A Christmas Story [1983] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

---

---

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-01-10 rating:
Watch Ralphie Shoot His Eye Out
It's 1940's Indiana, and all Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB Gun. He knows he needs to drop subtle hints to his parents (Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon). But when his mother expresses concern that it might not be safe, he has to develop some back up plans.

Meanwhile, there is plenty else going on in the family. Ralphie has to face the neighborhood bully to defend his brother Randy (Ian Petrella). His father wins a hideous lamp. And Ralphie finally gets his Little Orphan Annie decoder. But through it all, Ralphie plots and schemes to get his BB gun. Will it be under the tree Christmas morning?

This movie is based on a collection of short stories, and it shows. While the multiple stories weave in and out of each other much like real life, they never truly form a cohesive whole. And ultimately, that's my problem with the film. It felt uneven to me. There were several laughs along the way, and the acting was good. But the movie seemed to be wandering with little focus, and that proved to be too much of a distraction.

I'm sure if I had grown up with this film, I'd feel differently about it because this isn't a bad film. But it isn't one that I will add to my Christmas traditions.

---

review by: date: 2007-11-23 rating:
When, when, when???
A great film ... but when is it going to be released on region 2 DVD please?

---

review by: jpc873 date: 2007-11-22 rating:
Useless to most amazon.co.uk customers
Great film. But since its an American disc it wont play on most dvd players here.

---

review by: claude date: 2007-11-10 rating:
A Story about Christmas
This is the spank. 100% no CGI and the odd real character to boot. Being childless makes me unideal for this mutter but let me shout the truth.

It's all there in buckets. White=snow so winter it is. Ralphie wants a gun - this may have parallels with Bush's policy but since the film was made years before Iraq I cannot verify the connection. Food for thought though.

But back to the film. Ralphies dad wins a leg and is subject to his son's dreams made all the more real by being filmed in sequence. So when Ralphie sleeps the audience is with him every step of the way.

There is a bully and a horrific scene with a tongue accident that left this reviewer belching for air. After some mild peril and a bloody nose the innocence returns until the kid shoots his own glasses.

Without spoiling the ending the hilarity continues until the last frame with a very good mis-pronounced carol and an unusual Christmas meal for the family.

With all this warmth I was able to turn down the heating and forget my own spiteful family christmases and, for a brief period join Ralphie and co for a cozy yuletide.

My only criticism is - WHERE IS THE SEQUEL?


review by: xyzzy date: 2007-10-21 rating:
A seasonal Christmas classic
This is a collection of tales as they are recollected by a person thinking back on their childhood one Christmas. It has all the exudations with its ups and downs.

Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) spots a "Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB" 200-shot Carbine with compass, in the window of a story and fantasizes on how to get it for Christmas. Will he succeed? And if so will he shoot his eye out?

I had one of those Davie Crocket hats when I was a kid. There were lots of other items and actions that I could relate to. However my wife likes the watering method used by Melinda Dillon (mother) around the trophy. And she likes the way the mother conserved electricity by turning it off. I could see her snickering through the corner of my eye. I am not sure I should have bought this one. It may prove fatal to any window plans.

A not on aspect ratio:
There are several aspect ratios and the term wide screen vs. full screen does not begin to address the various widths. And the width is important in many cases however it has no bearing on the number of stars given for the content of the movie. Most sources say that this product was released with 1.85:1 ratio.

There was a remake of "A Christmas Story" floating around but it lacks a lot of the originality of this one.

---

Similar products

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [1989]
Charlie Brown - I Want A Dog For Christmas / A Charlie Brown Christmas
All I Want For Christmas [1991]
How The Grinch Stole Christmas [1966]
One Magic Christmas [1985]

---

Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . All Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Drama . Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Special Features . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1980 - 1989
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . Children's
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . Soundtracks
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . R&B, Soul & Hip-Hop
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . Comedy
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . General AAS

---