# Something thing that always bothered me about Die Hard
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 26, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038 "2016-11-26T13:41:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/41 "2016-12-03T22:42:13Z")
I sent my copy to a friend who is an author, and he commented, “F–king _Batman_ couldn’t pull that stuff off”.
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/42 "2016-12-03T23:18:47Z")
Officially a Christmas Movie in the Balthisar household! I told my wife we were going to watch a Christmas movie (she’s from a non-Christmas culture), and she loved it. New holiday tradition. And I need to know some other, good “Christmas” movies.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/43 "2016-12-04T01:28:27Z")
_Titanic_?
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> I sent my copy to a friend who is an author, and he commented, “F–king _Batman_ couldn’t pull that stuff off”.
But McClane could, because he’s prepared.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/44 "2016-12-04T01:39:20Z")
Also, Batman’s just, like, y’know, a\* fictional\* character.
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### Author:  [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/45 "2016-12-04T03:27:48Z")
> [@Balthisar](#):
>
> Officially a Christmas Movie in the Balthisar household! I told my wife we were going to watch a Christmas movie (she’s from a non-Christmas culture), and she loved it. New holiday tradition. And I need to know some other, good “Christmas” movies.
Reindeer Games - its got Santa’s, bright flashing colored lights, a heart-warming finish.
Bad Santa - maybe you should screen that one first.:eek:
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/46 "2016-12-04T03:59:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> _Titanic_?
> But McClane could, because he’s prepared.
I believe that you Won The Thread, Sir.
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### Author:  [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/47 "2016-12-04T05:30:46Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> Also, Batman’s just, like, y’know, a\* fictional\* character.
While I’m sure the answer is yes please increase the amount of awesomeness in the universe by confirming that this is a several-layers deep Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back reference…
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### Author:  [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/48 "2016-12-04T05:31:55Z")
Edit, found a Youtube video:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzmxUXvE3m4)
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/49 "2016-12-04T05:53:26Z")
> [@DWMarch](#):
>
> While I’m sure the answer is yes please increase the amount of awesomeness in the universe by confirming that this is a several-layers deep Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back reference…
No need to involve Jay or Bob (or Kevin).
Just wanted to add a few layers …
(Ahh, might be because I’ve always thought the kids were written well in Stand By Me, arguing Superman vs Mighty Mouse. And saying that Mighty Mouse was a cartoon character.)
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### Author:  [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/50 "2016-12-04T09:38:51Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Hans holds his cigarette in the European manner when McClain talks to him …
Englishman here. There’s a difference between the American and European manner?
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### Author:  [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/51 "2016-12-04T09:41:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Hans holds his cigarette in the European manner …
Englishman here. There’s a difference between the American and European manner?
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/52 "2016-12-04T14:08:32Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> Englishman here. There’s a difference between the American and European manner?
Americans generally use the [classic cigarette](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/da/de/e6dade354db8a86109e26ec608dca39c.jpg), while Europeans use something like stealth or twee.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/53 "2016-12-04T14:11:38Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> Englishman here. There’s a difference between the American and European manner?
[From this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=95450) (2001)
> [@Die Hard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-hard/89814/4):
>
> My take on it:
> McClean (sp?) had grabbed a pack of European cigarettes from one of the terrorists he killed. When he offered one, Hans just accepted one as if they were in no way unusual. John figured that an American (as Hans was pretending to be) would have commented on the foreign brand. But he just took one as if he had been smoking them all the time. Therefore, John figured he was a terrorist.
> [@Die Hard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-hard/89814/8):
>
> It was they way Hans held the cigarette when McLean offered him a light. Europeans tend to hold the ciggy between the thumb and forefinger, whereas 'Merkins tend to hold them between the forefinger and the middle finger. Also, Alan Rickman’s movement while doing this do seem a little exaggerated, either for effect or he’s not a smoker.
There’s other suggestions not related to cigarettes.
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### Author:  [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/54 "2016-12-04T14:24:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Americans generally use the [classic cigarette](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/da/de/e6dade354db8a86109e26ec608dca39c.jpg), while Europeans use something like stealth or twee.
Excellent link. The British overwhelmingly use the classic hold too. It must be those danged furriners over the Channel that grasp their cigarettes in such strange ways!
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/55 "2016-12-04T21:13:55Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> I believe that you Won The Thread, Sir.
:: bows ::
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### Author:  [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-thing-that-always-bothered-me-about-die-hard/773038/56 "2016-12-14T00:17:25Z")
> [@Balthisar](#):
>
> Officially a Christmas Movie in the Balthisar household! I told my wife we were going to watch a Christmas movie (she’s from a non-Christmas culture), and she loved it. New holiday tradition. And I need to know some other, good “Christmas” movies.
[ul]
[li]DH2 is also set around Xmas.[/li][li]Lethal Weapon 1 is set around Xmas (and it seems to me the kill-the-last-bad-guy ending was amazingly similar).[/li][li]It seems to me that Young Guns starts some time between Xmas and New Years…[/li][/ul]
–G!
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