It's a Christmas Movie.

Movies with Mikey returns with a fresh look at the Die Hard franchise via a deep dive (no, not that kind) into the original--an action-packed Christmas movie for all seasons.
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Hello! We are Mikey and Teara and we run Filmjoy. We love to watch TV and movies and talk about why they’re art. We occasionally play some games too. We are now a Nebula First channel, check out our latest video before it hits KZbin
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Movies with Mikey is a positive look at film criticism through the eyes of someone who loves movies to an unhealthy degree.
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Opening Titles:
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[@shebjess]

As a 90s baby, I grew up with Die Hard and I absolutely love it but I want to talk about the most groundbreaking, earth-shattering thing about the whole thing for me: Theo, the tech guy. I'm a Black nerd who was surrounded by other Black nerds and in the 90s, all we had was Dwayne Wayne and Urkel, neither of whom I really connected with (Especially as a cis-woman). Theo was the first time I saw a Black Nerd and just LOVED him. Theo isn't the punching bag or pathetic or an outsider among Hans' crew. He's just the best?? Like, Theo is cool and he doesn't feel like a mindless henchman. He talks back to Hans and they quip together. He's amazing!!! That's the thing I'm most thankful to Die Hard.

[@danielforinton7629]

And also, completely against type, gets out alive. The black bad guy... survives. I wonder how much the film makers had to fight to keep that

[@agonleed3841]

@@danielforinton7629 well...it's the black good guy that has the trope of dying first. The black bad guy is the image black people got tired of. not that we wanted less of it..just more of the black good guy to balance it out

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

yes! I love him everytime I watch it again!

[@henriklarsen8193]

@@agonleed3841 And you got Argyle, who also takes down Theo, and you got the total heart of the movie, mammafreakin' AL! I never realized how big a role black people play in this movie till now. Thanks, that's really cool!

[@gowkie3940]

And the quarterback is TOOOAST.

[@jasonblalock4429]

The funny thing about the "what if George Bailey never found redemption" thing is that it basically mirrors many of James Stewart's later darker characters. Most of them have a backstory that boils down to "former idealist got screwed and became hard-edged." If George Bailey hadn't been redeemed, he'd have turned into a Stewart western antihero. (Also, 9:15 is my favorite argument for why Die Hard is a Christmas movie: it has a Christmas miracle.)

[@amandaski]

I was literally just rewatching this playlist for the 348th time

[@jimmyboyle3543]

You and me both.

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

What playlist?

[@abbyamfo6387]

Supersamstuff???

[@Rankerquat]

Ok, so, y'know Discworld, right? I was trying to explain to my friends how weird it is to finish the book, _The Light Fantastic,_ and move onto the other Rincewind books. Honest-to-God, The EXACT metaphor I used was: "Imagine if _It's a Wonderful Life_ got a bunch of sequels where George's life just gets worse and worse" 15:10

[@theflickchick9850]

Discworld fans in a Die Hard vid? I am in the right place.

[@stephensmith1509]

"Our collective arrested development ensures that our favourite characters will never grow up and never fix it." Jesus Mikey, that's bleak. And real.

[@Gledster]

The day is always better when there's a new Movies with Mikey to watch. True story about Die Hard 5. I'm a cinema manager. I was talking to one of the marketing representatives for Fox who was trying to persuade me to spend time organising competitions and such to push Die Hard 5 on release. I explained to her that I was a HUGE fan of Die Hard and was concerned that Die Hard 5 would be really bad. The Fox rep reassured me and said "You don't need to worry, it's great." Reader: She lied. Die Hard 5 is AWFUL. Great episode Mikey.

[@NateWBell]

Mikey, this was a tremendous episode! Your points about sequels stagnating a character's growth are bang on. It's hard watching a character you love essentially relive their first outing ad infinitum and never get to experience the normalcy they fight so hard for. The marriage falls apart, the loved one dies, the hero spirals into depression, etc. Sometimes it works, but for the most part I find the wishing for a sequel to be sweeter than actually getting one.

