Rating: 
Summary: Timeless Classic
Review: This movie is the story of a little kid who sets his eyes on one special Christmas gift: a Red Rider BB Gun. It details the days leading up to Christmas day as he tries to convince everyone else that he won't 'shoot his eye out'. It is a funny, wonderful movie. This is one of those movies you can watch over and over and over again - you'll laugh as hard the 100th time you see it as you did the 1st time. It is timeless - I remember watching it as a kid, thinking it was made in the 60s. It is good for the entire family from kids to adults. Even though it comes on TV multiple times a season, it's worth buying the DVD to watch it whenever you want. An amusing fact is that the director, Bob Clark, also is responsible for movies like 'Rhinestone' and 'Porkys'. Like another reviewer, I was disappointed a bit in the lack of special features on the DVD (I think the studios do this with all DVDs on purpose so they repackage movies as special editions every few years).
Rating: 
Summary: The Moose Hole - The Perfect 'Christmas Story' for Everyone
Review: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." With those six simple words not only were dreams of an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle altered forever, so were the normal holiday movie traditions of Americans across the country. As popular as this feature is today, this did not take hold until quite recently. When A Christmas Story opened in theaters back in 1983, the studio that produced the film had no confidence in it, thus launching the film in only 886 theaters. By the end of its run, the film pulled in a disappointing $19 million and its television rights had been sold off quickly without a second thought. It wasn't until the TNT television network began to offer numerous viewings of the classic holiday comedy over the festive season did the film begin to finally be accepted by the masses. Now A Christmas Story has joined the ranks of such other yuletide treasures as It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas as a true staple of this special time of year. The story fellows the adventures of a young boy set against the Christmas holiday in the 1940's as he dreams of the perfect holiday gift. Ralphie Parker is like any other typical young boy in the 1940's but there is something that does set him apart from the rest of the pack. His aspirations for an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle, the one item that he believes to be the perfect Christmas present. Unfortunately for young Ralphie, he faces stern opposition from his mother who believes the toy will "shoot his eye out". He receives no help from his father who is too busy holding off the Bumbus hounds or shouting at the furnace, so Ralphie seeks to find higher help for his cause, the big man himself: Santa Claus. But even this last splint of hope is dashed to pieces with those devastating words coming from the "jolly" fat man himself, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." All hope seems lost for poor Ralphie but if only he knew what Christmas Day would bring! The plot for A Christmas Story is one of the most wonderful concepts ever attempted in a holiday feature film and what makes it so memorable is the fact that many elements, no matter how elaborated, can be related by one family or another in some point in their lives. The biggest highlight of the comedy has to be how each character is cast perfectly. Peter Billingsley, who takes on the role of Ralph Parker, showcases a delightful performance despite his relatively young age. Many of the funniest moments of the feature come from his reactions alone to certain situations. Melinda Dillion gives a wonderful if not eerily familiar performance of Ralphie's typical 1940's mother. She works perfectly opposite Darren McGavin especially over the battle of the broken leg lamp. McGavin more then likely outshines them all with his over-the-top performance as Ralphie's Old Man. His shoutings of "Don't anybody move!" and "Notafinga!" will likely stand the test of theatrical comedic time but it is his overall good fatherly nature that makes every audience member feel as if they are witness a part of their own familiar past. Though he is not remembered by his name, Jeff Gillen does a hilarious take on the mall-Santa, stingy elfs and all. And Jean Shepard, who wrote the book on which this film is based on, gives a perfect off-beat narration of the film with perfect tones and comments for each situation as it happens in the feature. The narration works almost as well alone as the actions performed in A Christmas Story. Overall, Can the Christmas season be fully complete without at least one viewing of A Christmas Story? You can try but all bets are that even the "Grinchiest" person can't escape the irresistible personality of this yuletide comedy. There are so many wonderful things going for this film that it is hard to pick out the flaws. If anything, the last portion of A Christmas Story tends to drag a little bit near the end unlike earlier parts where actions were performed in a much quicker pace. In a way like Christmas Vacation, many of the elements within A Christmas Story connect with someone at one point or another based on their own Christmas experiences with their family. Though some would not like to admit some of the more embarrassing memories (aka looking like a pink nightmare on Christmas morning), we can all relate to young Ralphie's blight of getting the perfect Christmas gift when we were his age. But in the end, we realize that family, no matter how embarrassing or bumbling they may be, is what is the most important during the holidays. That is one memory that we should always keep close to our hearts no matter what time of the year.
