A Christmas Story

Rating:
Summary: It's midwestern life from 1940s!
Review: The film does a fabulous job of capturing Indiana life in that era -- the kids, the situations, the language -- everything. I grew up in Indiana just a little later than Shepherd and, while he was in Hammond (Hohman in the film), I was in Bloomington, but it still feels right. Everyone wanted a Red Ryder bb gun and everyone's parent responded by saying "You'll shoot your eye out." Everyone knew the consequences of putting your tongue on a frozen pump handle (or flag pole). And lots of us had neighbors like the Bumpuses and their variety of hounds. Look, if you want a look at Indiana life from a kid's view at that time in history, you won't find a better source.

Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Story
Review: I purchased this DVD to use in my
ESLL classes in kunming China around Christmas time.

The DVD is of such poor quality that it was useless. The picture quality is substandard and the sound quality is so bad I could understand maybe half of the dialogue, pity my poor students.

In other words, the DVD is crap.

Laoshi Gerrie
Kunming, China

Rating:
Summary: Holiday cheer from the director of "Porky's"
Review: This is the story of a particular Christmas in the 1940s when little Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wanted a genuine Red Ryder BB gun and was terrified that no one would get one for him. This film has become a beloved holiday classic, but somehow I seem to be immune to its charms. It's not a bad movie, but it seems more like a better-than-average TV movie than a Christmas perennial that actually won two Genies (Canadians Oscars) for direction and screenplay. However, I'll grant that the scene with the department store Santa is a classic.

I guess I have to put this on the same list as "Vertigo," "E.T.," and "Blow Up"--movies beloved by so many that just don't do it for me.


Rating:
Summary: Charming!
Review: I like Christmas movies and I had seen bits and pieces of A Christmas story on TV but on Christmas it was the first time that I had seen the whole movie and I thought it was very good and absolutely delightful. The acting was very good, especially Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon as the parents and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie the boy who dreams of getting a Red Ryder Air Rifle BB Gun for Christmas despite all the warnings that he will shoot his eye out. This movie had some scenes that were really amusing and the scene where Ralphie's friend played by Scott Schwartz (From the Movie the Toy) gets his tounge stuck on a frozen metal pole is pretty funny. I highly recommend getting this movie on DVD, especially the Special Edition anamorphic widescreen DVD! Yes I know it's shown every Christmas on a marathon viewing on TNT but it's edited for TV and the movie on this DVD is unedited and at least you can watch it in widescreen instead of pan and scan!

Rating:
Summary: OK Black Bart, now you get yours
Review: Bob Clark (Porky's 1 & 2) directs one of the greatest Christmas movie/stories of all time. I do not know how you cannot love this movie. The narration by Jean Shepherd was magnificent. I honestly cannot believe there would have been a better person to choose to tell this story. Jean Shepherd was also the voice of Santa Clause in the movie, definitely a great selection by the casting department.

Peter Billingsley plays Ralphie, and Clark uses him to perfection. Peter Billingsley never really made another hit movie after Christmas Story, though he continues to write and direct movies, he also starred in a couple more movies, like The Dirt Bike Kid (never saw), but really, this is his only mentionable work.

Darren McGavin (Billy Madison, Captain America, Kojak) played Ralphie's father, and was marvelous. His facial expressions when his wife did/said something, or while reading the news paper had to remind everyone of their own father in some aspect.

Melinda Dillon (Magnolia, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, The Prince of Tides) played Ralphie's mother, and her struggles with McGavin (Ralphie's father) are classic. In addition, watching her cater to her sons, disciple her son, and even tasting the soap to see how bad the punishment is classic.

As a whole this is a must own DVD. This should be in your collection, and viewed around every Christmas, maybe more then once. I was shocked to find out from my coworkers that some of them had not seen this movie, I do not know if there could be a bigger travesty.

Grade: A


Rating:
Summary: You'll shoot your eye out
Review: This is hands down the best children's movie I've seen. I laughed my hind parts off. Great family movie!

Rating:
Summary: HILARIOUS!!!! This is the funniest movie I have ever seen!!!
Review: This movie is absolutely hysterical!! Be prepared to revisit many of your own childhood holiday memories as you watch the adventures of this Midwest family during their Christmas season. I was in stitiches throughout the entire movie, but in so many ways I recalled several similar events that took place in my Queens, New York neighborhood as I was growing up there in the 60's. DON'T MISS THIS MOVIE...It is a definite must-have for your Christmas collection. A fun family movie that is loaded (and I mean loaded!) with hysterics.

Will definitely leave you in a very jolly mood!

Cris Cunningham