A Christmas Story

Was I suppossd to find this funny? Because it came off to me as incredibly dark and twisted, and not in a good way. And holy crap, do I despise Ralphie with a burning passion.

I know I'm probably 1 of the few, if not the only 1 - but I do not like this movie and never have. I first saw bits and pieces of it on TV and guessed that it wasn't great, that it was probably just an average film. When I finally got to see the whole thing, I was disappointed. I found myself not caring for or about the characters, and most of the parts annoyed me. Someone else already mentioned it, but I didn't feel as though the narration sounded as though it could possibly be an elder Ralph Parker speaking. The plot, yes, is the 9-year-old's dream of getting a BB-gun as his ideal Christmas gift, though neither of his parents seem keen on giving it to him. Even his teacher leaves the same pathetic line as his parents quote, on his report on what he wants his gift to be: "You'll shoot your eye out." Somehow I don't think that would convince any young kid I know to change gift choices, so obviously it doesn't work on Ralph. He even begs Santa for it. I felt that this was yet another holiday movie excluding what the holidays really were about, but instead of having a cute substitute where the toys are shown alive when left alone, or how the family pulls together at the ideal time of year for it, this movie hints that this could be why the family is so dysfunctional...not that religion is ever mentioned as a solution for them. The subplots of the movie include: Ralph's loathing at receiving an pink EASTER BUNNY-type outfit from an aunt who treats him like a 4-year-old female; the parents' despair and disgust of the younger brother's finicky eating; their fighting when the mother accidentally breaks the father's award (a lamp she loathes); Ralph using the world's worst curse word then claiming he heard it from a fellow student instead of his father; 1 of his friends sticking his tongue to a frozen pole on a dare; and his finally losing his temper on the local bully who terrorizes him daily. Not even the scenes of the neighbors' dogs eating the holiday dinner and the family having to suffer through a badly-sung version of "Deck the Halls" in public, or the irony of the message Ralph worked so hard to decode - an advertisement - amused me. I hid my disappointment when I received this movie as a (random, not holiday) gift a few years after seeing it, but I've never watched it since. What they say about this movie is true - it will make you feel better about your family...but it will do it in an ironic way by making you grateful that your family is nothing like the Parkers. I wouldn't recommend this unless you need reassurance on that. If the tag-line "Peace, harmony, comfort and joy...Maybe next year" isn't a warning to you, read this and save yourself a few bad hours.

"Little Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas." That was the typical printed plot description for this fatuous holiday humbug, when it first began to reproduce itself all over cable television, like some loathsome Christmas virus. It didn't sound very promising the first thousand times I encountered it, and without ever having laid eyes on the movie, I was already wishing little Ralphie a hod of Christmas coal under his tree. Since then, I have seen enough of it to know that I can't stand more than five minutes of it at a single sitting, even after several glasses of wine. That it has supposedly achieved such widespread and enduring popularity is, to me, only one more sad bit of evidence of a nation in decline. Possibly it might have some merit as a darkly satirical view of the sort of attitudes that have led to this decline, but I doubt that's what the producers had in mind. Even more problematical is why Ted Turner is so obsessed with this piece of mindless drivel that he feels compelled to run it twelve times in a row every Christmas. What's it supposed to be? A new holiday tradition, perhaps? The Twelve Curses of King Tut's Christmas? Or has he just got the damn thing crammed full of subliminals? By contrast, "A Christmas Carol" has unquestionably earned its place as a Christmas classic and a holiday tradition, even in an age when many people are employed under such wretched conditions that Mr. Scrooge begins to look like a benevolent boss before his celebrated transformation. Indeed, if Bob Cratchit lived in America today, and were imprudent enough to give Scrooge his notice, by the time he got his desk cleaned out and was ready to leave, he would have to fight his way through the throng of burger flippers, taco stuffers and Wal-Mart associates waiting outside the counting house to apply for his job. But I digress. Sorry. This movie has that effect. It makes one want to digress. It makes the mind wander and the hand reach for the remote. Other reviewers have found it incongruous that a nine-year-old boy would still believe in Santa Claus. That point I dispute. This movie was a product of the 1980's. Ronald Reagan was president, and judging from his economic policies, he never stopped believing in Santa Claus. Possibly little Ralphie never did, either. He might have grown up to be a stockbroker, a real estate speculator or a commodities trader. He might have even grown up to be Ted Turner.

Honestly, I can't stand this movie. I refuse to watch it. And, as far as I know, I am the ONLY person in the entire world that hates it. In my opinion, it's horrible. The acting is bad, the plot is bad.. every thing is bad. Plus, the image of Santa they portray is traumatizing to little kids. But, I'll stop ranting. I just want to say that I hate this movie. And I think I'm the only person that does.

This movie is a story of an elfin Drew Carrey look-a-like who wants a BB gun for Christmas. The kid is a an obnoxious brat but his home-life is less than ideal. The father was a drunken profanity-spewing lout, the mother was a lack-wit, and the child a nine-year old boy, is forced to wear a pink bunny costume sent by his grandmother. This is not even counting the bloody fights the kid getting stuck to the street-lamp, or tour main character getting using profanity and then laying the blame on an innocent classmate. What holiday joy, and now it's on a twenty-four hour loop on TBS, and people wonder why i drink over the holidays. The movie was shown in my high school before Christmas break, and I always hated to watch it. Honestly I'd rather take mid-term exams than watch this movie. I was good on exams, but instead of taking the exams at the prescribed time, our teacher,who was generally a good guy, had us take our exams early(over a couple of days) so that we could watch this depressing waste of celluloid. All in all though I'd rather take a mid-term, have a root canal or bang my head against a tree than watch this horrid movie.

