Pre-Order National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) (4k UHD Combo) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[Todd Erwin]

My review is now live:

National Lampoon's Vacation UHD Review

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since "National Lampoon’s Vacation" first arrived on movie screens, and Warner Bros, as part of the studio’s 100th anniversary, is releasing the film for the first time on 4K UHD Blu-ray.

www.hometheaterforum.com

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I decided to forego the disc release for this title and just picked up the streaming version on iTunes for $4.99. It should get a 4K upgrade there. Streaming for this one is good enough for me.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

WB loves to trick us with these re-releases with brand new cover art.

???

This is the first 4K UHD release of "Vacation".

 

[darkrock17]

???

This is the first 4K UHD release of "Vacation".

It maybe the first 4K release, but it's a re-release still.

WB out all the companies around loves to re-release films with new cover art as it tricks us the customers into thinking that since it has a new cover that it will have new features as well.

They create new covers only to dupe us with the same release from before with nothing new added, they waste a nice new cover to repackage the same release from before.

 

[Robert Crawford]

It maybe the first 4K release, but it's a re-release still.

WB out all the companies around loves to re-release films with new cover art as it tricks us the customers into thinking that since it has a new cover that it will have new features as well.

They create new covers only to dupe us with the same release from before with nothing new added, they waste a nice new cover to repackage the same release from before.

Warner trying to dupe us about new features, when most people don't even watch those features and just watch the movie.

 

[dpippel]

It maybe the first 4K release, but it's a re-release still.

I disagree. This is not the same release, since it's the first time Vacation has ever been available on 4K UHD. You're getting the film in 4K HDR, which is (supposedly) an upgrade over the previous Blu-ray. Now, if it was just another 1080p disc, that would be a different story.

 

[darkrock17]

Warner trying to dupe us about new features, when most people don't even watch those features and just watch the movie.

Why waste new art for nothing new

I disagree. This is not the same release, since it's the first time Vacation has ever been available on 4K UHD. You're getting the film in 4K HDR, which is (supposedly) an upgrade over the previous Blu-ray. Now, if it was just another 1080p disc, that would be a different story.

Once a film has been released on home video all further releases would be a re-release, as very rarely do re-releases add anything new to the original film. Picture quality might improve, but 95% time it's the same film every time though.

 

[84lion]

Love the movie, but based on the above review, this 4K release is disappointing. I'm sure the 4K picture looks great, but is it really going to add that much? Then again, seeing Beverly D'Angelo in the shower scene in 4K (I'd add in Christie Brinkley, but as I recall her scenes in the pool were rather tame)... Problem is that, as the review points out, optical mattes and other stuff ("film grain" too, I'm sure) are going to look even more obvious and distracting. What is really disappointing to me is that the soundtrack wasn't upgraded from the mono. It's DTS-HD, yeah, but still mono. Even Star Trek Original Series got upgraded to a 5.1 Surround track. Some new extras would've been nice, too. Right now the 4K BR is around $25 on pre-order. I might get it if it came down to a Black Friday $9.99 sale price...otherwise, the BR version I have will do nicely.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Why waste new art for nothing new

Why not? It's not like it costs a bunch of money.

 

[DarkVader]

Nothing beats the original Boris Vallejo artwork for this film's original release. That new cover art is an eyesore.

 

[dpippel]

Once a film has been released on home video all further releases would be a re-release, as very rarely do re-releases add anything new to the original film. Picture quality might improve, but 95% time it's the same film every time though.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on what constitutes a new home video release.

 

[DarkVader]

Ah! I see there is a Collector's Edition that uses the Boris Vallejo artwork...sweet!

 

[darkrock17]

Why not? It's not like it costs a bunch of money.

Again why waste whatever the budget is on a particular release with new art when you either don't add anything new or with these recent 4K releases dropping features all together.

The 30th anniversary of Vacation finally had a long over due making of documentary added, but this and the other recent 4K's have dropped everything but the commentaries.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The 30th anniversary of Vacation finally had a long over due making of documentary added, but this and the other recent 4K's have dropped everything but the commentaries.

Then don't buy it! It's as simple as that.

 

[crissrudd4554]

“I’m So Excited” was on some earlier VHS releases and has surfaced during some TV airings. Sadly it was not restored for this 4K release however apparently some streaming services have it with this song. Today I was checking the version on VUDU and the version I saw had both the OG Warner logo restored at the beginning and “I’m So Excited”.

 

[JoshZ]

This movie was already released on VHS. Everything else is just a re-release and therefore totally pointless!!!!

 

[Colin Jacobson]

It maybe the first 4K release, but it's a re-release still.

WB out all the companies around loves to re-release films with new cover art as it tricks us the customers into thinking that since it has a new cover that it will have new features as well.

They create new covers only to dupe us with the same release from before with nothing new added, they waste a nice new cover to repackage the same release from before.

Your statement strongly implied that this was just a reissue of an existing disc.

You implied the only "new feature" was a new cover.

Of course it's a re-release of the movie, but it's nonetheless a new disc that's never been available.

Did you complain when DVD "re-released" movies that'd been out on VHS?

 

[Colin Jacobson]

“I’m So Excited” was on some earlier VHS releases and has surfaced during some TV airings. Sadly it was not restored for this 4K release however apparently some streaming services have it with this song. Today I was checking the version on VUDU and the version I saw had both the OG Warner logo restored at the beginning and “I’m So Excited”.

Interestingly, the end credits of the 4K do mention "I'm So Excited".

Not sure if that's been present for all releases.

 

[Mark-P]

“I’m So Excited” was on some earlier VHS releases and has surfaced during some TV airings. Sadly it was not restored for this 4K release however apparently some streaming services have it with this song. Today I was checking the version on VUDU and the version I saw had both the OG Warner logo restored at the beginning and “I’m So Excited”.

You're absolutely correct!, I just compared all 4K streaming versions. While they all have the original WB logo, the song at the 25:50 mark is different between streamers. iTunes and Movies Anywhere have "Little Boy Sweet" but it is way lower in volume than the old video master and you can barely hear it over the roar of the car engines. However Vudu has "I'm So Excited" and at full volume so you can hear it. Truly bizarre!

 

[TonyD]

What’s the time stamp in the movie with the song on Vudu?


It would be 25:42 the exact moment she appears in the red car and continues until she speeds off at 26:25