National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)

Amazon.com

You know exactly what you're getting in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: another goofball, slapstick comedy of chaos and catastrophe with Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family. This time, there's no traveling involved: Clark and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) prepare for a nice Christmas with the kids (played by none other than Juliette Lewis and Roseanne star Johnny Galecki), when their home is invaded by backwoods cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his brood, along with assorted other crazy and/or stuffy relatives. Complications, of course, are inevitable. The film is preceded by National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) and followed by National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (1997). Directed by Jeremiah Chechik, who went on to do Benny & Joon and the Sharon Stone remake of Diabolique. --Jim Emerson

Description

Make merry as Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid and an ensemble of comedy favorites strive to gift-wrap the "perfect Christmas" for the Griswold family. The most successful of the three vacations. Year: 1989 Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid,

Customer Reviews:

my favorite lampoon.......2007-08-23

If you haven't seen this movie- you should! It's very funny, and it's my favorite of the "National Lampoons". You'll really enjoy it.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRISWOLDS.......2007-08-23

This holiday classic just gets funnier every year. Full of classic lines & great sight gags along with one of Chevy Chase's funniest performances this has become a Christmas standard. The many hilarious scenes include Clark W.Griswold JR. stapling Christmas lights to his roof(and himself) and Clark blousing err browsing while shopping. The scene where Clark goes sledding always gets lots of laughs(it's classic Chevy Chase)! The music is good too as many Christmas favorites old & new fill the great soundtrack. This is simply a very funny Christmas comedy for those looking to laugh around the holiday season.

220 people gave this film five stars? um, how?.......2007-08-21

wow as I live and breath.

stupid can be funny, but when stupid is stupid; really stupid, I dont see how its five stars.

Truly.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition).......2007-08-17

It was disappointing to find out that this DVD is not being sold in stores at the present time, so I was thrilled to find it available through Amazon. Thank you so much for your very prompt service and for the excellent condition of this product. William Byers

Your service has changed my life.......2007-07-31

Yes, it's true. Your service is second to none. Thank you. I will keep you in mind for future orders.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

my favorite lampoon
CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRISWOLDS
220 people gave this film five stars? um, how?
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)
Your service has changed my life

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Juliette Lewis , Johnny Galecki , and John Randolph
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6304698658
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

my favorite lampoon.......2007-08-23

If you haven't seen this movie- you should! It's very funny, and it's my favorite of the "National Lampoons". You'll really enjoy it.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRISWOLDS.......2007-08-23

220 people gave this film five stars? um, how?.......2007-08-21

wow as I live and breath.

stupid can be funny, but when stupid is stupid; really stupid, I dont see how its five stars.

Truly.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition).......2007-08-17

Your service has changed my life.......2007-07-31

Yes, it's true. Your service is second to none. Thank you. I will keep you in mind for future orders.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [HD DVD]

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Hilarious!!!
Worst Quality HD-DVD so far!
Not The Best HD DVD Out There....
NOT a GOOD HD DVD TO OWN
Beautiful HD DVD! A true classic...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [HD DVD]
Starring: Cody Burger , Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Tony Epper , and Miriam Flynn
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000I2JKC4
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Description

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Hilarious!!!.......2007-04-17

I don't know what people are thinking giving this 1 and 2 stars. Chevy Chase is a comedic genius!! His delivery and Improv ability is spot on! He has a way of delivering an otherwise boring line that makes anything he says funny! This man can make a comedy out of reading the PHONE BOOK!

Christmas Vacation reunites Chevy Chase and Beverley D'Angelo as they decide to hold Christmas Festivities at their house this year. When the two sides of the family come together, it's not Auld Lang Syne. It's not a "Wonderful" Life but it's a WONDERFULLY Hilarious Holiday Romp!! An undeniable part of my holiday tradition.

