29 minute read
RED CELL: XMAS SPECIAL
RED CELL THE GUNS OF
At christmas
BRUCE WILLIS DECLARED THAT “DIE HARD IS NOT A CHRISTMAS MOVIE,” BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR MANY AIRSOFTERS, US INCLUDED, WILL BE SETTLING DOWN TO GIVE THE 1988 MOVIE ITS ANNUAL VIEWING, AND IN FACT FOR US “CHRISTMAS DOESN’T BEGIN UNTIL HANS FALLS OFF NAKATOMI TOWER!” CONTINUING OUR DECEMBER FUN IT’S TIME FOR RED CELL TO LOOK AT THE “GUNS OF DIE HARD” AND GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHY IT MOST DEFINITELY IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!
“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we’ve no place to go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”
Sosings Vaughn Monroe in the soundtrack; “Die Hard” has all the features that make a good Christmas movie, and as I sit typing the first snowflakes of the winter are fluttering behind me; okay, it’s more sleet than snow, but a man can dream! Let’s look at the evidence shall we?
So, “Die Hard” is set at Christmas; New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife HOLLY (Bonnie Bedelia) so that he can be with his two daughters for Christmas. McClane heads, on Christmas Eve I may add, to join her at a Christmas party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned Nakatomi Corporation where she works, high in the imposing Nakatomi Plaza. When he rides up the elevator to the offices he emerges into a scene that features a Christmas tree, and a Christmas party in full swing.
Okay, not so “Christmassy” is the fact that Hans Gruber (a totally on-form in every possible way Alan Rickman), and his heavily armed team of militarygrade villains seize the tower and secure those inside as hostages except for McClane, who manages to get away in the confusion. And so begins a story that is close to the heart of so many of us, that of the “Lone Wolf” who against all odds manages to take on the guys and emerge victorious!
I mean, come on! Isn’t this a scenario that we all dream of when playing an airsoft game? If you’re anything like me then undoubtedly you will have “that memory” of the game where everything, and I mean down to the finest detail, went perfectly. That game where you found yourself out on your own, where your kit felt like a second skin, your AEG performed perfectly, and every shot you took resulted in an opposing player taking a walk, and that seemed to go on and on until you successfully achieved your objective? I know that I have one of these tucked
away to smile at from time to time, and I’m certain you do too! John McClane epitomises everything we love about the “Lone Wolf”. His ability to adapt and overcome, to improvise, take the punches and just keep on going, and of course his innate ability to come up with a cracking one-liner even when in the midst of a firefight make him the perfect airsoft hero. Of course he’s not perfect as he admits when asked why he didn’t leave New York with his wife; “‘Cause I’m a New York cop. I got a six-month backlog on New York scumbags I’m still trying to put behind bars. I can’t just pick up and go that easy.” In that comment, as far as I can see, John makes it clear that he’s a man of duty and honour, but I believe that he is also a little bit scared of change. Being a detective is the life he knows and has worked hard at, and as with many of us, the thought of just giving all that up is anathema to him. In the end though it’s the realisation that his loved ones, friends (even new ones like Al and Argyle), and his own moral code are the most important things in life that makes him somewhat of an “everyman”. As much as Bruce may not believe that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie the screenwriter appears to disagree! It’s reported that Steven E. de Souza weighed into the debate on Twitter, giving his definitive answer to the question. Responding to a fan who had listed all the festive components in the film he asked “...how could it not be a Christmas movie? Plus a woman about to give birth features prominently.” I’m with de Souza! If I’m pushed I have to say that my favourite of the “Die Hard” movies is McClane’s second outing, “Die Harder” that sees some of the old crew reconvene; released in 1990, the second instalment takes place on Christmas Eve! McClane is waiting for his wife to land at Washington Dulles International Airport when “bad people” (that turn out to be USSF lead by former U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Stuart “AS MUCH AS BRUCE MAY NOT BELIEVE THAT “DIE HARD” IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE THE SCREENWRITER APPEARS TO DISAGREE! IT’S REPORTED THAT STEVEN E. DE SOUZA WEIGHED INTO THE DEBATE ON TWITTER, GIVING HIS DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. ”
BERETTA 92F (M9) - WE M9 FULL METAL GEN.2 GBB
Price: iro UK£130.00 Length: 216 mm Weight: 1254g Magazine Capacity: 24+1 Chrono: 1.09Joule/344fps Available from: All WE stockists
HECKLER & KOCH P7M13 - MGC P7M13 GBB
Price: A LOT NOW! Length: 174mm Weight: 849g Magazine Capacity: 15 + 1 Chrono: 0.37 Joule/200fps Available from: Collectors item!
