Home Movie Reviews

the best thing ever aired on tv.

I didn't start watching this show until both season one and two were out on DVD, and I must say that this is an excellent show. Its exciting and suspenseful. It has characters that you either love or love to hate.

The series is exceptional because its a new idea. So many tv shows these days are dull and a waste of time. This is not one of them. I don't own a tv, I don't watch tv. I figure that if it is good enough to come out on DVD (except now it seems that everything is coming out on DVD) then its good enough to watch.

I loved it. Most television shows don't grab the viewer like this one does (unless your watching HBO, Sopranos, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, etc.).

There is only one complaint, and that is that while watching this I couldn't help but see all of the camera crew and some set equipment, but I'll excuse that for the lower budget and fast paced action that it is.

In the following I am going to count some of the benefits the viewers get out of watching the amazing "24":

1. An insight into the formidable, violent - but also exciting - world of war against terror - "24" emerged right after the terror attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers and started to give the horrified, but also curious viewers, a glance at the gray and mysterious area most were vaguely aware of - in a never been seen before approach of 'documenting' events in real time (each episode illustrates the events of a single hour in the lives of the characters).

2. Somebody to admire - There are two dominante roll models in the show:

Jack Bauer, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) operative, strikes the common viewers as the ultimate hero of all times. Nobody is really close to the level of the combative competence and shrewdness he demonstrates time and again - along side with dedication and commitment to his family and country.

David Palmer, the California presidential candidate, also appears as one of the wisest, most devoted, sincere and patriotic characters ever to hit the small screen.

Nevertheless, both are vulnerable.

3. An escape form reality - Upon watching the series, the viewers are going to forget about everything that bothers them and concentrate on the events that keep on happening by the minute on the screen. The action is non-stop; no other series in the history of television had reached the level of intensity this series has reached. There is nothing else one can think of while watching it that it's almost therapeutic.

4. A family get-together - Finally there's a TV series that can hook everybody - adult and minors - side by side in mutual respect. Yes, it is violent at times, but no more than the things everybody sees in movies and in the news everyday. It is also a great source for conversations and debates about the unconventional, controversial and shocking situations that are presented on the screen in an unprecedented density.

5. Something to look forward to - When was the last time you really waited for a new episode in a TV program? Was it back on the days of "Dallas"? Well, the drought is over; you are going to stay breathless during and after most of the episodes, anxious to see and know more. The best advice I can give is to take it one at a time.

Maybe it's the camp. Maybe it's the grating music. Or just having to see Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick in drag. This movie is AWFUL, and I certainly don't mean "it's so bad it's good". It's puerile and self-indulgent, and a sure-fire remedy for boredom. Because faced with the prospect of having to watch this movie would get me motivated to do anything but that.

OK, I'm willing to concede that RHPSh as some sort of attempt to make a 70s anthem for gays (or anyone else unaccepted by mainstream society). Find the courage in your alleged "freakishness" and ta-daa! It's outta the closet and "Heeeelloooo world!" After all, the "straights" and their society are the true freakish forces in the universe, and the "evil" Frank 'n Furter just wanted to create a safe haven for his kind. And besides, EVERYONE has a little hidden freak inside them just clamoring to get out.

Still, this movie is beyond unwatchable. For freaks on parade "Breakfast Club" was more entertaining.

This is the best movie ever!!!! The cast is outstanding. How often do you find greats like Tim Curry, Susan Saradon, Meatloaf, and so many more. The soundtrack is absolutely astounding. I think this movie is a superb example of satire. Get it today!!!!

Ah, yes! How can I possibly forget to provide a Halloween review for one of the greatest cult films of all time? What can I say about "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" that hasn't been said already? I can best describe this as a spooktacular musical extravanganza! A monstrous creation brought to life by genius Richard O'Brian, this movie is a decadent amalgamation of sex, science fiction, and horror. Don't worry about the R-rating, kiddies; "Rocky Horror" is one of the few provacative pictures that doesn't stretch across the borders of bad taste. And of course, the film has become even more incredible thanks to its infamous audience participation. Despite having debuted in theaters way back in 1975, "Rocky Horror's" infectious songs and fashion trends never get old!
Here's a brief synopsis for all you virgins: Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon play Brad and Janet, a pair of wholesome lovers who planned to announce their engagement to their former science teacher, Dr. Everett Scott (Johnathan Adams). But on a dark stormy night, after suffering a flat tire, Brad and Janet enter a castle owned by the film's star, Dr. Frankenfurter (Tim Curry), a delighfully evil scientist/ transvestite from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania! Put on your makeup and fishnet stockings! Let's do the Time Warp (again) with creepy handyman Riff Raff (Richard O'Brian), sultry maid Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and rock & roll groupie Columbia (Nell Campbell). Even Meatloaf gets his own rock solo as the Doctor's motorcycling zombie Eddie (a rebel who ends up getting served for dinner!) Let's not forget also that "Rocky Horror's" unforgettable soundtrack and hilarious dialogue are all narrated by the dignified Criminologist (Charles Gray-RIP). This cult film is a must-have for all horror and musical lovers alike! Enter at your risk!