Worst Quality HD-DVD so far!.......2006-12-29

"Christmas Vacation"(CV) is one of our favorite Christmas movies, along with "A Christmas Story"(ACS), so I was anxiously looking forward to watching them in HD. We were terribly disappointed when we saw CV! Instead of a sharp, vibrant picture as we have seen in other redone oldies, this was grainy and dull (unlike ACS). After watching it, I put my non HD dvd of CV in the HD player, and saw little difference in picture quality. At times I felt the non HD version had better color!!??
ACS was like watching an entirely new movie, however, and I could see many things clearly for the first time in the HD version.
I rated CV 2 stars simply because I love the story, but would rate it as zero stars for HD quality!
What happened WB?

Update: After posting this review, I sent an email to Warner Bros complaining about the quality. I receved a prompt reply with instructions as to how to get a prepaid return envelope to WB so they could replace it. Dubious, I followed the instructions, returned the DVD, and received a new one after a week or so. Yesterday, still dubious, I watched it. OK, now I have a good quality HD version of Christmas Vacation - just what you would expect from an HD-DVD. Thanks WB! I would now rate it as 5 stars.

Not The Best HD DVD Out There...........2006-12-16

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

As much as I would love to spread some holiday cheer Warner's way, I have to be a Scrooge and admit this is probably the weakest HD DVD release I've seen yet from the studio. Certainly, it is not terrible, and compared to standard-def DVD, it's still a marked improvement. But the source material is dated and in great need of a genuine clean-up. This feels like a tossed-off transfer at best.

'Christmas Vacation' is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and 1080p/VC-1 video. Blacks are fine, but contrast lacks pop. Most scenes look flat and two-dimensional. Softness is also all over the place -- some scenes are nice and crisp, others fuzzy and ill-defined. Colors can be fairly well saturated, but again they are inconsistent -- some shots are as icky and pasty as an over-the-air standard-def broadcast. Hues certainly never leap off the screen like you expect on even the most marginal high-def transfer. Fleshtones also look too red, making Chevy Chase's already-round face even more piggish. A low level of grain also permeates the transfer, and dirt and speckles are frequent, if still minor.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

'Christmas Vacation' is one of the few HD DVD titles released in Dolby Digital-Plus 2.0 stereo only. Even with a healthy 640kbps bitrate, there isn't much you can do with dated source elements like this. For a soundtrack produced in 1989, 'Christmas Vacation' certainly isn't bad, but it also sounds just about every one of its nearly twenty years of age.

At least it's clean. The audio stems aren't crackly or overly harsh. High and low end, however, sound smooshed together into the midrange -- this is one flat soundtrack. Dialogue also sounds ADR'd at times, and somewhat muted -- it certainly is never as distinct as a modern mix (turn it up or you may have trouble understanding Cousin Eddie's mumbles). Stereo effects are perfectly fine, with a few front pans, but that's about it. Hey, it's a two-channel mix -- even Santa can't work magic with a lump of coal.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

Originally billed as a "Special Edition" when it was released on standard-def DVD, there wasn't much special about 'Christmas Vacation' in its DVD release. Aside from a theatrical trailer, the sole true extra was an audio commentary with the cast and filmmakers. Both of those goodies are repurposed here. The commentary, while quite packed with participants, is missing its main ingredient. No offense to director Jeremiah Chechik, producer Matty Simmons and stars Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo, Johnny Galecki and Miriam Flynn, but just as it is hard to imagine a 'Vacation' flick without Chevy Chase, it is just as hard to imagine a commentary on a 'Vacation' DVD without him, either. It also doesn't help that this is one of those weird group tracks where no one really seems all that thrilled to be there. Perhaps Chase would have stepped up to the plate and led the discussion; as such we get a few funny anecdotes, but a weird inorganic nature permeates the proceedings. I also found it a bit annoying that everyone kept referring to deleted scenes that were never included on the "Special Edition." Sorry, but bah humbug!

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

C'mon now -- did you really expect anything new here? At least we get Warner's usual custom bookmarks, pan and zoom and timeline HD features. Don't say Santa never gave you anything.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' yet.