WALTHER PPK - MARUZEN WALTHER PPK GBB
Price: iro UK£100.00 Length 159 mm Weight 314 g Magazine Capacity: 11+1 Chrono: 0.8 Joule/295fps Available from: We hope your “Google-fu” is strong!
SMITH & WESSON MODEL 15/19 - TANAKA S&W M10 MILITARY & POLICE 4” V3
Price: iro UK225.00 (also see Tanaka S&W M66 4 inch iro UK£180.00) Length: 238mm Weight: 650g Magazine Capacity: 12+1 Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280 fps Available from: Originally came from wolfarmouries.co.uk
GLOCK 17 - UMAREX GLOCK 17 GEN3 GBB
Price: iro UK£160.00 Length 204mm Weight 649g Magazine Capacity: 23+1 Chrono: 1.0 Joule/330 fps Available from: www.landwarriorairsoft.com
M1911A1 - WE-E001A-ORIGINAL 1911 A GBB
Price: iro UK£100.00 Length: 218mm Weight: 945grams Magazine Capacity: 15+1 Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Available from: All WE stockists
HECKLER & KOCH MP5 – ICS CES A5 AEG
Price: iro UK£330.00 Weight: 1980g Length: 500 - 640 mm Magazine Capacity: 230 (Mid/HiCaps available) Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Available from: www.gunfire.com
HECKLER & KOCH MP5K – CYMA CM.041K BLUE EDITION AEG
Price: iro UK£105.00 Weight: 2145 g Length: 300 mm Magazine capacity: 65 (Mid/HiCaps available) Muzzle velocity fps: 1.01 Joule/330fps Available from: www.taiwangun.com
M-16A1 - CYMA CM.009C MOSFET EDITION AEG
Price: iro UK£125.00 Weight: 2640g Length: 998mm Magazine Capacity: 160 (will accept all STANAG/AR) Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
STEYR AUG – JG STEYR AUG A1 AEG
Price: iro UK£100.00 Weight: 3200g Length: 809mm Magazine Capacity: 300 (MidCap available) Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
STEYR SSG 69 – ASG STEYR SSG 69 P2 (SPRING)
Price: iro UK£75.00 Weight: 2500g Length: 1080mm Magazine Capacity: 25 Chrono: 0.9 Joule/312fps Available from: All ASG Stockists
ITHACA 37 - KTW ITHACA M37 NEW FEATHER LIGHT (SPRING)
Price: UK£170.00 Weight: 1460g Length: 920mm Magazine Capacity: 46 Chrono: 0.83 Joule/300fps Available from: www.redwolfairsoft.com
(William Sadler)!) take control of the air traffic control system in order to intercept a “rendition” aircraft carrying (ably played by Franco Nero) General Ramon Esperanza, a drug lord and dictator. Shirt story, once again McClane battles the bad guys (and Head of Airport Security Carmine) largely on his own before Holly’s plane and several other incoming flights that are circling the airport run out of fuel and crash!
So, #2… Christmas Eve, last flights in before the Big Day, people carrying gifts, lots of snow and Christmas decorations… ALSO A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!
FEW, BUT COOL!