[@jasonhunter2819]

I have a tiny fragment of hope, based solely on an actor grabbing more control over his character's direction and a short teaser, that Thor: Love and Thunder miiiiiiiight break this mold

[@Tuaron]

It's not just movie sequels, either - it is an issue that plagues many TV shows, especially stuff like superhero shows (looking at you, Flash). As you mention, there are ways that can work (it is somewhat realistic for people to slip back into past problems even after learning not to), but far too often it's done poorly because that undoing of the change is only there to ensure it's the "character we know and love".

[@Religion0]

@@jasonhunter2819 it's also directed by Taita Waititi, who has so far proven to be brilliant and generally willing to move characters forward. I have high hopes.

[@HDimagination]

I always had the feeling that each successive Die Hard sequel started life as an unrelated action movie script that just had the protaganist's name filed off and replaced with John McLain and then the minimum amount of connective tissue was added afterwards.

[@JerkingtheGerk]

God, Alan Rickman was the most incredible thing ever in Die Hard. He might have been the best part of the Harry Potter movies too.

[@jaciem]

He was definitely the best part of Costner's Robin Hood.

[@Gledster]

@@jaciem "Because it's DULL you fool, it'll hurt more!"

[@theflickchick9850]

I'm 99% certain that Alan Rickman is THE reason to watch those films.

[@JerkingtheGerk]

@@theflickchick9850 The kids do get a lot better over the years but I agree. He’s really fun as Snape

[@ShiksaWithChutzpah1]

Rickman is the reason I have a tough time with the Die Hard sequels, all of em. He's an impossible act to follow and all of the villains that came afterwards, even Jeremy Irons, didn't come close to Rickman's sublime characterization of Hans Gruber.

[@csljrrt09]

Every time someone talks about people being hollowed out by sequels, I just wave towards "Last Action Hero" which predicted this decades ago. Amazing video! Me and my Mom (who has seen every Die Hard movie in theaters) loved it.

[@iandavid7730]

Last Action Hero is a film of its time, after its time and before its time all at once. Made now, it would rake it in.

[@ojisankusai]

Watching this, knowing how Bruce Willis winds up in life, gives me the most melancholic feelings about Die Hard and how the character of John McClane never truly develops throughout the series as a character. It's both sad and comforting at the same time, to know that McClane - unfortunately unlike Willis - will never change. Bruce Willis and his family, I feel, should take at least some solace in that.

[@thehopeofeden597]

I feel like every time I’m at a low point in my life, Mikey comes out with a video and whether it’s one of the really heart rendering ones or just a cheese fest about a movie he loves I always identify with it. Thanks Mikey.

[@stevencrampton8506]

I've been screaming for them to hand the Die Hard reins over to Mary Elizabeth Winstead for about... 12 years now?

[@lgob7]

...you have finally convinced me Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Dang it, Mikey. Well played ;-}

[@clarapilier]

It's not Christmas until Hanz Gruber falls off the Nakatomi building.

[@UncleJessy]

Movies with Mikey + Friday night + Die Hard = yippee ki yay!

[@billyrubin7713]

'come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs." I go to this quote more often than 'yipee-kai-yay'.

[@davidarlund4262]

Man, I still get a little kick in my chest every time I watch through the credits, expecting to see Andrew Hackard's name there, then remember he's gone.

[@jaws1313]

thats an LA badge. They technically had him somehow lateral transfer from NYPD to LAPD for the second movie (which is famously common in LAPD because they are unusually accepting of older lateral transfers) but retconned it or something so he could be back in New York for the third one.

[@TheRenegadeMonk]

Don't you wish Alan Rickman could have lived to play MCU Dr Doom!?

[@dwc1964]

I loved _Die Hard III_ about as much as the first - because Samuel L. Jackson, of course. In fact, I've loved every movie I've ever seen that Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are both in, including where they share zero screen time together ( _Pulp Fiction_ ). I was sad that Mikey didn't find anything worth talking about, about it. Basically stopping with _II_ which was just _bad._

[@Superphilipp]

II is exciting and fun

[@orinanime]

DH 1,3,&4 are my trilogy. I pretend 2 & 5 don't exist

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

People dislike the second one? Really?

[@matthijsclaessen8152]

Don’t forget Jeremy Irons as the ultimate in smooth accented baddies…

[@gurthangorcus]

Even as a big fan of Die Hard, I learned many interesting things. Thank you Mikey! I hope everything is going well with the new place!