Final Thoughts

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is considered by many to be a modern holiday classic. I like a lot of the movie, but it can also be rather hit-or-miss. I'll always prefer the original 'Vacation,' but this one is still way better than the Griswold's European and Vegas adventures. Unfortunately, I can't say much for this HD DVD release. Lackluster at best, the transfer suffers from poor source material and the 2.0 channel mix ain't much better. Maybe someday Warner will truly restore all of the 'Vacation' flicks (or at least the good ones), but until then, it is hard to recommend plunking down the plastic for a disc this weak. 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is not the disc you want to throw on this holiday season to impress family and friends with your new HD DVD player.

NOT a GOOD HD DVD TO OWN.......2006-12-14

If Your looking for a REAL REVIEW; this movie is HORRIBLEY TRANSFERRED; 15% of the movie seems near HD quality. The opening cartoon is horrendously hazed with VHS quality coating. The sound is Dolby Digital 2CH not 5.1.... Honestly stick with the DVD version and put 20$ towards a True-HD movie like King Kong.... goto hddvd.org to read better reviews. By the way I own the Blu-Ray version and rented the HD-DVD version same quality... almost unwatchable at some points.... I am a fan of this movie and sour at wasting 20$... on a final note is does look better than the standard dvd but you wont be impressed trust me... please leave comments if you OWN the movie in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray

Beautiful HD DVD! A true classic..........2006-12-06

This is among my favorite Christmas films. This and "A Christmas Story" (also just released on HD DVD). A Christmas classic, and there really aren't all that many. It just gets better and better each year! Love the Yuppies next door.

I've previous owned the VHS tape, the LaserDisc and the standard DVD of this film and this newly released HD DVD is by far the best! Not a speck on it. Beautifully restored... I'm really impressed with it's quality.

On my 46" Sony LCD widescreen it is a the total theatre experience, but I doubt that it ever looked this good in a theatre. The detail, color and sound is just awesome. The image fills the 16 by 9 inch screen.

If you don't know this movie, it is just terrific. From a script from John Hughes, it is just nasty enough to have the proper edge. It is also a wonderful Christmas movie!!!

If you have an HD DVD player, just order this!

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Classic Chevy Chase, a must for Christmas Eve viewing
all the pain in beautiful HD
Only Slightly better than the HD DVD Version...
Skip this Blu-Ray

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [Blu-ray]
Starring: Cody Burger , Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Tony Epper , and Miriam Flynn
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000KJT8IG
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Description

Customer Reviews:

Classic Chevy Chase, a must for Christmas Eve viewing.......2007-09-11

What better way to keep all those family members busy than watching this movie as a tradition?

all the pain in beautiful HD.......2007-07-19

this is still one of the best movies ever, and now it's in awesome hi-def. this is a must buy, if you want one of the funniest christmas movies ever.

Only Slightly better than the HD DVD Version..........2006-12-16

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

As I lamented in my HD DVD review of 'Christmas Vacation,' I hate being a Grinch, but this is probably the weakest next-gen master I've seen yet from Warner. Granted, it is still an improvement over the standard-def DVD release, and slightly better than it's HD DVD counterpart, but that's not saying much, as the source material is still quite dated and sorely in need of a clean-up.

'Christmas Vacation' on Blu-ray is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and 1080p/VC-1 video. Blacks are fine, but contrast lacks pop. Most scenes look flat and two-dimensional. Softness is also all over the place -- some scenes are nice and crisp, others fuzzy and ill-defined. Colors can be fairly well saturated, but again they are inconsistent -- some shots are as icky and pasty as an over-the-air standard-def broadcast. Hues certainly never leap off the screen as we have come to expect on even the most marginal high-def transfers. Fleshtones also look too red, making Chevy Chase's already-round face even more piggish. A low level of grain also permeates the transfer, and dirt and speckles are frequent, if still minor.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

'Christmas Vacation' is one of the few Blu-ray titles presented in Dolby Digital-Plus 2.0 stereo -- in fact, I think it might be the only one so far. Even at a healthy 640kbps bitrate however, there isn't much you can do with source elements like this. For a soundtrack produced in 1989, 'Christmas Vacation' certainly isn't bad, but it also sounds just about every one of its nearly twenty years of age.