Whilst you may remember “Die Hard” as a real gunlovers movie you might also be surprised that were only a handful of models that actually featured! Yup, if you actually count up the main firearms models used by the central characters I think you’ll be as surprised as me when you actually tally them up. In reality there were only about a dozen models, but some of them were real crackers!
Let’s start off with John himself, and his Beretta. This at the time was a handgun that would not have been on the issue list of the NYPD, but it doesn’t shock me greatly that McClane carried this model, especially a customised version with an extended
magazine and slide release. I’m proud to know a number of serving and former LE guys in the USA and believe me when I tell you that many of them carry a handgun concealed when off-duty that is far from their issued “service pistol”. Bear in mind that McClane is going to see his family and is not at work during the film, but from the very first moment it’s glimpsed under his jacket when he’s still on the plane it establishes him as a police officer, one of the “good guys”.
Of all of the firearms used in the movie an M9 variant is probably the easiest to get hold of in airsoft form as it’s made by a whole host of manufacturers! That said, if you want an almost exact replica of the handgun used in the movie, then you need look no further than Tokyo Marui who make a lovely M92F that’s good to go straight from the box aalthough for me the WE just edges it.
Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) of course uses his tried and trusted Smith and Wesson Model 15 .38 Special. Sadly, as we find out during the course of the movie, Al has a sad history when it comes to firearms, so having him wield something so simple actually makes sense in relation to the storyline. Now
I could easily say to you that in airsoft terms any revolver would do, but I won’t. Instead I’ll direct you to the superlative works of Marushin and Tanaka who both made some stunning “.38” wheelguns, and although Al uses a S&W I’d particularly point out a Tanaka model called rather pompously the “Colt Police Positive Special 4 inch Heavy Firing Model Gun” which is absolutely stunning! You can still find these if you search hard enough, but the recent release of a number of S&W wheelguns means you now have more to choose from!
Now we get into some tricky territory, as the “bad guy guns” are quiet unique. First off is the classic Walther PPK as used by Karl (Alexander Godunov), and to this day I find it amazing that there’s not a “stock” airsoft version; “Walther” models are out on the market in all their wondrous forms… apart from a really good classic PPK which although Umarex have a licenced one, you don’t see them that often! I have no idea why as I’m certain that many of us would buy one immediately given “007” reasons. Yes, there have been some dodgy gas versions, and some actually very nice springers, but come on manufacturers, let’s have a reliable and usable PPK GBB that we can actually buy and use effectively in-game!
What makes this all the stranger is that both the other major handguns from the first movie have in the past been available in airsoft form! The Heckler & Koch P7M13 used by Hans himself, though now a collector’s item was made by Model Gun Corporation
(MGC) in GBB from back in the 90’s, and TM even made a springer! Ditto the Walther P5 used by Heinrich (Gary Roberts) as this was made as a NBB by Marukoshi. Okay, finding either of these models today is going to be a tall order, especially the P7M13 as it was actually quite a good airsoft pistol, but find them you can if you trawl the Japanese sales groups. From #2, the other addition is the classic 1911 used by Esperanza which is in fact a blued M1911A1; as I’ve been using a WE 1911 “Government” for a number of years (since 2008 and it’s still kicking!) that’s where my money would go, but there’s others to choose from if you wish.
Sticking with film #2 we see the arrival of what has become one of the biggest names in the global handgun market for both the professional and the civilian user…GLOCK! Used by the bad guys the Glock 17is described wrongly by McClane to Chief Carmine as a “Glock 7, a porcelain gun made in
Germany that doesn’t show up on your airport metal detectors and costs more than you make in a month.”
Okay, even the newest airsofter amongst us will know that this is complete and utter BS, and the guys at Glock must have been twitching in their lederhosen, but boy, did it put the Glock name on the map! Of course for airsoft purposes you can choose from amongst numerous manufacturers for an excellent “not a Glock 17 at all”, but for me the Umarex has it due to the correct, licenced trades… okay, finding a Gen 1 these days is harder, but up to a Gen 3 would be okay in my book!