Maybe it's the camp. Maybe it's the grating music. Or just having to see Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick in drag. This movie is AWFUL, and I certainly don't mean "it's so bad it's good". It's puerile and self-indulgent, and a sure-fire remedy for boredom. Because faced with the prospect of having to watch this movie would get me motivated to do anything but that.

OK, I'm willing to concede that RHPSh as some sort of attempt to make a 70s anthem for gays (or anyone else unaccepted by mainstream society). Find the courage in your alleged "freakishness" and ta-daa! It's outta the closet and "Heeeelloooo world!" After all, the "straights" and their society are the true freakish forces in the universe, and the "evil" Frank 'n Furter just wanted to create a safe haven for his kind. And besides, EVERYONE has a little hidden freak inside them just clamoring to get out.

Still, this movie is beyond unwatchable. For freaks on parade "Breakfast Club" was more entertaining.

This is the best movie ever!!!! The cast is outstanding. How often do you find greats like Tim Curry, Susan Saradon, Meatloaf, and so many more. The soundtrack is absolutely astounding. I think this movie is a superb example of satire. Get it today!!!!

Ah, yes! How can I possibly forget to provide a Halloween review for one of the greatest cult films of all time? What can I say about "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" that hasn't been said already? I can best describe this as a spooktacular musical extravanganza! A monstrous creation brought to life by genius Richard O'Brian, this movie is a decadent amalgamation of sex, science fiction, and horror. Don't worry about the R-rating, kiddies; "Rocky Horror" is one of the few provacative pictures that doesn't stretch across the borders of bad taste. And of course, the film has become even more incredible thanks to its infamous audience participation. Despite having debuted in theaters way back in 1975, "Rocky Horror's" infectious songs and fashion trends never get old!
Here's a brief synopsis for all you virgins: Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon play Brad and Janet, a pair of wholesome lovers who planned to announce their engagement to their former science teacher, Dr. Everett Scott (Johnathan Adams). But on a dark stormy night, after suffering a flat tire, Brad and Janet enter a castle owned by the film's star, Dr. Frankenfurter (Tim Curry), a delighfully evil scientist/ transvestite from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania! Put on your makeup and fishnet stockings! Let's do the Time Warp (again) with creepy handyman Riff Raff (Richard O'Brian), sultry maid Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and rock & roll groupie Columbia (Nell Campbell). Even Meatloaf gets his own rock solo as the Doctor's motorcycling zombie Eddie (a rebel who ends up getting served for dinner!) Let's not forget also that "Rocky Horror's" unforgettable soundtrack and hilarious dialogue are all narrated by the dignified Criminologist (Charles Gray-RIP). This cult film is a must-have for all horror and musical lovers alike! Enter at your risk!

A movie that made me want to kill the brother from jail, and kill the writers for a terrible ending. The beginning is gruesome and looks like someone who maims for fun, but only falls apart with a broken down script. This is a movie that could have been. Drop the corn field, the ice man, and make an ending as terribly disturbing as the beginning. This movie should be remade to go to the heights of terror as the beginning. A three star/ 70 points out of 100 movie.

starts off as Lewis, played by Paul Walker(both Fast and The Furious movies) who gets a car and decides to drive to go pick up his girlfriend Venna(Leelee Sobieski) but then makes a small detour to go pick up his brother Fuller(Steve Zahn, who is simply magnificent and who is always magnificent in his acting roles) and then they prank call on a CB radio and talk to Rusty Nail who they send to the Lone Star Hotel with "pink champagne" for a little joke, but that joke turns serious as the Rusty Nail fella knows who they are and starts terroizing the two boys along with Walker's girl Sobieski. the 2 lead actors skim to teh buff in one part, for all you Walker lady fans out there this is the movie to see him in it, the buffness. the end is great, but the last shot is sorta, ok. the special edition of JoyRide has a 29 minute alternate ending which they should of put that one into the end in the first place, put Isee why they choice the other one.

