I don't get why people like this movie. It's irritating and depressing. I feel sad that there are so many people that identify with this being what Christmas is like. The store Santa is a drunken criminal, and I can't imagine why he would keep his job. Kid's just don't drool and have as much snot as this movie depicts. If this is what the 50's was like, no wonder we're all on anti-depressants.

I love this movie from the 1st time I saw it (over 20 yrs ago). It truley is't the holidays untill you have watch this movie on TV or DVD.

Great laughs many viewings later with so many memorable moments. But I don't beleive in spoilers so I won't mention them for the 1 or 2 poor souls out there who have not had the pleasure of enjoying this movie with a hot cup of cocoa.

"A Christmas Story" is by far my family's favorite holiday movie! Our VHS tape wore out and we had to replace it with this DVD. We watch it at least twice during the Christmas season and once or twice in the summer. We also find ourselves quoting some of the classic lines all year round!

Based on great book, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, this movie captures the mania that built up around Christmas in almost every child in a more innocent age. The sub plots are well conceived and wonderfully woven into the story.

HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!

I have this movie in the full screen edition and am looking to upgrade to the Blu-ray edition. I watch this movie over and over between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it gets me in the holiday spirit. A Christmas classic that everyone should own.

My wife first saw this movie when she was a teenager....she saw it again when it appeared on Cable and recorded it :)Sadly, we moved and had to give the Cable/DVR box back, so we lost it...so I re-ordered it here on Amazon.com.If you only every see ONE Christmas movie, make it this one!!! You will NOT be disappointed!!!

New Ultimate editions of A Christmas Story are coming out in standard definition and Blu-ray. Each will repackage the current version with special memorabilia. So, the standard DVD Ultimate edition will have the same DVDs as the 2003 2-disc Special Edition, and the Blu-ray Ultimate edition will have the same DVD as the 2006 Blu-ray. In addition, the standard DVD version will have these non-DVD extras:

-- a collectible retro Christmas cookie tin (the container for the set)
-- 48-page cookbook with recipes inspired by the movie
-- photos and quotes from the movie
-- a red chef's apron with an A Christmas Story logo on it
-- 5 collectible cookie cutters "in iconic Christmas Story shapes" (looks like a star, a house, a leg lamp, Ralphie in his bunny suit, and what may be Peking Duck)

The Blu-ray will have a different color collectible tin and a strand of leg-lamp Christmas lights. Pretty cute.

The new editions won't be newly remastered. The video quality of the 2003 standard DVD release is fairly good, a bit soft, with good mono sound. It includes both the original 1.85:1 widescreen format (anamorphic) and full screen versions. The Blu-ray from 2006 is soft-looking for a hi-def version, with fairly good color and the same mono sound.

The DVD special features will be the same as before. For the standard DVD, that includes:

-- audio commentary by director/co-writer Bob Clark and star Peter Billingsley (Ralphie)
-- two readings by Jean Shepard, author and narrator for the movie (audio only)*
-- Another Christmas Story featurette, includes interviews with Clark and a few members of the cast
-- Get a Leg Up featurette, about the making and ongoing sale of the (in)famous leg lamp
-- A History of the Daisy Red Ryder featurette, on the object of great desire's actual history
-- Triple Dog Dare Interactive Trivia*
-- Decoder Match Challenge*
-- easter eggs (including an actual ad for the leg lamp)*
-- original theatrical trailer

The Blu-ray lacks a few of those features, marked by asterisks.

Now, about the really good stuff, the movie. A Christmas Story is that odd film that appeals to a cross-section of viewers who often can't agree on what to watch. Fans of sweet Christmas cheer are happily joined by people with a more jaundiced eye to the holiday. To be sure, the movie leans more to the sweet than the sour, but it has enough edge and good-natured twistedness to please some of our darker Christmas angels too. It conveys a genuinely warm nostalgia and some sharp, sometimes pretense-deflating observations about human nature.

The story is set at some indefinite time around 1940 in an Indiana town approaching the holidays. Young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants only one thing for Christmas, the Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Lightning Loader Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock. (That is, a BB gun, a very particular one.) He plans carefully well in advance how to lay the groundwork for this while avoiding the dreaded rebuff, but almost everyone says it anyway: "You'll put your eye out!" The relentless struggle for the one true gift develops alongside several other small stories and amusing details, a tongue-on-frozen-pole triple-dog dare, facing the local bully, the notorious leg lamp, the Santa slide, Peking Duck for Christmas, and several others, each memorable in itself.

The actors aren't very well known, but they're all just right. There is narration throughout, representing an older Ralphie, done by the originator of the story, Jean Shepard, also just right.

This movie, made in 1983, has gradually become a favorite Christmas classic, now shown in an annual 24-hour Christmas marathon on cable, which attracts a huge number of viewers. If you've never seen it, give it a try, even if you have a little Scrooge in you, and you'll probably enjoy it. If you're a big fan, or know one, you might want the memorabilia with one of the new Ultimate editions for yourself or a gift. If you don't care about such extras, just get one of the older editions.

There are Amazon pages to pre-order the Ultimate editions here (standard DVD) and here (Blu-ray).

I love this movie it makes you laugh and cry. By the way have you ladies seen Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) lately? He is SOOOOOOOOO HOT.