NOW I HAVE A MACHINE GUN; HO HO HO!
Immortalised on t-shirts and jumpers, this McClane quip sums up the other real star of “Die Hard”, and that’s the MP5! In 1988 when the movie first aired the H&K MP5 had already been around for a while, but even for Hollywood production companies the “real deal” was still very expensive and hard to get hold of. For the movies the “MP5A3” models used by the bad guys and ultimately by John McClane were actually chopped and converted Heckler & Koch HK94s!
I actually don’t care as they look great, and the part where McClane extends the stock hoping to use it as an anchor so he can descend down the ventilation shaft via the sling still brings me out in a cold sweat!
McClane manages to acquire another MP5 from another slain terrorist, using it until he runs out of ammunition during a gun battle with Karl. He then picks up yet another MP5 from a terrorist on the roof, firing it into the air to scare the hostages brought up before the helipad gets blown; he discards this one only when it runs out of ammunition before the final battle with Hans. I think our man John may have a thing for the MP5. When it comes to airsoft versions of the MP5, well, take your pick, but my own is an ICS that has seen action both home and abroad.
In “Die Harder” we see more of the eponymous MP5, but as well as the “standard” A3 and A5 models we also get a proper showing for the “K”! Heckler & Koch MP5K submachine guns are the main weapons used by Stuart’s men, and really make an appearance in the shootout on the Annex Skywalk, and it’s said that the MP5K used by actor Ken Baldwin “jammed repeatedly firing blanks while filming this scene, so his angry outbursts (including the instance where he curses at the gun) were unscripted and genuine expressions of frustration”! Many of “Ks” have two mags taped together ‘jungle style’ with blank and live ammo (a BIG plot device!), as do the regular MP5s. During the Skywalk shootout, a few of the MP5Ks are actually converted Heckler & Koch SP89s. Again, in airsoft form you can take your pick of “Ks”, as there are some great ones out there but we’ve chosen to add the CM.041K to our list given the price!
Of course there’s another couple of firearms to mention before I quit, and the first of these is the now-venerable Steyr AUG which is used by “Karl” throughout the first movie. This was mostlikely chosen as the writers wanted to contrast the terrorists’ “unusual” European weapons with the more traditional American firearms used by the LAPD. The AUG is given some “full chat” by Karl during his personal mission to get revenge against McClane after he killed the first terrorist, who also happened to be Karl’s brother. In a memorable scene at the end of the
film, a revived and bloodied Karl emerges from a body bag with his AUG in hand for one last-ditch attempt to kill McClane! Again, there’s now a multitude of AUGs to be had in 6mm form, but those from TM, ASG, and CYMA are definitely worth a look amongst the crop.
Last but by no means least is the Steyr SSG 69 sniper rifle used by Agent Johnson (no relation!) which in the helicopter scene is fitted with an AN/PVS3 Starlight scope. This leads to one of my absolute favourite verbal exchanges (of which there are many!) in the movie; www.imdb.com describes it as:
Big Johnson: [flying in the chopper to the roof] Just like fxxxin’ Saigon, hey, Slick?
Little Johnson: [smiling] I was in junior high, dickhead.
Again, any bolt-action sniper rifle would stand in for the Steyr but why would you want anything other than the STEYR SSG 69 P2 that ASG sell? Make a few simple mods, chuck on a Starlight scope (good luck with that!) and you’re good to go. The other firearms used extensively in the movie are basically the M16A1 (we again picked the CYMA here, a slid representation!), the M60 and the M60E3, all of which are readily available in airsoft form.
So, that’s my take on “The Guns of Die Hard”, but let’s now see what the rest of the crew had to say!
100% A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!