[@mickbanner]

I wrote my dissertation about how Holly gave up her independence as a working woman to conform to the 'loving wife'. She went from a high ranking professional that uses her Maiden name... to reverting back to her gushing wife McClaine. This is encapsulated perfectly when Bruce (john) unclips her watch (given to her for her hardwork) to strip her of everything that celebrates her independence. (I had another load of points...but I wrote it like 15 years ago now)

[@shebjess]

Oh, that's an interesting way of thinking of it! Thanks for sharing

[@orangeants]

Oooh that's brilliant

[@JoshuaGoudreau]

Every time I see a new Mikey video my heart warms up and have to go watch it. Seriously, the vast majority of channels are all about negativity and less on analysis so the fact that your essays are primarily about wholesomeness and analysis, I am here for it

[@MatthewMe]

Though I'd say the third one was pretty entertaining (when I was a teenager), I think you nailed it. It broke its own trope by not having the main character change.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Bless Dan Olsen. 10/10 meme-ing here.

[@Troggie42]

Yo Mikey! Thanks for putting out another banger, really enjoyed this, keep up the good work :)

[@Seranov]

I was maybe sixteen when I realized that Die Hard 2 is literally Die Hard 1 with the serial numbers filed off. There is one singular change: the blue blanks and the red reals. Everything else is the same movie but, you know, that thing they did already. I still like the first two, thought the third was alright, and didn't mind the fourth one, but the fifth one was painful to watch and I wish they hadn't bothered.

[@macmcleod1188]

I wish that the 4th movie had been about John McClane. Maybe him and his daughter getting together for Christmas more of a character movie that showed us the characters happy ending. As it is John McClane is too much like Slater in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Last Action Hero.

[@nope5657]

Die Hard 3 is nearly as good as the first.

[@thatkidwiththehoodie]

Speaking of Shane Black, here’s a question I don’t see brought up enough: is Iron Man 3 a Christmas movie? Spoilers, it is.

[@Ch0cken]

Growing up I watched Live Free or Die Hard all the time and it was the first Die Hard movie I saw. Of course I saw the original some time later and it is my favorite, but I never really thought about what the did to John as a character. To me that was always how it was going to happen because I went in reverse order. I think about the problems with sequels and how throw their character right back into the same situation over and over all the time (especially in regards to the Terminator franchise), but I never thought about Die Hard like that. Thanks for the video, Mikey!

[@notbenh]

This was a great send off for Bruce.

[@jBownz]

Mikey, bravo again sir. Your love of the movie art is contagious and makes the deep dives oh so riveting.

[@awjallen]

Did I watch Die Hard for the first time yesterday so I could watch this? Yes.

[@brennanacton177]

"Never quite replicating the lightning salad in the bottle the same way with each sequential sequel" is a hell of a statement, lolololol!

[@soniashapiro4827]

When I'm unhappy a FilmJoy video is the only moment of respite and light in a dark and dreary day. I'm cheerful these days and I discover that still do a happy wriggly dance at my desk chair to see a new FilmJoy video. Thank-you! Thank-you!

[@2nd3rd1st]

13:36 That synchronized head swivel *muah* chef's keeas

[@phillytyrant5650]

Why this channel doesn't have 10 million subs I'll never understand. Best movie channel ever. Nothing else gets close.

[@richteffekt]

Mikey doing a piece on Die Hard. Wait, this had not yet existed? The overly long cold open, the credit music - it's just come out, okay, and yet I got somewhat nostalgic. Good times. Thank you, as always.

[@OofHearted]

That intro music still gets me evey time, how can I not dance to that tune knowing that the moments after are guaranteed to be even better with an awesome video!

[@ekoostic]

i just wanted to say, that last little rift on "but did u know?" was straight class

[@agoon7092]

Always makes my day when I find a new Movies with Mikey on my feed. Glad your still doing them dude. Always entertaining.

[@---l---]

Just the best. I friggin love this channel

[@edbright]

Needed this today thank you Mikey and co 🥰

[@wolfishxwillow]

What an absolutely lovely episode! I'm always SO happy to see a new Movies with Mikey

[@Kagedtiger]

Not to hyperfocus here or anything, but that transition edit at 13:36 tho. DANG Mikey.

