Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

rmhurst Great nostalgia! I lived much of it. Born in 1938 and raised in Indiana, the film seemed autobiographical. Well done!

guy_in_oxford I would have given this 10 stars but deducted one for the combination of stealth homophobia and gender rigidity (pink nightmare and electric sex heterosexuality assumption). Yes, in 1983 everyone making mainstream films made these assumptions (that everyone is hetero) but the complete absence of gay people is something that doesn't impress me as a gay person. Imagine if your people were consistently erased from film and television and you grew up, watching "family" entertainment that erased you from existence? The closest thing to a gay character is the bit part with the boy in line who likes the Tin Man and the Wizard of Oz. We're used as extremely tiny bit parts, as weirdos, and that's it.(Let's not pretend that Hollywood didn't know gay people exist. The entire underlying plot of All About Eve is about how gayness is evil and heterosexuality (heterosexual marriages in which women abandon their careers) is pure. The Children's Hour was about how sad, but necessary, it is for gay people to kill themselves. One of the very earliest American films, prior to homophobic censorship codes, showed two men dancing with a violinist playing. So, no, just because it was 1983 isn't enough of an excuse. We exist whenever someone wants someone to kick in the eye.)* That said, this film is just breathtakingly great from start to finish. The casting is perfect. The acting is flawless. The writing is fantastic.If you haven't seen the film you need to. It's nostalgic, funny, and heartwarming.*The opposite of this is seen in current television, where banal stereotyped gay characters are pretty common as more than bit parts. In this film, would it have ruined it for the Ralphie to have a second brother, one who is gay? No. It wouldn't have ruined the film. It would have made gay kids like me feel a lot happier when watching it with the family every year, growing up. I would have felt like I was valued and didn't have to lie about myself in shame, which I did at the time because everything told me that was the expectation.

Prismark10 A Christmas Story has become a festive classic in North America with a lot of subsequent films trying to replicate its success.It follows the nostalgic tinged tale of young Ralphie (as told by his adult self) a schoolboy in 1940s America who wants a BB gun for Christmas which his mum tells him will shoot his eye out. We see Ralphie getting up to pranks with his fellow classmates, being bullied by a rough kid, going to see Santa at the department store and of course his life with his parents and younger brother with tales of his dad winning a prize of a stockinged leg which he uses as a lamp.Darren McGavin looks too old to be their dad. Peter Billingsley brings a lot of charm as the precocious bespectacled Ralphie for whom life never quite turns out as he imagined in his head such as trying to lay hints of what he would like for Christmas.It is whimsical and fun but I would not call it a Christmas classic.

mspilman-81505 My favorite Christmas film even better than its a wonderful life which I enjoy a lot Warm without being mawkish .IT's based on a book called in god we trust all others pay cash which I didn't really like with the exception of the chapter on which this film is based which was written by jean shepherd who also contributes a witty narration. good performances all round especially peter billingsly as ralphie and the late Darren mcgavin as the father .What really makes this film work though is writer director bob Clark's warm hearted but never over sentimental approach which is the essence of the book and his episodic but still cohesive and humorous script .A few moments in the film may be unsuitable for young children after all bob Clark made porky's as well. But don't let that put you off this is a great treat for all the family. Unfortunately Its not well known this side of the pond unlike America where watching it is as tradiontal as turkey for Christmas dinner a situation which could be rectified by a channel showing it or by it's release on Blu-ray or DVD over here which sad to say is all rather unlikely due to the fact that its more of a interpretation of Christmas more familiar to Americans than us but we this side of the pond should enjoy Its available as either a us DVD or Blu-ray import It's sure to put you in the festive mood but most of all it's very funny .I highly recommend it.