Iggy: I admit, I watch “DIE HARD” every Christmas Eve after the kids and my wife have gone to bed. Before that we all watch things like Elf, Arthur Christmas, The Grinch and even Home Alone; but for me it’s not Christmas until I have seen John McClane send Tony Vreski down in an elevator wearing the jumper saying “Now I have a machine gun... HO...
HO... HO!”
This is where my love of the Beretta and the MP5 was conceived. I was lucky enough during one of my visits to Afhganistan to fire an M92 Beretta at the range, belonging to an American Serviceman and an MP5 belonging to the police at a “sunny” range in England. The Tokyo Marui MP5 A5 was my first ever AEG. Throughout my time airsofting I have owned and sold a few MP5’s. I have finally rested at an ICS MP5 A3. I have always liked the retractable stock version and used it both with traditional plane fore grip and the inbuilt torch version. The MP5 has been an iconic SMG that still to this day brings back the excitement I had when I first saw “Die Hard”.
I have owned two GBB Beretta’s made by WE. One was all black, which I bought as soon as I got back to the UK from Afghanistan after my introduction to the real one there, whilst the other was a chrome S.T.A.R.S Racoon Police version. If I’m honest, to me the Beretta feels the most comfortable pistol to hold; it’s not the most accurate or the most reliable in both airsoft and reality, but with it being another icon. I can’t help but have it on the list of pistols I love. I look forward to my annual fix of “Die” Hard this Christmas Eve!
Stewbacca: First of all, “Die Hard” is an Xmas movie. Fight me!
The Beretta M92 holds a particularly special place in my heart, it was the first ever airsoft gun I bought, a Marui M92F springer many years I’d rather not count ago, and was one of the first GBB pistols I bought before moving away to uni and getting into skirmishing! It saw plenty of use in a shoulder holster and is a model I’ve returned to time and again having sold various ones one and bought others; I must have been through about six different versions and most
recently got the WE version here in Taiwan. It’s the Monica Belucci of pistols to my mind, sure it isn’t the newest, but it’s been used in a lot of great media and you just can’t argue with those classic Italian lines and curvy grabby parts...
As for the MP5 we are all more than aware of my #EverybodyLovesTheKoch mentality and aside from the MP5K and MP5J and A4 AEGs back in the UK I have the WE MP5A4/A5 and MP5K PDW GBB SMGs here in Taiwan and love running them and enjoying the noisy recoiling funtimes in CQB... “Now I have a
machine gun... HO... HO... HO!”
The AUG was one I dabbled with in an AEG guise in the UK but is also something that landed on my desk in GBBR form from Ray at Archwick who was keen to lend me his GHK to try out for review. Another classic and a bullpup, which I’m usually a fan of in general, but the Austrians really got it right with that one.
And we all know it isn’t Xmas until Hans Gruber falls off Nakatomi Plaza; the sacred tradition of watching “Die Hard” around the holidays, barefoot and with a Beretta and/or MP5 to hand is something I imported to Taiwan along with myself, and will remain a holiday fixture for me!
It’s the perfect anti-hero down and out film about a guy that life is already giving a hard time but happens to have it turn it all the way up to 11 and come out on top against the Eurotrash!. A great mix of dark humour and cultural references as well as obvious action and gunplay appeal, punctuated with the oneliners we all love. “You oughta be on TV with that
accent Hans...”
Jon: Although the others have talked about the weapons used in the movies, I, as usual, will take a different tack! It’s that time of year again and we’re being asked about whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas Movie or not. Well, I say “HELL YEAH IT IS!”
“Die Hard” director John McTiernan weighed in and settled it once and for all. In an interview he drew direct comparisons to the 40’s classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life”; he said “Specifically the
Pottersville sequence. Which is what happens when the evil banker gets to do what he wants in the community without George getting in the way to stop it. And it’s the clearest demonstration and criticism or runaway, unregulated cowboy capitalism that’s ever been done in an American movie. It was imagination then, but now, if you go out in most of the country, it’s the life people live.”