A Christmas story is a classic holiday film that is very funny and entertaining. This is a movie that should be viewed by everyone, and can been seen on television during thanksgiving and Christmas time. In most families, this film is already a tradition to watch every year and that's because it has a wonderful plot, great characters and believable actors. A Christmas Story is about an average middle class family living in a small town in the 1940's. The film contains an average family of a regular husband and wife relationship and two young boys. The eldest of the boys is named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) who is the star of the film. All that Ralphie wants is to have a perfect Christmas containing the perfect gift, a Red Ryder carbon action BB gun. This is all that Ralphie can think about day and night. When Ralphie has to write a Theme about what he wants for Christmas, his teacher replies to him `you'll shoot your eye out' which seems to be the only reply to him throughout the whole film. What makes this film so great is the ability to relate to Ralphie with his problems throughout the movie, such as wanting that one gift that everyone thinks that you're too young to have and are unable to get. The acting is very convincing and makes you think that this could even be you in the movie. There are some very hilarious parts in this film that also make it very good. This particular scene also contains some very cheesy acting which also makes it funny. Ralphie has a dream about getting his Red Ryder BB gun and saving his family from a bunch of evil villains. In this scene Ralphie is wearing the white sparkly cowboy suit and he shoots down the evil villains and saves the day with his gun in a very unrealistic way. There really wasn't much music that can be commented on in this movie, just that it was the orchestral type of music that was out in the time period of the 40's. The costumes where great and convincing. I also liked how real they made the 40's look. You actually think it might have been made in that time period which makes the film very authentic. I would recommend this film to anyone who wants some holiday laughs and some great family time together. I would rate this film a 9 out of ten because it's so memorable.

A Christmas Story, there is absolutely no way that anyone could ever say they never saw this film since it's shown every Christmas, especially on TNT when they do the 24 hours of A Christmas Story, lol. But onto the movie, I've watched A Christmas Story since the day I was born, it's one of those films you never get sick of because of the simple fact that each year of your life you could relate to it in some way. Each character has these memorable moments and you could say that you've been in the same situation. It's great seeing this movie because it makes us laugh about the silliest moments in our life during the Christmas season. Ralphie is a little boy who just so badly wants a B.B. gun for Christmas, it's just his dream. Only one problem, it'll shoot his eye out according to the adults around him. We go through Christmas with Ralphie and his family, his father who is obsessed with a prize leg lamp he won. His mother who is greatly under-appreciated but extremely loving. His brother, Randy, who is your typical silly and annoying younger brother who makes fun of him. And his friends who are on a constant run from the school bully. But all Ralphie can think about during this hard time in his adolescence is that B.B. gun. A Christmas Story has constant unforgettable scenes, like the pink bunny out fit that Ralphie gets as a present from his aunt, him saying his first swear in front of his dad, Mom and Dad's fight over using the glue on purpose, visiting Santa at the mall, and of course that great ending that is sure to bring a that is sure to bring a tear to your eye. It's just the perfect Christmas movie that is a BIG recommendation for the season. It has great comedy, terrific acting, and just the most touching moments you'll ever see in a Christmas movie. 10/10

I have tried to watch the movie at least half a dozen times and can never get more then halfway through it. Some people think this is required watching during the Christmas Hoilday season. It has been said it is a reflection on our childhood wants for that certain Christmas present. Well I was never a big believer in the commericalism of all Holidays. The lowest rating here is 1 awful well if I could I would say it is a negative 10 But if others think it is good that's okay just don't expect me to agree with you on it It's a wonderful life is still my all time favorite Christmas story.

Nostalgic tale of a Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) growing up in the 1940s (I believe). He wants nothing more than a Red Ryder Ranger Model Air Rifle (a BB gun for short) for Christmas but everyone tells him it will "shoot your eye out". That's about it for plot but the film has sequences that every child (and adult) can relate to. My favorites: Ralphie's best friend getting his tongue stuck to a pole when he's dared to lick it; Ralphie accidentally swearing in front of his father; the bully that threatens Ralphie and his friends every day until Ralphie beats him up (in a GREAT scene); Ralphie's constant fights with his little brother (wonderfully played by Ian Petrella) and Billingsley and his brother being terrified by a department store Santa. Also Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are just great as the parents-- especially Dillon. She has one uproarious scene where she gets Petrella to eat by imitating a pig! This was totally ignored when it came out in 1983 but has slowly developed a cult following. It's now considered one of the best Christmas movies ever made--right up there with "It's a Wonderful Life" (which was also ignored at its release). A charming, wonderful Christmas film. A 10 all the way!

How did this lame comedy get ranked alongside "It's a Wonderful Life" as one of the greatest Christmas films? There are some amusing scenes, such as the kid's encounter with the mall Santa, but overall this film looks like a "Saturday Night Live" skit, with characters that are poorly drawn caricatures. McGavin and Dillon are not believable as husband and wife. The script is too episodic to sustain the narrative; the humor is forced. The scenes with the bully are way over the top. The direction is pedestrian, relying on stale gimmicks like daydream sequences and fast motion. The sets look cheap and cheesy, like a TV special.