Rating:
Summary: At last! The treatment it deserves
Review: this movie is a modern-day Christmas classic. It captures the joy and fear and exhilaration and disillusionment of what it was like growing up in an America of a by-gone era. The late Jean Shepherd is from my parents' generation, but I can still relate completely to Ralphie, Randy and all their friends -- bullies at school -- Not getting what you really want for Christmas -- having your mouth washed out with soap and fantasizing about the day when they'd all be sorry... It's all there!
Not everyone seems pleased with this SE, but I'm thrilled. Compared with what was previously available on DVD, this is lightyears better! The extras are great fun, especially the interviews. It's a shame Jean Shepherd died before he could truly contribute to this real keeper. As for the movie itself, Darren McGavin is great as the blustery but sentimental dad and Melinda Dillon as the mom who is wiser than her kids give her credit for. The movie is touching and hilarious at the same time. It's so hard being a kid sometimes! This is one of the few movies I can watch over and over again and still laugh. Everyone gets a chance to relive those classic childhood memories.
Rating:
Summary: Full of warm characters and genuine humor!
Review: "A Christmas Story" is a warm holiday movie filled with memorable moments and genuinely funny circumstances set in a time that has ceased to exist in America. It's a simple child's tale of the all-American Christmas, capturing a picture-perfect portrait of holiday warmth and zest through its delectable combination of laughter and touching moments. Most importantly, the film recalls the pleasures of childhood during the Christmas season, and that can provide as much joy as any other film. The story is based on a segment of Jean Sheperd's novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," a personal memoir of his experiences. It helps that Sheperd collaborated in the creation of the screenplay, as well as lending his narration as the adult voice of Ralphie Parker (played by Peter Billingsley), who wants nothing more than to wake up on Christmas morning and find a "genuine Red Ryder 200-Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle" under the tree. Ralphie doesn't merely want this gift, but yearns for it with every fiber of his childhood being. His convictions that an English paper on what he wants for Christmas, as well as putting in his request to Santa Claus, stand as his assurance that he cannot fail in his quest. Of course, there are obstacles, made whimsical and witty by director Bob Clark's wonderful knack for situational humor. His mother's words, "You'll shoot your eye out," seem to echo from the mouths of everyone around, including his would-be alibi, Santa Claus, who is seen in a most frightening light by the children who line up to sit on his lap. Even Ms. Shields, his teacher, is a dead end, granting him a C+ on his "All I Want For Christmas" theme paper with a small note toting Mrs. Parker's infamous warning. The film is a very warm and inviting Christmas story, capturing the holiday season of yesteryear in an authentic and gleeful manner. Set in Indiana in the 1940's, Clark captures small vignettes of the time period through Ralphie's life experiences, from his eager anticipation of a secret decoder machine sent by the radio show he listens to every night at 6:45, to his punishment for using foul language by keeping a bar of Lifebuoy soap in his mouth for a prolonged period of time ("Over the years, I got to be quite a connoisseur pf soap..."). What helps the movie in the long run are its characters, who never overstay their welcome or lose the appeal they possess. Ralphie's parents, known only to us as Mom and the Old Man, are the perfect parents: his mother, played with supreme charm by Melinda Dillon, is a warm and caring woman, as shown in her methods of getting younger brother Randy to eat by referring to him as "Mommy's little piggy," and in her protective yet nurturing nature in regards to her children. His father, a stern yet gentle man, is the ideal working-class family man who sits at the table, reads his paper, but still exudes a great deal of caring for his family. Darren McGavin's performance as Mr. Parker deserves high praise, especially in his childlike glee over winning a table lamp in the shape of a woman's leg. Billingsley is the most notable of these actors, instilling Ralphie with all the emotions and thoughts a normal child experiences. His run-ins with neighborhood bully Scut Farcus provides a truly satisfying scene of turning the tables, while his daydreams of getting an A+ on his English paper and his going blind from "soap poisoning" are filled wit merriment and humor. I think what "A Christmas Story" captures most effectively is the unbearable countdown to Christmas Day, which, for a child, can be the most excruciating twenty-four days of the year. Here is a movie that is guaranteed to bring back wonderful memories of childhood, with something that everyone from all generations can relate to, whether it be the joys of the long-awaited Christmas morning, or the shared pleasure of reliving the time and place, and the painstaking accuracy with which it is portrayed.
