A lot of people (men) were probably shocked that Die Hard would only get an honorable mention. But remember, my opinion means little to nothing so don’t be personally offended. Instead hear my case for the real most bestest movie.
My pick for “Best Christmas Movie” is a lesser-known Christmas classic from three years prior to Die Hard. You guessed it….
Rocky IV
Plot summary from IMDB:
After iron man Drago, a highly intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet athlete, literally destroys Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, Rocky comes to the heart of Russia for 15 pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.
Let’s zoom out on this film as well.
Setting
It’s Communist Russia, snowy Soviet Siberia, not exactly Bing Crosby’s idea of a White Christmas. But it is Christmas day and the fight is before a packed audience of card-carrying members of the great army of the enemy. In the time leading up to the fight Rocky is training in Siberia. Running in a winter wonderland….
Conversion Experience
This is so obvious it doesn’t even need to be talked about, but just in case you’ve never seen this movie, it involves everyone and I mean everyone in that stadium. You are led to believe that if Rocky were to run for Premier of the Soviet Union following this fight he would win hands down. In fact, it’s pretty clear in his final address to the crowd: “During this fight, I’ve seen a lot of changing, in the way you feel about me, and in the way I feel about you. In here, there were two guys killing each other, but I guess that’s better than twenty million. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!”
Message of Christmas
Rocky is living a comfortable life, he and his family enjoying the glory that comes with sports success and money. His friend Apollo is getting a little restless in this comfortable state. The challenger comes from the Soviet Union, Ivan Drago. He’s the new thing. The bigger and better boxer. And his camp is challenging Rocky. He is trying to reach out and grasp equality with Rocky, even superiority.
It is Apollo however that is first to respond to the challenge and he takes the place of Champion of Freedom in the great battle between the US and the Soviet Union. It’s Capitalism vs. Communism. Freedom vs. Oppression. David vs. Goliath. As James Brown sings “Livin’ in America” the fighters are introduced and Drago prophecies, “You will lose.” The champion of the good guys steps up to the champion of the enemy and gets absolutely destroyed. There’s nothing he can do against this formidable foe and he falls dead in the ring.
The enemy has won but there is a promise of future redemption. There is a new champion for our cause, Rocky Balboa. He’s smaller than Apollo and slower. He has no form or majesty that we should look at him. When he breaks his nose in Rocky 1 it’s called “an improvement”. The task before him is impossible. So he’d better get started training then.
“You’re gonna have to go through hell, worse than any nightmare you’ve ever dreamed.”
He leaves his mansion, giving up everything and taking up residence in a shack in Siberia. He is under constant surveillance by the Soviets, watching what he does and where he goes, making sure he doesn’t break any of their laws. He trains in squalor, working out in a barn lifting a cart and big sacks with a pulley. He is being very careful to stay focused on his mission while in this foreign land. The hopes of his people are riding on him after all.
Echoing in his mind is the voice of his wife, “It’s suicide. You’ve seen him, you know how strong he is. You can’t win.” But Rocky is up to the challenge. He’s seen the enemy make his friend fall and die, on that day he did surely die. Rocky knows he’s putting his life on the line and he’s willing to make that sacrifice:
No, maybe I can’t win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he’s got. But to beat me, he’s going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he’s gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he’s got to be willing to die himself. I don’t know if he’s ready to do that. I don’t know.
So they stand toe-to-toe. Our champion in the Stars and Stripes trunks against the great champion of the enemy in Soviet colors. It’s his will to win that proves insurmountable to the big Russian. No amount of training technology or drug enhancement will stand against this great champion.
As the fight goes on the crowd slowly turns their back on their man and begin to support our hero. The members of the politburo literally do this to which Drago responds “I win for me. For me!!” Finally the truth comes out. The enemy fights for himself, not for his people or for his ideology. Our champion never fights for himself, only for the redemption of his people and to avenge the death of his friend at the hands of the enemy.
Finally, Rocky is bruised by Drago but not crushed. Rather it is Drago that falls on this day. And Rocky leads the crowd with his stirring appeal for social change.
Listen, Rocky IV isn’t a perfect Christmas movie either, but you have to see the strong gospel message. He leaves his home and goes through hell to redeem his people and affect change in the world.
On second thought, maybe your Christmas day with your family would be better spent just leading the kids through the story of Christ and how the gospel has changed your life and others. Better than watching a movie anyway. Just a thought.
Tessera Sola 