favorite line
Steve Zahn(Fuller, on the 29 minute alternate ending)- thats it, we're gonna die in a **cking cornfield

I've never written a response to any movie but had to for this one. I have to say this is a great movie. It is VERY suspenseful. I don't remember the last time I sat at the edge of my seat kinda biting my nails. It's sort of like a re-hashing of "Duel" by Spielberg mixed with "Breakdown" with Kurt Russell. The best part is the ending of the movie, which i don't wanna really give away. No it's not the best movie you'll ever see, but you'll definitely have an excellent popcorn movie to watch.

What makes this movie great is the conflict betwenn Kirk and Khan and the fact that it's a sequel to an episode of the show. Cool stuff.

The even movies in this series are the "real" Trek movies. ST4 had the whales. ST6 had the last of the old crew. ST8 had the Borg, ST10 had the Romulans and a clone. But ST2, ah ST2, that had Ricardo Mantalban giving William Shatner's scene chewing a run for it's money.

In fact, Shatner is relatively subdued for the better part of the movie. His Captain Kirk is feeling his age and faced with an estranged son that would prefer to remain estranged. Lost love and missed opportunities, and a tight reign from director Nicholas Meyer (Time After Time, ST6), help keep Shatner in check.

Also marks the screen debut of Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik.

The DVD package is put together very well. Once Paramount decided to start doing a good job with DVD special editions. They took it all the way to the bank.

This is the movie that, done on a shoestring budget, salvaged the Star Trek movie series. The original cast is reunited under now Admiral James T. Kirk as they take a shipload of cadets out on a routine training mission. Unknown to Kirk, his old enemy Khan (as well played by Ricardo Montalban and first seen in the original 1960's episode "Space Seed") has escaped from the desolated planet Seti Alpha Five and vowed to have his vengeance. Their bitter battle carries them across the galaxy, involves a reunion with Kirk's long lost son, and involves Project Genesis: an experiment with the potential for great good or unparalleled destruction. What ensues is non-stop action and a classic Star Trek adventure.

This is easily one of the top Star Trek films ever made, and my personal favorite. It combines everything that made the original series so beloved, such as a well drawn out plot, great character development, humor, and of course, exceptional space combat featuring the U.S.S. Enterprise. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Deforest Kelley (Kirk, Spock, McCoy) are the big three, and their interaction really makes the film. Also of note is newcomer Kirstie Alley as Saavik in what would prove to be her breakout role. This directors cut (ooh la la extra scenes and commentary) of a great sci-fi movie is a must have for Trekkies everywhere.

My god, this movie made me want to go to sleep...I sat through it thinking "When is it going to end?" The only good parts I liked involved Robert Duvall and the famous Valkryie scene, and the bits with Marlon Brando and Dennis Hopper. Otherwise, it just dragged itself on forever.

The hype and "greatness" I had heard about this movie only lead to a disappointment almost as equal as when I saw "Platoon."

The story is based off a story called "Heart of Darkness." Read it. It has the same moral and the same theme, but with a better story.

Francis Ford Coppola's original 1979 version of Apocalypse Now is a dark, sardonic, surrealistic yet mesmerizing reworking of Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness. Starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Fredric Forrest, Larry Fishbourne, and Dennis Hopper, Apocalypse Now trades Conrad's African setting for the then-still largely unexplored (by Hollywood, anyway) jungles of Vietnam.

The film's premise is deceptively simple. A hard-bitten, combat-weary Capt. Benjamin Willard (Sheen) is given a difficult (and highly classified) assignment: he is to travel up a long Vietnamese river on a Navy PBR (river patrol boat) to find the jungle outpost of Col. Walter Kurtz (Brando), a highly decorated and intelligent Special Forces officer who has gone "rogue" and utilizing what one senior officer describes as "unsound methods" to fight the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. Willard is to locate Kurtz and "terminate (him) with extreme prejudice."

In what many viewers of this movie consider the classic centerpiece of Apocalypse Now, Willard and his uneasy Navy companions need the assistance of Lt. Col. Kilgore (Duvall) and his Air Cavalry unit's helicopters to get past a too-shallow part of the river, or else the PBR will run aground. Trouble is, as Kilgore (a "warrior-surfer") points out, "Charlie" controls the mouth of the river. Still, Kilgore agrees to escort Willard and his PBR for two reasons: he loves a good battle, and the location is ideal for surfing. (When one of his soldiers points out that the place is known as "Charlie's Point," Kilgore barks, "Charlie don't surf!")