Rating:
Summary: A MOVIE IN WHICH THE ENTIRE KID (AND ADULT) YEAR REVOLVES
Review: If you're looking for a timeless and hysterical holiday flick, do yourself a favor, BUY THIS MOVIE!! I remember growing up watching this movie during the holidays when it first reached TV in 1985. I was five years old then and every year since have watched this movie at least once or twice during the season. Not until two years ago, when Jean Shephed, the writer of this movie and voice of grown up Ralphie, died suddenly did I really appreciate the satyrical and amusing dialogue of the script. Some of the most memorable quotes and funniest scenes of any holiday movie came from this flick (and I don't mean Scotty Schwartz). "You'll shoot your eye out", is the most well known line, but many are much funnier. "They looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears", "My father worked in profanity as other artists might work in oils or clay, a true master", and "Football? What's a football?? My mind had gone blank!!" are just a few of the hilarious quotes and scenes in this great Christmas masterpiece. Since Christmas is that day in which the entire kid year revolves, this would make a great present under the tree, or an even better early Christmas Eve surprise to watch with your family. My fiance and I watch this movie every year and laugh out loud every time. This is the best Christmas movie or program that exists. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph, and Garfield come close, but nothing beats Ralphie's Christmas adventure in his quest for a Red Ryder 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle! Don't shoot your eye out! Quick, throw this movie in your shopping cart, it's just in time for the Christmas season! (check out my other reviews of great Christmas videos and music)
Rating:
Summary: oh the memories.
Review: I'm sure I've seen this movie about 150 times but it's one of those rare classics that never loses it's charm. In "A Christmas Story" we follow the adventures of the meek and illfated Ralphy. All Ralphy wants for Christmas is the new "Red Rider BB Gun" but the odds seem to be stacked against him. He searchs everywere for an answer to his wish but his hopes are crushed when even the mall santa says in one clssic sene,"you'll shoot your eye out kid". This a heartwarming film that has easly become my favorite movie for the holidays. "A christmas story" is filled with great comedy, memorable moments and is perfect for the whole family.
Rating:
Summary: Christmas Classic that will never die
Review: I love this Christmas movie its one of my favorites,this is such a great holiday movie for the film that will be watched decades and decades, this is a movie that will always be remembered and for Christmas they will play it over and over because its known has a classic that everyone loves so this is one of these movies that will be remembered forever!!
Rating:
Summary: oh the memories.
Review: I'm sure I've seen this movie about 150 times but it's one of those rare classics that never loses it's charm. In "A Christmas Story" we follow the adventures of the meek and illfated Ralphy. All Ralphy wants for Christmas is the new "Red Rider BB Gun" but the odds seem to be stacked against him. He searchs everywere for an answer to his wish but his hopes are crushed when even the mall santa says in one clssic sene,"you'll shoot your eye out kid". This a heartwarming film that has easly become my favorite movie for the holidays. "A christmas story" is filled with great comedy, memorable moments and is perfect for the whole family.
Rating:
Summary: How Many Times Will be Too Many?
Review: A Christmas Story produced and directed by Bob Clark with a feature length of 93 minutes has a classic charm that offers quality entertainment for the entire family. I have seen the movie so many times, mostly during the holidays, that I wonder if I will ever grow tired of it. The movie takes the viewer back to a simple time in the 40's when things didn't seem to be so quite as complicated as the modern day world. After all, nine-year old Ralphie Parker, played by Peter Billingsley, only asks for ONE thing for Christmas. This past Christmas I was presented with a Christmas list from one of my children that contained more than 20 items!! Ralphie simply wants a Red Ryder BB gun and to him that is the ultimate Christmas gift. However, he receives opposition from his teacher, mother and even jolly old Santa himself. They all tell him the same thing . . ."You'll shoot your eye out!" Ralphie's adventures win my heart everytime. His wonderful imagination in the Ovaltine decoding and the way he still appears so innocent after occassional bad words slip out while the soap goes in. The family appears to be a little dysfunctional which gives the viewer a reality perspective when compared to shows like "Leave it to Beaver". Darren McGavin plays Ralphie's dad and his "Tim the Tool Man" escapades are all hilarious. This movie gives me a warm fuzzy feeling no matter how many times I watch it and it deserves five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Hilarious
Review: This is the funniest movie ever made period. I dont see how anyone could not laugh at the hilarious exploits of nine-year-old Ralphie and his quest for a BB Gun. While his old man shouts gibberish at the furnace and his old lady tries to get his kid brother to eat, Ralphie comes up with plan after plan, every one failing spectacularly. If you wanna see the funniest movie ever made, you gotta get this one, because you will truly laugh your pants off.
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