teaching that business, like everything in life, can be wicked (Mr. Potter) or good (George), and that we should choose the latter–not that business shouldn’t exist at all.