What follows is perhaps the iconic scene no other Vietnam War movie has been able to top: the early morning helicopter assault on Charlie's Point. In a terrifying yet oddly exhilarating sequence, we see Kilgore's Huey armada sweeping in on the seaside village with the morning sun behind them and Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries blaring from their loudspeakers. It culminates with a devastating air strike on hidden gun positions which have shot down a chopper, prompting Kilgore to utter the hallmark line, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning...it smells like victory."

Coppola's film then progressively gets darker and more surreal the farther the PBR makes its way upriver for Willlard's rendezvous with the mystery of Kurtz. The deeper the motley group goes into the jungle and the more distant they are from the "world," the weirder things get. And Willard (and the viewer) begins to wonder: what made Kurtz turn his back on the tactics officially endorsed by the Army and the Pentagon? Why was he being sent to kill Kurtz? What made the generals and politicians who ran the war any better than Kurtz?

Apocalypse Now is famous for having been difficult to make and for being controversial. When the Pentagon refused to allow Coppola to use its aircraft and equipment, the Oscar-winning (The Godfather Parts I and II) director turned to the Philippine Army, which lent its Hueys and other "toys" to the production. It's also well known that Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack during filming.

What is somewhat not widely known is that Apocalypse Now was once a project George Lucas was heavily involved in. As one of Coppola's co-founders of American Zoetrope, Lucas and Coppola's collaborator John (Red Dawn) Milius came up with many of the ideas incorporated into the final film. According to Dale Pollock's 1983 biography "Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas," the concept of the journey to Kurtz via a boat was Lucas'. Lucas had also wanted badly to direct Apocalypse Now, but when the production schedule dragged on and planning for Star Wars got underway, Coppola refused to wait till the science fiction film was finished to begin production of Apocalypse Now. He had set a release date for 1976, the Bicentennial year, and if Lucas went off to direct Star Wars, that date would be set back by a year. He refused to budge, and Lucas went his separate way. As it turned out, production problems, including a typhoon and Sheen's illness, slowed down production anyway and the film was released in 1979. (If you look closely, though, you'll see a visual homage to Coppola's friend and protege: the intelligence officer played by Harrison Ford wears a name tag with the name Lucas on his fatigues jacket.)

The original Paramount Widescreen Collection DVD (not to be confused with the more recent Apocalypse Now Redux) is a barebones offering. Its single disc only has English subtitles, English and French audio tracks, the original theatrical trailer, a scene called "Destruction of Kurtz Compound" which has the only bit of director's commentary by Coppola, and excerpts from the original theatrical program.

1-Francis Ford Coppola,
At the height of his creative genuis, and with films like The Conversation, Godfather 1& 2 to his credit, he was considered to be one of the few directors/auteurs,one responsible for enriching American Cinema and lifting it to new artistic heights to this day
2-Brando..Brando..Brando..
He was paid millions to appear just for a short time at the end of the movie, and he is worth every single penny/cent and more. Forget his speech in the opening of Godfather, as great and classic as it is, the 'Horror' speech still gives me a chill down my spine, one of the most haunting speeches in cinema history.
3-Vietnam
With Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now is the best film that dealt with the Vietnam war, and how it slowly affected the hearts and minds of some of its soldiers, pushing them into the darkest recesses of the human soul.
4-Scenes
There are many memorable scenes in Apocalypse Now, but few have forever stuck in my mind, the Helicopters attack with Wagner's music playing, and the tiger jumping out of nowhere in the dense jungle, though short was totally unexpected and scary.
5-Actors
Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Dennis Hopper, Larry Fishburn,all giving 100% and more for Coppola.
6-Joseph Conrad
John Milius and Coppola adapted Conrad's novel, and though Africa became Vietnam, the spirit of the book was not compromised in any way, one of the very few who devled into the darkness of the human soul.
7-The making of Apocalypse Now, appropriately named 'Heart Of Darkness' is the most interesting making of documentary ever filmed. Done by Coppola's wife Eleanor, it brilliantly manages to be personal yet detached and objective, and captures in intimate details the creative process and the difficulties that it encountered with the heart attack (Martin Sheen), near nervous breakdown (Coppola),and logistic problems (with Phillipines army).
8-DVD
Though short on Extras, it is of excellent quality
9-Music
With a combination of classical and original score, the music expresses and complements perfectly each scene.The soundtrack CD is a must buy too, since it also includes extracts from dialogue (including the 'Horror' speech)
10-Movie Library
If you are serious about starting a movie collection or enhancing your present one, then Apocalypse Now is what a 'movie collection' is meant for, a rich and rare film, the product of a time when directors and actors had personal visions great talent, and the free hand to translate it on screen and share it with cinema lovers worldwide.