At least it's clean. The audio stems aren't crackly or overly harsh. High and low end, however, sound smooshed together into the midrange -- this is one flat soundtrack. Dialogue also sounds ADR'd at times, and somewhat muted -- it certainly is never as distinct as a modern mix (turn it up or you may have trouble understanding Cousin Eddie's mumbles). Stereo effects are perfectly fine, with a few front pans, but that's about it. Hey, it's a two-channel mix -- even Santa can't work magic with a lump of coal.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

Originally billed as a "Special Edition" when it was released on standard-def DVD, there wasn't much special about 'Christmas Vacation' in its DVD release. Aside from a theatrical trailer, the only true extra was an audio commentary with the cast and filmmakers. Both of those goodies are repurposed here. The commentary, while quite packed with participants, is missing its main ingredient. No offense to director Jeremiah Chechik, producer Matty Simmons and stars Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo, Johnny Galecki and Miriam Flynn, but just as it is hard to imagine a 'Vacation' flick without Chevy Chase, it is just as hard to imagine a commentary on a 'Vacation' DVD without him, either. It also doesn't help that this is one of those weird group tracks where no one really seems all that thrilled to be there. Perhaps Chase would have stepped up to the plate and led the discussion; as such we get a few funny anecdotes, but a weird inorganic nature permeates the proceedings. I also found it a bit annoying that everyone kept referring to deleted scenes that have never been included in any home video release of the film. Sorry, but bah humbug!

Final Thoughts

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is considered by many to be a modern holiday classic. I like a lot of the movie, but it can also be rather hit-or-miss. I'll always prefer the original 'Vacation,' but this one is still way better than the Griswold's European and Vegas adventures. Unfortunately, I can't say much for this Blu-ray release. It is just about as lackluster as its HD DVD counterpart. The transfer suffers from poor source material, while the 2.0 channel mix ain't much better. Maybe someday Warner will truly restore all of the 'Vacation' flicks (or at least the good ones), but until then, it is hard to recommend plunking down the holiday plastic for a disc this weak.

Skip this Blu-Ray.......2006-12-14

This movie is HORRIBLEY TRANSFERRED; 15% of the movie seems near HD quality. The opening cartoon is horrendously hazed with VHS quality coating. The sound is Dolby Digital 2CH not 5.1.... Honestly stick with the DVD version and put 20$ towards a True-HD movie like King Kong.... goto hddvd.org to read better reviews. I own this Blu-Ray version and rented the HD-DVD version same quality... almost unwatchable at some points.... I am a fan of this movie and sour at wasting 20$... on a final note is does look better than the standard dvd but you wont be impressed trust me... please leave comments if you OWN the movie in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 - Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure

Average customer rating:

Unenthralled
Why oh why...
mildly amusing
C'mon!!!!This isn,t that bad!!!!
Ooops

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 - Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure
Starring: Randy Quaid , Miriam Flynn , Dana Barron , Jake Thomas , and Sung Hi Lee
Director: Nick Marck
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000DZ3IE
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Description

When Cousin Eddie joined Clark Griswold and his family for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the movie quickly becaume a holiday institution. An institution, of course, is where many think Cousin Eddie should reside. Randy Quaid again plays crude but lovable Eddie and Miriam Flynn returns as his wife in another comic skid on the Vacation banana peel. In a way, Christmas has always been a test of survival for Eddie and his brood. And that's truer than ever when they receive an expenses-paid holiday tour of the South Pacific and end up shipwrecked on a remote island. Fred Willard, Ed Asner, Eric Idle in a zany cameo and more join in this season of comfort and joy. Which means little comfort for Eddie. And lots of joy for Vacation fans.

DVD Features:
Outtakes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Unenthralled.......2007-01-19

I got this for my father for Christmas. What a waste of money it was. I was expecting some funny, witty jokes- just like the first movie. It was nothing like that at all. It was not funny, there was no storyline, we watched about 30 minutes of it, and just gave up watching it because it was so bad. The acting was also horrible. I would not reccommend this to anyone.

