Rating: 
Summary: Bad DVD transfer . . . beware . . .
Review: I'm very upset that I've been through two of these DVDs from a local store and have seen the same problem with the film playback portion. It looks as though you're watching it through a piece of plexiglass while someone shakes it . . . or like you're watching it through heated air. The picture is lumpy and slightly wavy--especially noticeable over brighter passages in the film. Honestly, my old VHS copy looks superior.This a very poor transfer of this great film. I would warn anyone who was considering buying this horrible DVD transfer. Warner should recall these.
Rating: 
Summary: Wish there was a better DVD...
Review: This classic gentle satire of a Christmas movie would surely have been worth a loving transfer to DVD. I've just returned a rental copy of it, though, and was at least mildly disappointed. First of all, the movie was on the disc in "full screen" mode only. Our first reaction was to take it out and see if the widescreen version was on the other side. What, we don't get letterboxes? Is this different from every other DVD for some reason? There's also a little wobble to the image out on the edges, though it's not a serious distraction once you're watching for a bit. The soundtrack actually had a noticeable oscillation to it in spots; I'm no audiophile, but when music plays you can hear it actually -- uh, "wobbling," would be the word. Very odd in a major studio film... I really don't understand why a movie this beloved would have been neglected in the transfer to DVD. You'd expect some extras at least -- we get nothing but the movie and the scene selections. Why not at least include some of Jean Shepherd's written stories, to give people the flavor of the original book from which this was adapted? Maybe the studios just don't "get" this one, even now. When A Christmas Story was originally released, the ads in the paper tried to make it look like a typical National Lampoon sort of movie. It's not like that. The studio never did understand what they had. Now they don't realize how it caught on despite them, and they're neglecting it. Bozos. Speaking of Jean Shepherd, people who love this movie might try picking up his original story collection "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash." It includes the chapters on which "A Christmas Story" was based. The tone of the movie is dead on; Jean Shepherd was one of the adapters for this screenplay, and he's the narrator in the movie. If a twelve-year-old kid you know likes the movie, that book would be a great gift.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny!
Review: This movie is hysterical and really caputures tue Holiday season and makes you think that your family might not be as crazy as you think they are! Definately a classic Christmas movie.
Rating:
Summary: The movie is great, but the DVD does not offer widescreen
Review: This is my favorite comedy movie... so you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the DVD does not include a widescreen presentation. To the movie I give 5 stars, but to this DVD I give zero! I'll keep the VHS version for now.
Rating: 
Summary: Some parents need to grow up.
Review: Now I have to stick up for Jamie a bit. She was honest that she did not like the movie but her family did, and she said you love it or hate it. I love it. My main problem is these parents writing reviews because it has "violence and profanity". First of all, they were looking for offensive material in this movie; no cussing of any kind was in this movie except for the one time Ralphie says the "F" word, which is extended by him into the word fudge in front of his father. You actually cannot even hear the complete word. The idea is you know what he said and his mother (which I'm sure some of the mothers with their reviews felt was also wrong) promptly washes out his mouth with soap. Also, with the mother who felt that this is a bad movie with the gun violence these days, the movie was made in 1983 and guns don't kill people, people kill people. You can smother someone with a pillow and it doesn't mean it's the pillow's fault. To everyone this is a very cute movie that will make a good portion of you laugh and smile. Obviously from the other comments the DVD quality is poor but the VHS is just fine. Not everyone will like this movie, but I hope you do not look at it to raise your children. That is your job alone to teach your children cussing is bad, guns are not toys, and fighting is wrong, but sometimes you don't have a choice. That is what this movie was stating. Ralphie got in a fight because he really had no other choice so he fought to win. His father yells in the movie and you are to take it as cussing, but you can never understand what he says. The Santa and the elves seem mean because that is how Ralphie pictures them, as big, mean, scary people. You have to admit they tend to scare children in real life. Some parents just need to grow up and realize it's not everyone else's job to raise their children.
Rating:
Summary: Only Scrooge would hate this movie
Review: This is not only the best Christmas movie ever, it's one of the best movies ever! How can anyone hate this movie? Who hasn't spent countless hours trying devise a plan to get the one present you want? Who's mother wasn't always worried about you putting your eye out? Who hasn't heard their father curse a blue streak while fixing a car or something that doesn't want to be fixed? Who hasn't been filled with dread by the neighborhood bully, secretly wishing to beat him to a bloody pulp? Who hasn't seen a kid have to test out the 'tongue on a fronzen pole' theory? This movie has it all. Every time I watch this movie ( too many times to count ) I'm 8 years old again. What other movie can completely take you into the movie like this one? If you haven't seen this movie, see it now! It'll get you right into the Christmas spirit. "Deck da haws, wi' baws of rory, fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra."
Rating:
Summary: No widescreen
Review: I was about to buy this, but, whoops--no widescreen available. NO SALE.
Rating:
Summary: An all out classic
Review: There are so many christmas movies out there but this one tops them all. This is a great movie to watch on christmas eve with you friends and family. In this movie and young boy named Ralphe trys to convince his parents, teacher and even Santa that he needs a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas. This movie is hillarious but still has that heart warming Christmas Spirit.
Rating:
Summary: Modern Classic
Review: What I like most about this film is the way it brings me back to the childhood days of Christmas. If you still remember the awe and magic of getting that special gift, you'll enjoy watching this movie bring it to life. Billingsley is wonderful and will have you rolling - no matter how many times you've seen it. And to me, that's what makes this movie a classic - you can watch it over and over again and it doesn't get old. A modern Christmas classic!
Rating:
Summary: A balanced, nostalgic and finely acted Christmas classic
Review: This movie captures the entire Christmas spirit in a comedic slice-of-life, almost Seinfeld-esque fashion. The dynamics of Ralph's family are universally understood, and the genuine nature of the story shone through the Christmas themes. The performances were dead-on perfect, including Darrin McGavin as the cantankerous Old Man and Peter Billingsley as the fearless hero Ralphie. The misadventures of this clan (changing the flat tire, the Bumpus hounds, the parental struggle over the lamp, the "summit" with Santa, Christmas dinner) are a scream. And best of all, it captures the highs and lows of the best holiday around. This is one of the best comedies ever and a holiday staple. Add this to your collection.
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