As you've probably already figured out from other reviews, there's a serious problem here... Fox has taken what is probably not just a great animated film, but one of the best films ever to come out of Japan, and has given it a US DVD release that is nothing short of a kick in the teeth to fans of the movie.

A quick glance at the back of the box will tell you pretty much everything that's wrong here. "Interactive Menus" are NOT a special feature. Neither is "Full-Screen Presentation". Certainly the complete absence of language options isn't a feature, although I'm almost surprised they didn't try to pass it off as one.

That having been said, everything about the movie itself is very, very right. The animation is beautiful, rich and detailed, and the story is simple enough for kids to understand, yet deep enough to reward multiple viewings. Although I'm sure some would disagree, I think the English dubbing is actually very well done, and as far as I know, the movie is, frame-for-frame, identical to the Japanese version -- although that's probably not so much a testament to Fox's wisdom as to their sheer apathy.

If you're a true "otaku", it might be worth your time and money to hunt down a region-free subtitled edition (I'm given to understand Buena Vista actually distributes one in Japan). But if you're just looking for a movie you can share with your kids that won't insult your own intelligence, look no further. This gem shines through even Fox's completely lackluster presentation.

My son is very picky about his movies. I found this one at the video store and brought it home expecting him to hate it. I was totally shocked when he sat down and watched the whole movie beginning to end and then asked if he could watch it again!! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! It deserves so much more. Now, I have problems finding it for sale anywhere! There is so many good comments on this movie yet no one sells it except online. If you find it, treasure it. I know that your children will.

If you think "Spirited Away" or "Princess Monoke" is good,
you should see this one too,
You'll see that "Totoro" is much much better than any other animation films

...when will the movies be released on DVD separately? I am only interested in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and do not want to see the other two films again, let alone buy them. (I clicked on three stars, even though I haven't seen the new DVDs, only because it's not possible to make a submission without choosing a rating.)

I like getting rid of my old VHS movies when the DVDs come out. They take up less space, they're more stable and usually improved... But sometimes, they mess something up so bad that I can't get rid of my old VHS copies! This outrage usually occurs when they remix their precious 5.0 surround. For example...
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM. At the lava pit Willie used to stutter,"Wha-what's the matter with you?" The DVD sound guys felt it necessary to mess with the natural flow of the dialogue that has existed since 1984 and remove the stutter. Now it's just "What's the matter with you?"
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Wonderful DVD! But again, some nameless tamperer decided that Beast wasn't allowed to nervously ask "You wanna - you wanna stay in the tower?" Now he only confidently asks "You wanna stay in the tower?" (Even in the supposed "original theatrical version" option!)
When these engineers prepare the sound for these DVDs, do they actually think they're hearing a skip or something that needs to be edited out? Or have they taken it upon themselves to declare that stuttering simply doesn't belong in their precious DVD 5.0 surround sound?
Enhance the picture and the sound, please. Slap everything onto a disc and sell it to us again and again. But please!!! Stop fixing things that aren't broken!!! (You too, George Lucas) And someday, maybe I can actually replace a VHS movie with a DVD, and not have to keep both! Thanks for listening.

Vernon Wilmer
California

I bought the Widescreen Indiana Jones boxed set as the very first DVDs for my new dvd player - a nothing fancy Sony DVP -NS325.
Luckily, I didn't have any of the problems with any of the discs as being reported by some consumers. This may be a "batch" problem. I must say if it doesn't get edited that I purchased my Raiders set from a local retailer not Amazon.

The set contains some of the most entertaining movies ever made, brought up to 21st century standards for visual and audio quality. Then some of the most in depth, behind the scenes info was put on a separate FOURTH disc.
I've kept my review brief after the hundreds of other reviewers insightful comments. What more is there to say? This is a MUST HAVE set of some of the best films in history. Add the modern processes of transferring images and sound to a disc playable on home equipment that rivals any movie house showing - SIMPLY ASTOUNDING!