See where this is going? John McClane is George Bailey and Hans Gruber is Mr Potter. It’s not a hero versus terrorists, it’s about Good versus Evil. It’s about the little guy standing up for the community against a villainous entity which threatens them. “A Christmas Carol” is another obvious comparison to be drawn.
It’s set entirely during the Christmas Holiday season, the events take place at a Christmas party, there are four Christmas Songs played during the movie, Winter Wonderland, Let it Snow, Christmas in Hollis (God Bless Run DMC) and of course Jingle Bells.
“Die Hard” IS, without a shadow of doubt, a Christmas Movie and long shall it be, not because I said so but because the Director and more importantly the millions of viewers every year who watch “Die Hard” as a Christmas Movie.
Stu: “Die Hard”, so where to start.....
MP5; bloody amazing little AEG. I had to wait for a decent CA one to arrive. Loved it and stupidly sold it on. AUG? I make no secret of my love for the Steyr Bullpup, and I’ve run various makes/styles etc over the years; it’s a quirky design, but I love ‘em. I’ve not had an M9 , which for me is an oversight, as I’m a huge fan of them, and that still may be remedied!
Oh, Hans Gruber’s sidearm? I know a man who has one, kept very carefully in a nice case, comes out to be drooled over and is then put away again…. EVERY Christmas, when “Die Hard” is watched!
Boycie: When Bill asked for my comments on the Die Hard series of films the first question he asked was “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?”
The answer simply is yes, of course it is!
When else would all the executives in a big company gather in one place? Yes a Christmas Party. The sound track is crammed with Christmas songs, most notibly “Winter Wonderland”, “Let it snow” and “Ode to Joy”. Lt McClane’s wife is called.... HOLLY. Sgt Al buys Twinkies (other snacks are available but Twinkies rule! Eh Bill ????). Tony, the first body that John sends back to Hans is wearing a Santa hat and has a very special Christmas message on his sweatshirtshirt. Agent Johnson, no not that one, the other Agent Johnson, gifts Hans with easier access to the vault when he orders cutting off the power grid. Oh and John McC’s Beretta is loosely gift wrapped before he grabs it to finally stop Hans. Finally at the end, as it snows the music “Let it snow” plays over the credits.
“Die Hard” IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE...QED!
For me the early “Die Hard” movies remind me of the end of my teenage years and set me off on trying to find a way to shoot all of the weapons used in the film. I still watch the movie, and can pretty much
recite the script as the movie runs, but this year will be quite special as I will be introducing my wife to the series for the first time. Yes she has never seen any of them, although she is aware of my love for the movie as I own several T-shirts with “It ain’t Christmas until you see Hans Gruber fall off the Nakatomi Tower”. Several of my friends and I, a select group of firearm lovers, even have a light-hearted group based around Hans and his freefall jump off the tower!
Over my shooting career which started in 1979 (ouch I feel old!), I’ve been lucky to not only have owned a number of airsoft variants of the weapons used in “Die Hard”, but also I’ve owned the Real Steel versions of some as well. One of the first pistols I owned when I started airsofting all those years ago was my trusty TM M9 (still in a box somewhere). It served me for many years and often when running into a certain shower of BB’s from the opposing team, I’d be heard shouting “Yippee Kai Yay Maggot Farmers” as I ran in with my M9. This was also one of the Real Steel 9mm pistols I owned in the very early 1990’s.
Second to my TM G3 SG1 was my TM MP5. This was one of the go to AEG’s for a long time for a large number of players. In the film they were actually HK94’s which had shortened barrels and converted to full auto. Whilst I’ve not owned a real MP5 I have had a number of opportunities to fire the live version. Sgt Al Powell carried a Smith & Wesson Model 15. The nearest I have had to this was a Model 66 revolver which in airsoft form I can’t remember the brand of. I really enjoyed shooting my .357 Model 66 and it was the first live revolver I ever owned.