[@biltrex]

McTiernan and on-set writers figuring out how to solve narrative and tone problems made two of the great movies of the 80's. I mean... if there's a formula we should exploit, isn't it THAT? Start with 3/4s of a script, let McTiernan direct for 8 weeks, and then throw Shane Black on set for another month of shooting and reshoots. I bet we could get two more classics, minimum! Step 3: PROFIT.

[@kamome2948]

One day there needs to ba a movies with mikey about the ART that is movies with mikey. The edit in this one perticular outshines the glorious editing of the episodes before. I wish for this series to never ever end. But one day it will. And I already morn, while I glee watching this.

[@logey-lynnloge9532]

this is exactly what i needed today! So glad to have a new Movies with Mikey! waiting for the next Deep dive!

[@phimuskapsi]

Oh this is the best Friday present ever. Thank you Mikey! We've missed you! Hope things in your life are settling down.

[@timothyhanson5384]

Most excellent, Mikey. You did an amazing job with this one. Just beautiful.

[@abreyes2715]

I’m always happy to see one of your new videos come up in my queue. Thanks to this last video, I spend this last weekend rewatching all the Die Hard Movies.

[@pelecrickle5935]

Thank you Mikey and Film Joy.

[@davidfausel9029]

What can I say, Mikey. Your content, as always, is some of the best available on youtube. Smary, funny, poignant. Well written, perfectly edited and just engaging as all hell. It really make my day when you release a new video. :-). Thank you, sir, for all you do.

[@seabrin]

Best think on KZbin! Love you Mikey!

[@y6le]

first off EXCELLENT episode but second: the addition of another moving visual in the credits beyond the background animation really helped reduce the slight eye strain that i've gotten from some of your credit sequences in the past so i want to thank you and/or whoever does the edit! i hope the dancing beast or something else similarly fluid sticks around for future credits :)

[@smallbar2012]

I read the Earthsea series for the first time last year and it's the best example I've ever seen of a franchise actually letting it's characters grow. By the time you get to the end of the sixth novel, the main character doesn't even have his powers anymore, and the baton is passed to a new generation. I can't imagine media being made like that anymore.

[@OddWoN316]

Got to see "the world premiere" at PAX East. It was a fun panel and episode! Appreciate all the hard work the team puts into make thoughtful and engaging videos!

[@marchingham]

Another fantastic episode!!

[@movedmindpoRUSZonyUMYS]

As always, watching Mikey is a highlight of the day. Thank you for that, Mikey.

[@downwithfun]

As a huge Die Hard fan, you definitely did the topic justice. Awesome vid

[@zukezamamee9033]

Good to see you back to form!

[@SeanRiordan]

I'm so glad you've kept moving with your extraordinary talent. A year+ ago it seemed like you weren't feeling this/life and I left a comment telling you that what you've been working on is amazing and affects people in a positive way. Not that my comment was the kicker, but I'm so glad you've overcome issues and continued being awesome. Please keep these videos coming, you'll be remembered years into the future for your insight, talent, and ability to break movies down. Wish you the best bud!

[@caitlineder6950]

Great video! I love Die Hard, it's a blast of a movie, but I really appreciate you acknowledging how much of a bad taste Powell's character arc leaves in the mouth in hindsight. Reginald VelJohnson did a great job playing him and deserved better than that, imo

[@YYZed]

13:36 WHY DO I LOVE THIS EDIT SO MUCH

[@richardro8642]

Hell yeah, more Filmjoy, and more Mikey neuman!!!

[@thebaccathatchews]

Phil M Joy, you've done it again. Great work.

[@abreyes2715]

I have never given “Pacing“ in a movie much thought, but once you pointed this out for Die Hard I rewatched it again to confirm. You were absolutely right. This becomes more apparent once you compare it to the others who don’t have the same pacing. In fact every move done in the first movie seems to have been executed to perfection. It’s for this reason why I think the first one is the best in the series.

[@montrealronin]

What a perfect vid to be reminded of your existence. A++ video essay, Mikey, thank you. Also RIP Marvin

[@montrealronin]

Argh, not THAT Marvin.

[@heavysetmedia1904]

quite literally yesterday I was thinking, hmm, haven't seen anything from Mikey lately, I hope he is fine and I hope we see something soon! so happy this is up!!