John Row

...when will the movies be released on DVD separately? I am only interested in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and do not want to see the other two films again, let alone buy them. (I clicked on three stars, even though I haven't seen the new DVDs, only because it's not possible to make a submission without choosing a rating.)

I like getting rid of my old VHS movies when the DVDs come out. They take up less space, they're more stable and usually improved... But sometimes, they mess something up so bad that I can't get rid of my old VHS copies! This outrage usually occurs when they remix their precious 5.0 surround. For example...
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM. At the lava pit Willie used to stutter,"Wha-what's the matter with you?" The DVD sound guys felt it necessary to mess with the natural flow of the dialogue that has existed since 1984 and remove the stutter. Now it's just "What's the matter with you?"
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Wonderful DVD! But again, some nameless tamperer decided that Beast wasn't allowed to nervously ask "You wanna - you wanna stay in the tower?" Now he only confidently asks "You wanna stay in the tower?" (Even in the supposed "original theatrical version" option!)
When these engineers prepare the sound for these DVDs, do they actually think they're hearing a skip or something that needs to be edited out? Or have they taken it upon themselves to declare that stuttering simply doesn't belong in their precious DVD 5.0 surround sound?
Enhance the picture and the sound, please. Slap everything onto a disc and sell it to us again and again. But please!!! Stop fixing things that aren't broken!!! (You too, George Lucas) And someday, maybe I can actually replace a VHS movie with a DVD, and not have to keep both! Thanks for listening.

Vernon Wilmer
California

I bought the Widescreen Indiana Jones boxed set as the very first DVDs for my new dvd player - a nothing fancy Sony DVP -NS325.
Luckily, I didn't have any of the problems with any of the discs as being reported by some consumers. This may be a "batch" problem. I must say if it doesn't get edited that I purchased my Raiders set from a local retailer not Amazon.

The set contains some of the most entertaining movies ever made, brought up to 21st century standards for visual and audio quality. Then some of the most in depth, behind the scenes info was put on a separate FOURTH disc.
I've kept my review brief after the hundreds of other reviewers insightful comments. What more is there to say? This is a MUST HAVE set of some of the best films in history. Add the modern processes of transferring images and sound to a disc playable on home equipment that rivals any movie house showing - SIMPLY ASTOUNDING!

John Row

The people that have rated this movie less than 5 stars apparently take themselves too seriously and/or live in an idealistic fantasy world. Face it people, Ralphie IS an everyday kid who swears and wants a gun and fantasizes about misadventures with bad guys and fights with his little brother. And THAT'S what makes this movie so doggone special!!!

I love the whole thing. I think it's genious. I think that Peter Billingsley plays the part of Ralphie to perfection. He is believeable as the slightly nerdy, slightly average boy who enrolls in the Little Orphan Annie Secret Society decades before that would have been considered majorly "uncool". And when the family fights over who's gonna be Santa, rips into the Christmas presents in their jammies and then share wine while looking at the tattered wrapping paper...well, it takes me back to my OWN childhood, which I feel blessed was very special and endearing (yet far from perfect). However, I'm a student nurse and fairly well-adjusted, so I'd like to think that my parents did a dandy job. And when Ralphie's dad surprises him with the gun....that scene is priceless because COUNTLESS other children have been suprised by their fun-loving dads and the magic of Santa, too. And it takes THEM back.

A Christmas Story is a wonderful film for the WHOLE family. People, life is NOT perfect. Get over yourselves. Have fun and grab yourselves a heavily spiked egg nog before laughing yourself silly...especially if this is the first time you've seen this Christmas gem that will forever be my favorite holiday film.

For those who were born from 1946 to 1964 (aka: baby boomers), this SHOULD BE in your DVD collection. The locations, architecture, interiors, and even the appliances are familiar to us who grew up in this time period. Even the department stores look like the old Sears Roebucks and JC Penney's! If there was a way to go back to those cozy times, the smell of popcorn, Christmas food and treats, this movie is the first step. You'll laugh, and yet inside you'll shed a tear for the good old days.

I ordered this DVD directly from Germany. This movie is a must have seen at every christmas in our house. Even though, christmas in Europe differs a little bit from christmas in the states, this movie is just one of the most wonderful christmas movies I know.
The Special DVD is just great. I always wondered how Scot Fawcus (??) looks today :-)
Anyhow. I wondered which bad word Ralphie might use in the original english version while beating up Scott. You don't even hear them. In the german synchronisation there are loads of them (well he doesn't use the f... word, but the german "sh.." which is used quite similar).

Merry christmas to the world