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HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: National Lampoon's Vacation

post #1 of 25
8/5/10 at 8:19pm
Thread Starter 


 

National Lampoon's Vacation
Release Date: August 10, 2010
Studio: Warner Brothers
Packaging/Materials: Single-disc Blu-ray "ECO-BOX"
Year: 1983
Rating: R
Running Time: 1:38:00
MSRP: $24.98
 

  THE FEATURE SPECIAL FEATURES
Video 1080p high definition 16x9 1.85:1 Standard definition
Audio DTS-HD Master Audio: English 1.0 / Dolby Digital: French 1.0, Spanish 1.0, German 1.0 Mono
Subtitles English SDH, French, German SDH, Spanish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish N/A

The Feature: 4/5
With a new avocado green station wagon, a map of the United States, and lust for the open road, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is poised to transport his family across the country to Wally World, "America's Favorite Family Fun Park." Though wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), son Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) and daughter Audrey (Dana Barron) don't quite share in his enthusiasm, they also won't be dying of boredom over the days-long journey. Faced with everything from losing all their cash to an unexpected detour through the desert, it will take all of Clark's good-natured determination to get them to their Los Angeles destination. Though he'll ultimately prove successful, actually getting into Wally World will require a different attitude altogether.

Compared to today's risqué, "R-rated" comedies, "National Lampoon's Vacation" - with its optimistic, bumbling protagonist and family bonding theme - comes off as downright sweet. Though perhaps not as innocent as "A Christmas Story," which came out the same year, it bears a similar through line that winds up celebrating the family at the same time that it details its woes. And though its misadventure-driven plot is effective in mining the laughs, the more critical will note the tenuous narrative structure that makes the movie feel more like a series of vignettes or sketches rather than a cohesive piece. However the sheer memorability of each scene overshadows any faults around how they're connected, making the film not unlike the recollections of our own family trips - fondly, if not always accurately, remembered.

Video Quality: 4.5/5

Presented in 1080p with the VC-1 codec, the transfer approximates the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio by filling the entire 16:9 frame. Though much of the film takes place outdoors or in brightly lit environments, black levels appear consistently stable and solid. Contrast tends to be a little limited in the darkest scenes - particularly with shadow delineation and detail - but displays an accurate range of values overall. Colors are muted - as many films were during that time - but retain a good sense of depth and stability. There are a few moments of softness - I believe source-related - but overall sharpness is quite good, with healthy, visible grain structure indicating no overuse of noise reduction or other digital enhancement measures.
 

Audio Quality: 3/5
The 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track is as simple as they come, but dialogue is consistently clear and intelligible and the music sequences exhibit very good detail and dynamic range. A high-pitched metallic squeaking during many of the car scenes is a bit too realistic, but it does demonstrate the track's high frequency reproduction capabilities.

Special Features: 1/5
Though not every extra from the 20th anniversary DVD made it over, the most substantial of them did, though the theatrical trailer is strangely absent. It makes for a slim set of features for such a popular film.

Introduction by Producer Matty Simmons, Randy Quaid, and Chevy Chase (:44): The three spend a few seconds goofing their way through an intro to what was then the film's 20th anniversary.

Griswold Family Commentary by Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Director Harold Ramis and Producer Matty Simmons: As described by former HTF reviewer Herb Kane in his DVD review, "Ramis takes the lead here and takes us on a detailed tour of the movie discussing why certain scenes were shot in the manner they were. Discussed is the infamous ghetto scene in St. Louis, working with Eugene Levy and John Candy. Personally, I found this to be the most (only…?) interesting special feature."

Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 4.5/5
Audio Quality: 3/5
Special Features: 1/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3.5/5

Warner Brothers turns in an excellent video presentation and an effective audio presentation for one of the '80s most memorable comedies. A meager special features package doesn't do the film justice, but I doubt it will stop most fans from making the purchase. Those who already have the DVD might find it hard to justify a double-dip, but the quality of the video should provide enough incentive given the right price point.

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National Lampoon's Vacation [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 25
8/5/10 at 9:46pm

1/5 for a movie with a commentary?  I don't get that.  1/5 seems like a score for a movie with a trailer and nothing else...

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post #3 of 25
8/5/10 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 

With some of the terms you use to describe the commentary in your own review of the title ("pretty flat and uninformative," "fans seem destined to become disappointed with this weak commentary"), I'm surprised you gave the Special Features something as high as a "C." Which perhaps just goes to show, yet again, that quantitative grades or scores aren't always the best reflection of qualitative statements.

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post #4 of 25
8/6/10 at 4:51am

Thanks for the review, Cameron. I am glad to read that the video transfer is decent. Hopefully European Vacation is the same quality.

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post #5 of 25
8/6/10 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Yee View Post

With some of the terms you use to describe the commentary in your own review of the title ("pretty flat and uninformative," "fans seem destined to become disappointed with this weak commentary"), I'm surprised you gave the Special Features something as high as a "C." Which perhaps just goes to show, yet again, that quantitative grades or scores aren't always the best reflection of qualitative statements.