This is our family's favorite Christmas movie. It's perfect for all ages! The narrator does a great job throughout the movie helping us all to recall fond memories of our childhood Christmases. You'll be giggling throughout the movie!

This was part 1 of my husband's Christmas present (I also got him the lamp, the beer stein and the soap, decoder, and of course, the LAMP!

This DVD has a lot of extras on it we enjoyed watching. A family tradition

Still my favorite movie and in Blu-Ray it doesn't get any better than
this!!!

Finally a movie that doesn't destroy the book it is about. This was a great homage to Jean Shephard's work. Ralphie is portrayed brilliantly by Peter Billingsly and the rest of the cast is perfect. This is by far my favorite Christmas movie. I recommend it for families everywhere. But remember - if you aren't careful - you'll shoot your eye out!

In my opinion, if you haven't seen this movie you have been missing out because it's a classic. Everyone that I know has seen it and LOVES IT!
This year I plan to save up and purchase the leg lamp to put in my living room window!!

It never fails every Christmas it's on 24 hours but we still had to have the movie. Just full of good old fashioned laughs. A lot of the commentary info afterwards was great to hear and learn bits and pieces about the movie. Guess what we'll be watching 12/25!

This film never gets old no matter how old I get. It's completely classic.

For anyone looking for some classic holiday enjoyment, A Christmas Story is the epitomy of the traditional Christmas. Told from the point of view of young boy Ralphie, the story covers his desperate longing for the mother of all Xmas gifts, the Red Rider carbine action single shot air rifle.

As with any special edition DVD, there are a ton of extras. Some enjoy them; I am only interested in the movie itself.

Anytime one is in the mood for some good family entertainment A Christmas Story delivers the humor, realism, and trials of a classic Xmas tale.

I purchased this movie for my family to watch at Christmas time. We had been amassing a good sized HD-DVD collection and we enjoyed this movie and didn't own it yet, so I purchased the High Def version. Unfortunately, the graininess of the movie doesn't lend itself to HD so well. I can rate the movie 5 stars, but the high def part is what this review is about. IMAX blue planet is the only high def movie I've seen that looks worse. Time of original release doesn't seem to be a factor in Picture Quality though, as Casablanca is one of the clearest pictures I have seen from a high definition movie.

This movie in my opinion is the best family Christmas story ever made, it is a story that shows a lot of family love told in a manner that is heart warming. I highly recommend it!

No holiday season is perfect without at least one viewing of A Christmas Story. This was actually to replace my VHS version.

This is a collection of tales as they are recollected by a person thinking back on their childhood one Christmas. It has all the exaggerations 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 movie. It may prove fatal to any window plans.

The sequel of "A Christmas Story" ("It Runs in the Family" [1994]) lacks a lot of the originality of this one.

My Summer Story

The special features that have the cast commenting on the movie are almost as good as the movie itself. This is a movie you can watch dozens of times and still laugh. A must for Christmas!

I love this movie! The movie is funny. Whoever thought it was low budget. You'll shoot your eye out laughing at this movie! You should definetely buy this movie, by the way I'm big in Japan!

Christmas Story was hilarious back when I saw it in the theatre years ago, and also each of the many Christmas' since. My father loved it, I love it and my students on high school love it. Good clean humor that everyone can relate to.

great movie a classic everybody should own a copie of movie and watch it with their family around christmas time .

I was excited to find you had the merchandise and then to get it by Christmas Eve, was great! We had it to give as a gift on Christmas morning, just as we had planned.

Christmas just isn't Christmas without this as part of your Christmas Eve Film Festival. This is truly a holiday classic and favorite.

This was a gift for my husband and we enjoyed it together. It is still a very funny movie!!

For years I have watched this movie and loved the book. Finally, I have my own copy to wear out! This is my absolute favorite Christmas movie, I love the truth of how kids perceive and deal with adults and situations.

I remember the days of hearing..."you'll shoot your eye out!" I say it to my own kids today! Don't pass up a classic, you will cherish it!

Few other Christmas movies have so little to do with Christmas, but so much to do with the joys and pains of childhood. Most people will find instant connections, and hours of laughter with the bizarrely unique characters of "A Christmas Story."

Fun facts and interviews from the cast in the second disc were worth while. I have an earlier version of the movie and received this one as a stocking stuffer this year. If you are interested in buying "A Christimas Story", this two-disc special edition is the 'must have' version. If you already have the movie without the extras, you will still need this two-disc edition.

What can you say about this classic that hasn't already been said? Kids and adults alike watch this and for adults the trip down memory lane can be just as fun as the movie!!! The kids love watching the"underdog" win against the bully; as well as the interaction between the parents and kids.
A wonderful movie. A must see if you haven't, and a great movie to add to the holiday movie-thon!!!

You've seen it more times than you can count, you love it, and now it's time to get A Christmas Story on HD DVD. A great movie just got even better by going HD. Picture and sound quality are great and this is a must have for your holiday movie collection.

Even if you did not grow up in the era, you will find yourself remembering "that one" Christmas gift you had to have. For me it was a toy sewing machine. Luckily no one told me that I'd stick a needle in my eye.

Its a timeless Christmas movie that should be played every holiday at everyone's house. Buy it, its worth it.

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.

I think Christmas Story is more popular than "Miricle on 34th Street and as great as the James Stuart movie.