HCR Rates The Movies #20: A CHRISTMAS STORY

[DTM]

So, our next film, Classic or Crud, Hit or Miss, what say you ALL?

Our next film open for discussion, and ultimately an Overall RATING by you all:

A CHRISTMAS STORY
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Let the discussions flow. Likes, dislikes, classic film or overhyped trash, and DONT FORGET to place an Overall Rating when youre done.

Its easy, just give a Rating from 1 (Jaws 4:The Revenge) to 10 (Jaws), and thats it. Course I'd love to have you all give reasons as to why you feel it deserves this Overall Rating, and more than encourage discussions with us all about them.

So, what say you all?

Next Film: ??????

[TMNT99]

This movie is soo annoying, I won't watch it. Lowest rating ever! 1

[DTM]

Youre kidding???? :eek: :eek: This is utterly and completely a Christmas CLASSIC movie. Theres a reason its played 24 hours straight on Christmas Day on some channels in America, and even here in New Zealand is played several times on the same channel.

Wow, and here I thought everyone Loved this film. A young boys search.....nay, his Quest, to acquire his Ultimate Christas Gift, a Red Rider BB Gun (youll shoot your eye out) against all adversity is a film that will be shown for Christmases for all time. The characters in this film, while very funny and humourous (as this is a comedy) are also very believable, warm and very easy to like and love. The settings make you feel like you walked right into an inviting Norman Rockwell painting, and best of all our main characters narrations throughout the film (amazingly well done in an adult voice though with the mindset of a young boy)

Ralphies trials and tribulations with giving subtle (or not too subtle) hints to his parents about this classic gift, not to mention the mall Santa, his issues with the school yard bullies, for which he finally overcame in a Huge way, and how on earth is he going to save Little Orphan Annie with his decoder ring?? (A Crummy Commercial??) :)

Not to mention his fathers betrayal over his moms sudden "accident" with his well earn "prize", and his battles with the neighbors dogs and the basment heater. His Moms task of getting his little brother to eat dinner each and every day, as well as getting him bundled up for those cold winter mornings. His friends trying like mad to escape bullies out to get them, in addition to removing their tongues from forzen flagpoles, and just each and every character trying to live their peaceful lives (sometimes with little success) in a classic era in American history.

This film really has it all, and considering it was made about 20 years ago, its still as classic now as it was then.

By far my favorite Christmas Film, and a well deserved 9.5 out of 10 if you ask me. :laugh:

[krusticlese]

A classic Christmas tale that stands the test of time!

Also has some of the most quoteable lines of any Christmas movie.

"You'll shoot you'r eye out!"

"Awww, Fudge"

"I triple Dog Dare you!"

"How does the Piggy eat?"

"Fra-gil-e. Must be Itallian!"

"The goose. It's smiling at me."

"Ho, Ho, Ho!"

and my personal favorite:

"I like the Wizard of OZ."


This is one of those movies that I absolutely get itching to watch right after Thanksgiving dinner. I've seen it about 20+ times and I still laugh every time I see it.

I'll give this one a solid 9 for a great story, characters, and for still being hilarious nearly 20 years after it's production.

[Maniac_nmt]

Youre kidding???? :eek: :eek: This is utterly and completely a Christmas CLASSIC movie. Theres a reason its played 24 hours straight on Christmas Day on some channels in America, and even here in New Zealand is played several times on the same channel.

This film really has it all, and considering it was made about 20 years ago, its still as classic now as it was then.

