Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas Movie Blogathon Event: A Christmas Story

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Christmas time is upon us once again. People are dusting off their copies of "It's A Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," and the many versions of "A Christmas Carol."  However, there is one Christmas Movie that must not be forgotten: the recent classic




A Christmas Story wasn't successful when it was first released in 1983, but it became a classic years later after TBS started airing it as a 24 hr marathon on Christmas Eve. The movie is narrated by an adult Ralphie, and it is seen through the eyes of a child. Even the parents don't have real names. They are simply "Mother" and "The Old Man." In the movie, Ralphie wants only one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle. Yet when an adult hears of his desire, they only give him one response: "You'll shoot your eye out."  How does a kid argue with that logic? Ralphie spends the weeks leading up to Christmas trying to outmaneuver his mom and other adults. He also has to deal with school bullies, a little brother, and the war between his parents over the Leg Lamp.

I think this movie has become a Christmas classic, because it speaks to the child in all of us. It takes us back to a time as children when Christmas was magical. Not only Christmas, it takes us back to the magic of childhood.  There are so many memorable scenes in the movie: Flick's tongue sticking to the telephone pole. Ralphie visiting Santa. Ralphie saying The Mother of All Swear Words. Hearing Schwartz being punished over the phone. The ending to the Battle of the Leg Lamp. The Easter Bunny costume.

This is a funny movie that kids and adults can enjoy together.  So this Christmas watch "A Christmas Story" and visit a time in life when you receive that one special gift and all is right with the world.