Top 50 Movies: Number 43

Number 43: A Christmas Story


It's certainly been awhile. You'd have to go back 5 months into the archives to find movie number 44 in my list. Many things have conspired to keep me from updating the rants page, not the least of which is my procrastination. Since the last movie post I've had a daughter, who tends to occupy some time here and there. I've also acquired an Xbox 360, which takes up way more time than the daughter. With the 360 came addictive games such as Oblivion, Viva Pinata, Catan and, most recently, the awesome Pac-Man Championship Edition.

The old man's major award.

And so here we are, with number 44 being a movie everyone has seen and everyone has some opinion on. It's a holiday tradition here, and though it's definitely overplayed around Christmas, I do find some comfort knowing that if I turn on TNT around Christmas time, this movie will be on around the clock.

A Christmas Story manages to be genuinely funny, family friendly and touching all at the same time, a tough feat for any movie. It's full of that great tongue in cheek humor I love so much. The story centers around Ralphie, the Red-Rider BB Gun he so desperately wants for Christmas, and a world full of adults who continuously warn that he's going to shoot his eye out if he gets his prize. The story takes place in the 1950s, and the time setting along with the age of the protagonist give the movie a charming naiveness.

I triple dog dare you!

The movie is chock full of memorable moments and hilarious lines. Ralphie beating the shit out of Scott Farkus is a favorite of mine. The "Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuudge..." moment is another keeper. The F dash dash dash word! A Christmas Story is a timeless classic and all that shit.