PLOT
THe movie, A Christmas Story, is a movie about a little boy named Ralphie and his experience at Christmas. Unlike the short story, the whole movie takes place in Ralphie's town and scenes appear in his house, school, and the town. The rising action and climax is the same as in the short story. He puts the Red Ryder ad in his parents magazines, spilt his secret at the dinner table when his mom asked him, and even wrote his theme about it in school. The climax, of course, is when his father tells him there is one present left just for him. He runs over and unwraps the Red Ryder BB gun. Ralphie is ecstatic, while his mother is in a bit of schock! The father did this present shopping all by himself. Another difference between the movie plot and the short story plot is the family does not celebrate christmas on Christmas Eve. They open their gifts on Christmas morning with the rest of the town. The falling action in the movie is when Ralphie takes the BB gun and goes outside to try it out (the same day not the next like in the story) and the bullet comes back and hits him in the face, knocking off his glasses. He doesn't know what to do, but tells his mom it was an icicle, just like in the short story. The plot allows for the movie to flow and keep the audience interested in what is next.
POINT OF VIEW
The movie is partly narrated by the main character Ralphie, but at times the other characters speak as well. THe main point of the movie was on Ralphie and his total obsession with getting the Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. This is the same as in the short story. Ralphie tells the entire short story from instances that happend in his life. This is a form of first-person point of view. The movie being told in this manner allows for us audience to connect with the character and put our main focus on him. One thing the movie does that the short story does not really hit on is the feelings of the other characters. We get a wider range in the movie to get a better overall understanding. We learn of his true admiraton for the BB gun, his feelings of the "bully" Ferguson, and his family relations.
CHARACTERIZATION
Just as in the short story, the movie never really gives us key examples of direct characterization. We come to know many characters through their actions and the way they precieved. Ralphie, the main character, is a sweet young boy who loves Christmas. In the movie, he imagines events where his Red Ryder BB gun comes into play to save his family. This shows how determined and how much his eyes are set on that ultimate Christmas gift. Another character is his "kid brother", Randy. HE is a funny little character that gets credited alot inthe movie but hardly at all in the short story. In the movie, he is an extra. He is a strange kid, sits under the cubbord when he thinks his dad is going to kill Ralphie, never eats his food, and whines. Ferguson, a character never mentioned in the short story, is a major bully. He picks on Ralphie and his friends inthe ally way on the way to and from school. One day, Ralphie beats him up and sets him in his place. For doing this, his mother puts soap in his mouth. The last characters that really had an impact were his parents. They were typical of the modern day parents: protective, loving, and hardworking. When Ralphie told them he wanted a Red Ryder BB gun, they laughed and his mother said, "You'll shoot your eye out!" (just like in the short story) We are able to identify with the characters through these aspects and understand the movie.
SETTING
Unlike the short story, the movie only takes place in the city. As an audience we come to know the family through their house and school environment. The same line appears about Hohman as it does in the short story, "Downtown Hohman was prepared for its yearly bacchanalia of peace on earth and good will to men." There is a scene where the family goes to Higbee's mall and there is a parade outside and the store window is full of decorations just like the one's described in the short story. The whole time I was watching the movie, I rememebered my Christmases when I was little, and how much I could not wait to see Santa just like Ralphie. The same thing happens while he goes to ask Santa for the BB gun-he forgets. Finally, when he gets it out, Santa replies, "You'll shoot your eye out" so he feels all hope is lost. One of the little add ins in the movie is Flick sticks his tongue to the flagpole. This is the funniest part of the movie. The teacher gets all upset while the other kids just laugh and mumble under their breath. The whole movie, we come to understand the great family love and how family oriented they are. It's a truly touching story and great for the holiday. The movie setting is very relatable to the American family today. There are many correlations we can make to our own lives today.
THEME
The theme in the movie is the same as in the short story. The joy and cheer of Christmas is truly overpowering. Everyone seems to get a little sparkle in their eye on the holidays and kids especially cannot wait for Santa to bring them all the goodies. Ralphie is a spitting image of one of those little boys who believes in the magic of Christmas. THe family makes sure the day is wonderful and do not let anything interrupt the joy. For example, in the movie, the next door neighbor's dogs come into Ralphie's house and eat the turkey. So, the family gets all dressed and ends up eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant. They will never forget that Christmas. Memories will always be remembered on special holidays and time spent with family. A Christmas Story is jam packed of funny family memories and day to day life experiences for the whole family to enjoy. Overall, I liked the movie better than the short story. I feel the movie was more relatable to everyday life and Christmas.