By far my favorite Christmas Film, and a well deserved 9.5 out of 10 if you ask me. :laugh:

I can never sit through it. It just doesn't do anything for me. Speaking for myself, my favorite Christmas film (and the best of them all) is 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

I'd give this a 4/10

[Inbetweener]

Oh man, two low ratings so far...I just go finished watching bits and pieces of this classic again a few minutes ago. Christmas Story is a classic Christmas movie. I won't get too much into any other semantics beyond the surprisingly clever and exceptional screenplay writing here, but this is a great movie that is quotable and timeless and even easy for critics to appreciate. I can however see some people getting sick of it after 24 straight hours, but I for one appreciate TBS's tradition...I never miss it. :)

[Inbetweener]

Oh yes, my rating: 9.25

[Magnito]

This is one of those movies that you love or hate. I expect to see a lot or really high ratings, and a lot of really low. I love this movie, it's on 24 hours on X-mas for a reason, and I usually watch it 3 or 4 times. I give it a 9.8

[DTM]

Current HCRealms Member Rating:

A CHRISTMAS STORY - 7.08 / 10

[Rokk_Krinn]

I was just having this basic discussion with one of my employees last week - he loves "A Christmas Story" and I despise it with darn near every ounce of my being. There are very few well-known and "beloved" movies that I won't watch at least half-heartedly but this is one of them - I will not watch a single second of this film if given a choice (and will likely resort to bloodshed if not given a choice).

There are many fabulous Christmas movies I would rate high and love immensely - whether it's a "tv show" like the assorted Rudolph/Santa/etc-puppet movies (man, I wish they had a DVD collector's set of them) or true movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" (really viable for any time of the year and not as Christmas-y as most think but a fantastic movie) or, heck, even "Scrooged". I'm actually fairly open-minded on holiday films but for some reason "A Christmas Story" is bland and unentertaining to me. I have trouble even being constructive with the criticism for it and I'm not sure why.

Vote: 0.0 (or to steal from a famous film critic: "I Hated Hated Hated Hated This Movie!")

[Mjolnir]

Gotta disagree. THis movie is fantastic. I own it on DVD. So much of it reminds me of too much of the trials and tribulations of Elementary School.
The heart-rendingly agonizing wait for the month from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Ohh, only a few things take that long and few are more unbearable.
10. All the way to the Christmas treee lot where my old man haggles like a camel merchant. ;)



PS I was 12 before I got my bb gun. :)

[coyotejack]

It's strange, this is one of those movies that so many talk about (some fondly, some not) but I have yet to see. There are some movies that seem to get hyped up (whether from people being nostalgic or media hype) so much that I just don't watch them as I don't think they could possibly be that good. heh

[Mieir Link]

I gotta agree with the naysayers on this one. For some reason I can't stand watching this movie, the kid really creeps me out and for some reason doesn't feel at all like a christmas movie to me. sorry but I give this a 4/10

[batfink]

A lot of classic stuff in here, such as the "tounge stuck to metal" bit.

8.5

[deadshot042]

The infortunate thing about seeing so many people voting this down is the fact that they pry did not grow up in the right enviroment to relate to the humor. Having all my family in rural communities, remembering my dad telling stories like this all the time, and being raised by parents who were young in the 50's (my dad at least) is what makes this movie funny because it is so relatable. I could watch this movie a thousand times and still laugh my butt off. It's about being a kid and growing up in the midwest and it is really one of my absolute favorite comedies of all time.
10 out of 10
This comedy is timeless.

[Rokk_Krinn]

The infortunate thing about seeing so many people voting this down is the fact that they pry did not grow up in the right enviroment to relate to the humor.

Unfortunately, I did grow up in an environment that was more than suitable to relate to this (though I admit, I and my family relate more to "Its a Wonderful Life") and I think that's part of the reason I loathe the movie. It was just like an annoying take on everything familiar. The main character is just too annoying - and look, he never even had to age to be that annoying little kid in Jerry Maguire. ;) (Yes, that's a joke - I know it's not the same brat. :) ).

[Gargantua]

I'd give it an 7.5 of 10. It's a good movie, but I don't feel compelled to watch it every year. For Christmas movies, in my mind, there's no topping "It's a Wonderful Life".

[T'Chaka]

You guys are nuts.

10/10 to give rise to this abysmal rating for one of the modern classics of Christmas flicks.

[labria4]

One of the greatest films ever made.

10/10