Steyr AUG; I’ve used the TM version on a number of occasions but never owned one. As a left-hander I really liked it as I could shoot from either shoulder and the ergonomics of the magazine well let to some speedy reloads during skirmishes. When in Australia and staying at the School of Military Engineering (SEME) in Liverpool, New South Wales, I had the chance to handle the real thing and also shoot on the Small Arms Trainer that was on base. A really strange thing to do was to take the barrel out of the body to prove the chamber clear. But then I recognised this in the AEG version as you can do the same to make the rifle shorter for storage or also to check the “chamber” is clear of BBs. The M16A1 as used by the LAPD SWAT in the film, well, I have owned a couple during my airsofting days. More often in the A4 version in AEG form it was one of the early “DMR” type rifles that were carried on the skirmish field.
For me the Holy Grail of pistols used in Die Hard was the H&K M7M13. This was and still is the airsoft pistol I would REALLY LIKE TO SEE make a return to airsoft. In the late 80’s I was loaned a P7M13 to compete in IPSC “Concealed Carry” class during a practical competition. It certainly was an experience I would love to recreate again in airsoft. I’ll have to leave it there as there is so much more I could write, but I’ll leave some column inches for my fellow Red Cell friends!
Jimmy: John Mcclane and “Die Hard” will forever be ingrained as a Christmas movie. The film is set during the Christmas period John attends Takagi’s christmas party hence it’s a Christmas film. For some, Christmas means putting up the decorations, time with the family, and over-indulging on pretty much everything. For me Christmas is all of the above but it wouldn’t be the same without the prerequisite film binge in order for Christmas to actually feel like it that time of year.
There is a set list of films which sadly don’t make that much of an appearance anymore but one that will forever be a favourite is the “Die Hard” franchise. John McClane is a symbol of Christmas much like Rudolph, everybody knows the name, if not, what rock have you been hiding under? He’s cool frankly and the entire film was just made up of unforgettable quotes.
“Twas the night before christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, except for the four a-holes coming in the rear in
standard two by two cover formation”; a classic unforgettable quote amongst many!
Something else the “Die Hard” films are famous for is the weaponry, classic iconic weapons. Now I’m not a fan of a lot of them and as a result I have very little experience with most of them. One that does stand out and is a very well recognised pistol is the Berretta M92, a pistol which has featured in all four of the “Die Hards” and has featured in many films over the years (there are too many to list!) I remember having
a cap-gun Berretta as a kid and I loved it. I own one Berretta which is an W01P from Tokyo Marui from the Biohazard/Resident Evil lineup, and is based on TM’s M9A1 and it is spot on. If there was a TM “Die Hard” limited edition I’m fairly certain that would be part of my and many other peoples collection. Another very popular film pistol would be the M1911 most definitely my favourite platform; I have several 1911 pistols all sporting different features and characteristics.
Bill: So, to conclude, in our minds “Die Hard” is totally a Christmas movie, as much part of the season’s festivities as mince pies and mulled wine, and a movie that I and my fellow members of “The Nakatomi Freefall Club” will watch with almost religious fervour each and every year.
For another month, and indeed another year, I’ll wish you all “Yippee ki-yay” and if you’re still in any doubt about its seasonal flavour just listen to the closing words of “Die Hard”:
John McClane: Merry Christmas, Argyle.
Argyle: Merry Christmas.
Richard Thornburg: [to the camera] Did ya get that?
Argyle: [Argyle shuts the limo door] If this is their idea of Christmas, I *gotta* be here for New Year’s.
And to sign off for 2021 the Red Cell crew and I wish you a very Happy Christmas, may all your airsoft wishes come true, and here’s to a full-on, hard charging 2022 (and this time next year, someone PLEASE run a “Die Hard” FilmSim!) Changing McClanes words to Hans Gruber just slightly…
“Welcome to the (Christmas) party pal!” AA
