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.
This is just a great holiday movie, hands down. The above reviewer did a nice job explaining why the appeal is so universal, even for a "period" piece. And just in case you've forgotten, TBS will be airing this one 24 hours again this upcoming Christmas Eve. Happy holiays, RM.
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:40 pm
Of Counsel
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
I had this movie on video before it was ever on TV for the masses. I wish I could say that I saw it in the theater, but I did have it on video by about 1986-87. It's kind of upsetting to me that it has become so ubiquitous. It used to be my family's special Christmas movie.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
i really don't see how this will ever be topped. it's obviously overplayed, but it captures so many themes and emotions about christmas that most xmas specials avoid.
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:37 pm
Supersonic
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:02 pm Posts: 10690 Location: Lost in Twilight's Blue
I knew that's what was going on in this thread when I saw bart's name in it.
I need to break out Black Christmas immediately.
_________________ Scared to say what is your passion, So slag it all, Bitter's in fashion, Fear of failure's all you've started, The jury is in, verdict: Retarded
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:24 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:18 am Posts: 3920 Location: Philadelphia
I went out to the house in Ohio last in Jan. 2007 where a lot of the exterior shots were done and some of the inside ones as well. Most of the movie was filmed in Canada. I went with my 3 brothers and friend, my oldest brother has since passed away from cancer, so that trip and this movie hold a special place for me. Not trying to bring everyone down or anything, just sharing my love for this movie. I will watch it a couple times with sadness and joy at the same time. But just a fun movie and I think it is really cool that this movie is the movie of the week.
_________________ I remember doing nothing on the night Sinatra died
And the night Jeff Buckley died
And the night Kurt Cobain died
And the night John Lennon died
I remember I stayed up to watch the news with everyone
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:57 pm
Got Some
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:04 pm Posts: 1875 Location: Atlanta, SE of Disorder Gender: Male
punkdavid wrote:
I had this movie on video before it was ever on TV for the masses. I wish I could say that I saw it in the theater, but I did have it on video by about 1986-87. It's kind of upsetting to me that it has become so ubiquitous. It used to be my family's special Christmas movie.
I feel the same way. Funny movie for a 12 year old to discover on his own before it became a "modern classic".
_________________ From under my lone palm i can look out on the day
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:35 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:57 pm Posts: 3332 Location: Chicago-ish
Total classic. We used to watch this every xmas eve while playing games. Now since they show it all day anyways, we watch Xmas vacation. So we get both!
Post subject: Re: Movie of the Week #51: A Christmas Story
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:32 pm
Got Some
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:32 pm Posts: 2446
this story gets told ever christmas when the family gets together ...
there used to be a movie theater around the corner from me growing up. i, then 6, and my sister, 8, go to the theater to see what's playing. she wants to see some crapfest called 'the golden seal,' and i have to see that too because i'm 6 and you can't let a 6-year-old unattended in a movie theater. the other movie being shown is 'a christmas story,' i throw a fit and go watch it by myself anyway because she really, really wanted to see a movie about a seal made of gold. she once wrote me that even then i was making better decisions than she did.
and like PD, i've had a VHS tape for years, well before it became the 'princess bride' of this generation. i'm surprised the leg lamps aren't mass produced, they'd sell everywhere for a year or two.
and a point of contention that i bring up with everyone about a crucial scene in the film, the father actually says "RAGILE," the "F" is actually on the side of the box, with only the "ragile" visible, hence the "italian."
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