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

This is just amazing I expect to watch it every six months just as I do with Die Hard

[@TheBlairSwitch]

Great episode.

[@GeekMasterGames]

I wish nothing but the best for Bruce. He was and still is an icon of action cinema.

[@beautifulmidnight]

I got legitimately excited that this got uploaded on my birthday. What a damn gift. Thank you

[@Dorian_sapiens]

Belated happy birthday!

[@samroyston7281]

Yoooooo Filmjoy!!!!! You guys were amazing to see live at PAX, come back soon

[@robertjacques6812]

Still best intro music of all time

[@carlrowlinson2833]

At 300k subs, this channel is still CRIMINALLY underrated

[@aerthreepwood8021]

God, I love this channel.

[@theflickchick9850]

I just showed this film to my friends for the first time ever just last Friday. It's my ultimate comfort film so I'm really hyped to watch this. It changed my life. I pined after it all through middle school and it was the first R rated film I ever saw (I convinced my mom to show it to me since my favourite actor Alan Rickman died). And I absolutely LOVE that you brought up the idea that we as the audience make sure characters never last because this idea that we as human beings constantly reboot and relive the lives of people who are so miserable is...please try not to cringe...something I was working out in my fanfiction. The characters of our fiction are both in awe of us for creating them and absolutely HATE us for writing out their lives and never giving them peace.

[@philopharynx7910]

Imagine a version of Die Hard where it's New Years Day. You'd have to change a few lines and re-dress the set, but it would still be a kick ass movie. If you can take Christmas out without breaking the movie, it's not a Christmas movie.

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@keigoftw]

Thank you, you have broken the spell of my insomnia. Good night

[@maartentoors]

But DYK: 'Arrested Development' was a band back in the early 90's... Alan Rickman 4 LIFE!

[@emmablake1913]

Taking risks in film! You love to see it. Thank you for this wonderful essay, Mikey. Lots of background info I didn't know. Bruce Willis is the ultimate divorced dad in our minds forever.

[@JamesDavis-ek5sq]

welcome back. we missed you.

[@joshhardin666]

Saw this already about an hour ago but it was fantastic! #paxeast2022. Great times.

[@dancingpotplant]

Entertaining and informative as always, good work. Also, what's the outro music please?

[@Sleeepehead]

filmjoy uploads? best day ever

[@calvincostic]

“Our collective arrested development ensures that our favorite characters will never grow up and never ‘fix it.’” Man…so true, it’s depressing 😭

[@mechanicaldavid4827]

Still waiting for Zack Snyder to (re?) make "Day of the Die Hard" but this video essay is stimulating much more than my ironic intention receptors. Nicely done, Mikey.

[@nikkiking4044]

I think this was the fastest I clicked on a YT notification ever. Movies With Mikey? Die Hard? Sold. Watch it on the big TV.

[@ampersand2001]

ThankYouuuuuuuu

[@renaigh]

Merry Christmas

[@traviswolf6099]

Holy shit I watched this video while high after a root canal and literally thought for the last three months that I dreamed a Die Hard video essay

[@DerekLuetjen]

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if you did a video on Everything Everywhere all at once.

[@eyeln9ne696]

Great stuff my friend. I grew up in the mid 80's through the 90's, and Bruce was always my favorite bad ass. Unfortunately my love for John McClain might have contributed to my 20+ years cigarette addiction... Whoops.

[@jiggygrand]

Han's Goobers!!!! Hilarious!

[@Ryan-the-Rocketeer]

I wish bruce would retire with one final die hard movie. Could title it (OLD HABITS DIE HARD)

[@agonleed3841]

and he just makes a Cameo saying, "yippy kaye mf" and that's it. the beginning his his retirement and you literally don't see him in the movie ever again lmao

[@dchetz]

I can watch interpretations of Die Hard endlessly….. but one from MwM?? Makes. My. Day!!!

[@laotasurfs1110]

Thank you, but I now have a mighty need for It's a Wonderful Life 2, where Jimmy Stewart battles terrorists and blows up planes.

[@ForesterFire]

Hey Mikey's back. I am happy to see another vid of yours. Anywho, in my opinion, Diehard should have been a one off. But I actually liked with a vengeance. soooooooooo. Yeah.