Why oh why..........2005-09-29

You know. I really enjoyed the first Christmas Vacation. When I saw CV2 on the shelf I was excited to see the saga continue. The movie starts out great....until the beginning credits end. While they did bring back an old Audrey they forget the core family...Chevy Chase and Beverly DeAngelo. Guess they knew to stay away from such a bad movie and so should you. Trust me. This movie is not enjoyable whatsoever.

I would have given it no stars but they don't allow it.

mildly amusing.......2005-08-09

This movie, while most certainly not the best comedy made by National Lampoon was funny none the less amusing in it's own strange way. Definitely not a suitable sequel to the original Christmas Vacation though.

C'mon!!!!This isn,t that bad!!!!.......2004-12-27

YOU PEOPLE!!!!I heard you bitch and moan like all day about this movie!When you moan about one of funniest movies ever you,re insulting the director.AND YOU HURT MY FEELINGS TOO. Love goes out to you, Nick Marck.

Ooops.......2004-12-27

Okey. its enjoyable for big fans of the old vacation movies. becouse you see the original "audrey griswold" back after 20 years. she looks kind of weird though. she's a grown woman now, but still look like one of their kids. and ofcourse Eddie and his wife along with "snod" the dog. so, even though the movie isnt very fun at all. you can still find some enjoyment watching this. i mean, after all, it isnt just a remake with completely diffrent actors and moviemakers. it's a fifth installment in the "Vacation" series.
I really wanted, and really tried to like this movie. but i don't think i laughed once. it starts of bad from the begining, in one of the early scenes, when they've landed in this hot vacation place, they meet all these cute loveable asian girls, and i figure "okey, atleast that's a reason for liking the movie". but then this bitter angry asian girl shows up, and she becomes they're guide. great.. oh, and comedian Fred Willard shows up for a few short scenes. Oh, Eric Idle too!
cousin eddie was my favorite character in the vacation series, so i was really looking forward to this movie and thought i'd like it. but it just isnt funny! on the DVD extras, you see trailers of the old vacation movies.. and i mean.. just compare. this comes out as a very poor and empty movie with old lame jokes and only about 1:20h long.
if i wasn't a fan of the "vacation" series, and this was just like a regular movie i saw, without seeing the prevoius ones. i would just think this was the lamest thing ever.
i don't know.. maybe kids will like it. i'm still hoping for more Vacation movies, even though the movie makers didnt seem to care much about this one. the previous "Vegas Vacation" (1997) wasn't the funniest either. Well, still, i enjoy this movie becouse it's another installment with alote of familiar faces and a great vacation spot. i mean, who wouldnt like to be at that hot place in the middle of the winter. i like it, but it's not fun.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 1 & 2

Average customer rating:

Good

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 1 & 2
Starring: Randy Quaid , Miriam Flynn , Dana Barron , Jake Thomas , and Sung Hi Lee
Director: Nick Marck , and Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002T7ZL6
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Description

Get not just one, but two Christmas vacations! First, the Griswolds prepare for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark (Chevy Chase), his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious relatives. Then, join Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) as he and his family go on an expenses-paid holiday tour of the South Pacific and end up shipwrecked on a remote island.

Customer Reviews:

Good.......2007-03-19

Dealing with this seller was a good exoerience. I got what i ordered fast.

[[[3 DVD Christmas pack]]] Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Friends / a Magical Cartoon Christmas / Casper's Haunted Christmas

Average customer rating:

[[[3 DVD Christmas pack]]] Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Friends / a Magical Cartoon Christmas / Casper's Haunted Christmas

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

[2 DVD Set] Caddyshack 2 (1988) / Slap Shot 2 (2002)

Average customer rating:

[2 DVD Set] Caddyshack 2 (1988) / Slap Shot 2 (2002)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

A Christmas Story/National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

A Christmas Story/National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)
Starring: Cody Burger , Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Miriam Flynn , and Johnny Galecki
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0000UX4OE
Release Date: 2003-10-28

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 1 & 2 (2 Pack)

Average customer rating:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 1 & 2 (2 Pack)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD:

DVD

DVD