No, they're not, but your review - quoting a prior reviewer - gives the commentary some praise.

 

I reserve "D"-level extras grades for discs that barely make an attempt: ones that include only some trailers or a couple of short promotional featurettes.  If a disc throws in a commentary, even if it's not very good, the disc will get "C"-level consideration; for me to give a "D" to a disc with a commentary would mean that the commentary is thoroughly awful.

 

The "Vacation" commentary does disappoint, but it's not a total disaster.  You ignored these quotes from my review:

 

"Occasionally, some decent notes do emerge. The best components relate changes from the script. We also learn of the flick’s original ending, and Ramis tells us why they re-shot it. A few nice anecdotes pop up along the way as well."

 

And that's enough for a "C" grade for extras.  I still can't figure out how a disc with a commentary your review describes as being pretty good gets only a 1/5 - that's essentially a "D-" or an "F"!

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post #6 of 25
8/6/10 at 7:48am
Thread Starter 

You make some good points. I probably penalized it too much for leaving off the theatrical trailer (which I admit I tend to appreciate more than commentaries in general), but I don't think it should go higher than a 2/5 for the Special Features given the absence of the trailer and the fact that there are no other items besides the throwaway intro and the commentary.

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post #7 of 25
8/6/10 at 8:36am

Thanks for the review Cameron.  I second Scott's comments about the video transfer.  I'll be replacing my DVD version with this.  Fingers crossed that European Vacation gets the same marks when you review it.

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post #8 of 25
8/6/10 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Yee View Post

You make some good points. I probably penalized it too much for leaving off the theatrical trailer (which I admit I tend to appreciate more than commentaries in general), but I don't think it should go higher than a 2/5 for the Special Features given the absence of the trailer and the fact that there are no other items besides the throwaway intro and the commentary.



I'm surprised you give so much weight to a trailer, as I regard that as a really minor extra.  Audio commentary = long chat about the movie's creation, while trailer = 2-minute ad.  I view commentaries as infinitely more valuable than trailers, but to each his own!

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post #9 of 25
8/6/10 at 4:56pm

I agree with Cameron that trailers for the film should be included as special features.  I also agree with Colin that a good commentary has more value than a trailer, and a commentary certainly takes more effort to produce than the inclusion of a trailer. 

Since inclusion of the film trailer takes such minimal effort for the studio, however, there seems little excuse for failing to include the trailer(s).

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post #10 of 25
8/6/10 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 

Van Ling actually provided some interesting info about the complicated rights to include trailers in one of his threads in the Insiders area. I believe this was for new releases though, not catalog.

 

I value trailers because they are one of a film's major promotional artifacts, a moving movie poster if you will. Considering the interest around collecting movie posters, I wouldn't be surprised if there are people who are just as enthusiastic about trailers. They say a lot about how a film was promoted at the time, including the audience targeted and the period's cultural climate. Considering that and the apparent simplicity of including it (at least in catalog titles), it is hard to understand its absence.

 

I recognize the effort involved in putting together a commentary, but I often don't find them particularly efficient and would prefer either the scene-specific approach used in titles like "Insomnia" or just putting that time and effort into a featurette, which often gets as much across in far less time. 

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post #11 of 25
8/7/10 at 1:11am

Cameron,

another website mentioned German as a language. Can you confirm this?

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post #12 of 25
8/7/10 at 1:53am

It's not mentioned on the cover, but German is definitely present on the disc (I have it). When it comes to incomplete (or wrong) info on the cover, Warner certainly are the worst offenders.

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post #13 of 25
8/7/10 at 6:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Christian Preischl View Post

It's not mentioned on the cover, but German is definitely present on the disc (I have it). When it comes to incomplete (or wrong) info on the cover, Warner certainly are the worst offenders.


Yup.  I never trust the covers anyway.  When I write up the specs in my reviews, I'll start with what it says on the cover, but I always check audio and subtitle options on the disc itself.

 

And I add info about subtitles for the SUPPLEMENTS, too.  Why?  Just because I'm awesome!

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post #14 of 25
8/7/10 at 7:02am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Yee View Post

Van Ling actually provided some interesting info about the complicated rights to include trailers in one of his threads in the Insiders area. I believe this was for new releases though, not catalog.

 

I value trailers because they are one of a film's major promotional artifacts, a moving movie poster if you will. Considering the interest around collecting movie posters, I wouldn't be surprised if there are people who are just as enthusiastic about trailers. They say a lot about how a film was promoted at the time, including the audience targeted and the period's cultural climate. Considering that and the apparent simplicity of including it (at least in catalog titles), it is hard to understand its absence.


It's perplexing when a DVD includes a trailer and a subsequent DVD or BD doesn't, but it might be a rights thing.

 

I do think all DVDs/BDs should include the requisite trailers, and I know a lot of people like them, but I'll always regard them as a basic/token extra.  It takes little effort to include a trailer, and personally, I find most of them to be pretty boring.  There are some great ones out there that are fun to watch, but most are forgettable.