THe movie, A Christmas Story, is a movie about a little boy named Ralphie and his experience at Christmas. Unlike the short story, the whole movie takes place in Ralphie's town and scenes appear in his house, school, and the town. The rising action and climax is the same as in the short story. He puts the Red Ryder ad in his parents magazines, spilt his secret at the dinner table when his mom asked him, and even wrote his theme about it in school. The climax, of course, is when his father tells him there is one present left just for him. He runs over and unwraps the Red Ryder BB gun. Ralphie is ecstatic, while his mother is in a bit of schock! The father did this present shopping all by himself. Another difference between the movie plot and the short story plot is the family does not celebrate christmas on Christmas Eve. They open their gifts on Christmas morning with the rest of the town. The falling action in the movie is when Ralphie takes the BB gun and goes outside to try it out (the same day not the next like in the story) and the bullet comes back and hits him in the face, knocking off his glasses. He doesn't know what to do, but tells his mom it was an icicle, just like in the short story. The plot allows for the movie to flow and keep the audience interested in what is next.
POINT OF VIEW
The movie is partly narrated by the main character Ralphie, but at times the other characters speak as well. THe main point of the movie was on Ralphie and his total obsession with getting the Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. This is the same as in the short story. Ralphie tells the entire short story from instances that happend in his life. This is a form of first-person point of view. The movie being told in this manner allows for us audience to connect with the character and put our main focus on him. One thing the movie does that the short story does not really hit on is the feelings of the other characters. We get a wider range in the movie to get a better overall understanding. We learn of his true admiraton for the BB gun, his feelings of the "bully" Ferguson, and his family relations.
CHARACTERIZATION
Just as in the short story, the movie never really gives us key examples of direct characterization. We come to know many characters through their actions and the way they precieved. Ralphie, the main character, is a sweet young boy who loves Christmas. In the movie, he imagines events where his Red Ryder BB gun comes into play to save his family. This shows how determined and how much his eyes are set on that ultimate Christmas gift. Another character is his "kid brother", Randy. HE is a funny little character that gets credited alot inthe movie but hardly at all in the short story. In the movie, he is an extra. He is a strange kid, sits under the cubbord when he thinks his dad is going to kill Ralphie, never eats his food, and whines. Ferguson, a character never mentioned in the short story, is a major bully. He picks on Ralphie and his friends inthe ally way on the way to and from school. One day, Ralphie beats him up and sets him in his place. For doing this, his mother puts soap in his mouth. The last characters that really had an impact were his parents. They were typical of the modern day parents: protective, loving, and hardworking. When Ralphie told them he wanted a Red Ryder BB gun, they laughed and his mother said, "You'll shoot your eye out!" (just like in the short story) We are able to identify with the characters through these aspects and understand the movie.
SETTING
Unlike the short story, the movie only takes place in the city. As an audience we come to know the family through their house and school environment. The same line appears about Hohman as it does in the short story, "Downtown Hohman was prepared for its yearly bacchanalia of peace on earth and good will to men." There is a scene where the family goes to Higbee's mall and there is a parade outside and the store window is full of decorations just like the one's described in the short story. The whole time I was watching the movie, I rememebered my Christmases when I was little, and how much I could not wait to see Santa just like Ralphie. The same thing happens while he goes to ask Santa for the BB gun-he forgets. Finally, when he gets it out, Santa replies, "You'll shoot your eye out" so he feels all hope is lost. One of the little add ins in the movie is Flick sticks his tongue to the flagpole. This is the funniest part of the movie. The teacher gets all upset while the other kids just laugh and mumble under their breath. The whole movie, we come to understand the great family love and how family oriented they are. It's a truly touching story and great for the holiday. The movie setting is very relatable to the American family today. There are many correlations we can make to our own lives today.
THEME
The theme in the movie is the same as in the short story. The joy and cheer of Christmas is truly overpowering. Everyone seems to get a little sparkle in their eye on the holidays and kids especially cannot wait for Santa to bring them all the goodies. Ralphie is a spitting image of one of those little boys who believes in the magic of Christmas. THe family makes sure the day is wonderful and do not let anything interrupt the joy. For example, in the movie, the next door neighbor's dogs come into Ralphie's house and eat the turkey. So, the family gets all dressed and ends up eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant. They will never forget that Christmas. Memories will always be remembered on special holidays and time spent with family. A Christmas Story is jam packed of funny family memories and day to day life experiences for the whole family to enjoy. Overall, I liked the movie better than the short story. I feel the movie was more relatable to everyday life and Christmas.
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