 

Like I said, I think they should appear, but they're way down on my personal list of preferences.  Commentaries are by far #1 for me, and good documentaries are #2.  Deleted scenes, featurettes, outtakes - those are all more interesting than trailers to me.

 

I'd view gag reels and music videos - well, most music videos - as beneath trailers...

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post #15 of 25
8/7/10 at 7:25am
Thread Starter 

This is true on both counts. It's one of those things I have a recurring habit of forgetting to verify, but this should get me to remember better in the future. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Christian Preischl View Post

It's not mentioned on the cover, but German is definitely present on the disc (I have it). When it comes to incomplete (or wrong) info on the cover, Warner certainly are the worst offenders.

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post #16 of 25
8/7/10 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 

Sounds like I may have had the scenarios reversed. The way I read the info, it seems like new releases - not catalog - would stand to have a better chance of including the trailer since current cast contracts would include special features as a consideration.

 

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/274676/terminator-1-2/540#post_3633094

 

Scroll up to Post #565 if the screen jumps down to the bottom.

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post #17 of 25
8/7/10 at 11:24am

Might just be my favorite comedy of all time. There are many great ones but the original Vacation is just genius at every turn. Can't wait for Tuesday! Great review. 

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post #18 of 25
8/10/10 at 11:42am

I'm surprised that nobody's mentioned the replacement of one of the most epic, iconic movie poster images of all time with utterly run-of-the-mill new cover artwork.  :(

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post #19 of 25
8/10/10 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman View Post

I'm surprised that nobody's mentioned the replacement of one of the most epic, iconic movie poster images of all time with utterly run-of-the-mill new cover artwork.  :(



Oh we've all noticed it. It is usually a main topic over at blu-ray.com. I can't believe they had to change the cover art for this and European Vacation. It is one of the worst switchovers ever! the Font can't even be beat on the original poster artwork. I myself would have rather paid more money to the original artist than be stuck with what we have now.

 

Someone posted replacement inserts on some sites that are much better.

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post #20 of 25
8/10/10 at 4:59pm
Looks like WB's replaced the WB logo preceding Vacation. That new logo doesn't work. I wish I could fire and send whoever makes that decision to replace the logo's and send them out the door. They obviously don't appreciate nostalgia of their films.
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post #21 of 25
8/10/10 at 10:06pm

Agreed. The artwork is horrid. 

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post #22 of 25
8/11/10 at 4:23pm

I just remembered something....

The 20th anniversary edition DVD replaced "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters with another one of their songs (the one that appeared later in the movie at the truck stop) during the highway passing scene where Christie Brinkley passes Clark in her Ferrari. No idea why, must have been a copyright thing. 

I doubt this was fixed or altered for the Blu-ray, but could someone check?

I hate it when they go messing with films like this.

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post #23 of 25
8/12/10 at 7:06am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Southpaw View Post

I just remembered something....

The 20th anniversary edition DVD replaced "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters with another one of their songs (the one that appeared later in the movie at the truck stop) during the highway passing scene where Christie Brinkley passes Clark in her Ferrari. No idea why, must have been a copyright thing. 

I doubt this was fixed or altered for the Blu-ray, but could someone check?

I hate it when they go messing with films like this.

From what I remember, that song was only used in the theatrical version.  In all video versions (VHS and the previous two DVD releases) they have used a song by June Pointer.

 

Having only seen the film on video, I might be more upset to see it go back to the theatrical version!
 

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post #24 of 25
8/12/10 at 7:38am

The BD contains only the Song Little Boy Sweet, yet if you want to hear I'm so excited during the car driving scenes access the French audio track. The picnic scene was always Little Boy Sweet However.

 

Still wish if WB's wants to replace their opening logo's I wish they'd just put their brand new logo first then let the film open as it should. WB's seems to be losing history and nostalgia and don't seem proud of their films and their logos. That brand new crystal clear logo just doesn't open well with films like Vacation.

 

I am usually thrilled when the opening logos are more built into the film much like What's Up Doc? Hard to replace something like that thank goodness. Or The Omega Man. I don't know how the Dirty Harry series was released untouched on their logos, but I'm grateful.

 

Universal does this on their releases they play their new logo then they let the film open as it should.

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post #25 of 25
8/12/10 at 9:18am

I'm noticing a bit of picture "shimmying/rippling" (not sure of the technical term), especially in the 2nd half of the film.  It almost looks like the film is slightly warped.  Quite a few times, the picture ripples ever so slightly, then goes back to normal.  It's very quick but definitely noticeable, at least to my eyes.  It was more noticeable during the father/son bonding scene over beer in the Arizona desert, and also near the end during the SWAT scene and end credits.  Any one else notice this?

 

Update - In case anyone cares, I even saw this when I ran it in slow motion.  Just sent it back to Amazon for a replacement.  Hopefully it was just a bad disc.


Edited by Jeff F. - 8/13/10 at 4:23pm
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