Fraternity Vacation (1985)

[Demented D]

Fraternity Vacation

[WinkDinkerson]

I'm for most of the 80's comedies including this one.

[ImAWalkingCorpse]

I'd be all in on this one as well.

[whiteberry]

The Scorpion blu-ray will be released by Kino on 2/4:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=36123

[Demented D]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

The Scorpion blu-ray will be released by Kino on 2/4:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=36123

[Eschenpod]

My DVD copy will get retired.

[The Star of Astaroth]

Any word on features?

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by The Star of Astaroth

Any word on features?

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=36246

[The80s]

80s sex comedy? Count me in. Never seen this but the cast looks pretty good. Lots of familiar faces. Gonna pre order for sure.

Originally Posted by whiteberry

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=36246

So no bonus content?

[jjchmiel78]

Got today and enjoyed. I do have one problem, my copy had a spot where there is a line dead center of the screen vertical. It shows up about 00:40:38 and goes away about 00:44:03. Anyone else have this issue?

[The Great Owl]

Joe and Larry 'Mother' Tucker, two Iowa State fraternity brothers played by Cameron Dye (Valley Girl) and Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption), are dead set on partying and getting laid during a trip to Palm Springs, despite being accompanied by Wendell, an awkwardly nerdy pledge played by Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night), whose parents own the condo where the three of them will be staying. When two arrogant brothers of a rival fraternity show up on the scene and make a bet with our protagonists to see who can be the first to seduce a blonde, played by Sheree J. Wilson (Walker, Texas Ranger), mayhem ensues. Between winning the challenge and trying to transform their pledge into a confident ladies' man, Joe and Larry have their work cut out for them.

The 1985 sex comedy, Fraternity Vacation, directed by James Frawley (The Monkees, The Muppet Movie), did not exactly accrue a mountain of accolades upon its release, as evidenced by scathing reviews from Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, and other prominent critics of the era. Although the rational side of me realizes that this is not a cinematic milestone, however, my nostalgia for all outdated things circa the 1980s wins yet again, as does my enjoyment of seeing several accomplished actors give their all in a lesser fun-spirited venture.

The surreal appeal of seeing a young Tim Robbins as a frat boy is matched by the effectiveness of the supporting cast. We've got Amanda Bearse (Fright Night, Married with Children) as a first-time romantic interest for Wendell. We've got John Vernon (Dirty Harry, National Lampoon's Animal House) as a strict police chief. B-movie stalwarts Barbara Crampton (From Beyond) and Kathleen Kinmont (Hardbodies) are early highlights as girlfriends of the rival frat antagonists. Max Wright (Alf) has a few key minor moments as Wendell's father. Blink and you'll miss Britt Ekland (The Man with the Golden Gun). Finally, this is one of those films where even the supposed bad guys, played by Leigh McCloskey (Hamburger: The Motion Picture) and Matt McCoy (DeepStar Six), are likable and endearing.

I have fond memories of watching Fraternity Vacation on HBO and other such channels when I was a teenager during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It's an easily dismissible film in the grand scheme of things, but I quite enjoyed revisiting it for the first time in three decades and reliving a small part of my youth.

The presence of three, yes three, songs from Bananarama in the soundtrack seals the deal for me.

This Scorpion Releasing Blu-ray delivers the goods with a pleasant-looking transfer that rises above and beyond the pan-and-scan showings from HBO and videocassette that I have seen in the past. I cannot imagine any like-minded fans of this movie being disappointed by the presentation. Aside from a few trailers, this is a bare bones endeavor.

[TravisPNW]

Originally Posted by jjchmiel78

Got today and enjoyed. I do have one problem, my copy had a spot where there is a line dead center of the screen vertical. It shows up about 00:40:38 and goes away about 00:44:03. Anyone else have this issue?

None to report.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

This Scorpion Releasing Blu-ray delivers the goods with a pleasant-looking transfer that rises above and beyond the pan-and-scan showings from HBO and videocassette that I have seen in the past. I cannot imagine any like-minded fans of this movie being disappointed by the presentation. Aside from a few trailers, this is a bare bones endeavor.

Agreed. Great transfer. My first thought when looking at the BD on my OLED was... "WOW!" It looks that good.

Well worth the purchase. This was one of those movies I watched over and over as a young teenager.

[meremortal]

Can't recall anything about this movie other than a mooning at one point.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by jjchmiel78

Got today and enjoyed. I do have one problem, my copy had a spot where there is a line dead center of the screen vertical. It shows up about 00:40:38 and goes away about 00:44:03. Anyone else have this issue?

Originally Posted by TravisPNW

None to report.

Yes, it's a big scratch on the print. Anyone who doesn't see it isn't watching very attentively, because it's there for a lot of the later part of the film.

[Eschenpod]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Yes, it's a big scratch on the print. Anyone who doesn't see it isn't watching very attentively, because it's there for a lot of the later part of the film.

I have it too. Still a great watch.

[TravisPNW]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Yes, it's a big scratch on the print. Anyone who doesn't see it isn't watching very attentively, because it's there for a lot of the later part of the film.

Oh I watch plenty attentively on my calibrated OLED... I just didn't notice it before hence my original reply. Just now when I went back looking for it I do in fact see it... but does it distract me? Not any more than it did the first time. Does it ruin the experience? Not at all.

It all depends on the lighting of the scene and it actually blends with the grain pretty well... probably why I didn't notice it until I went looking for it.

This kinda reminds me of all the people who complain about vertical banding on their OLED panels. I've seen some that were blatantly obvious but with mine the bands are very faint and I've only noticed them in scenes from older films that were dark gray and grainy and didn't bother me anyway.

Originally Posted by Eschenpod

I have it too. Still a great watch.

Indeed. It's there but it's not a dealbreaker IMO for anyone interested in purchasing an 80's classic.

[Edenbeast]

Is it region free or A locked?

[jjchmiel78]

Originally Posted by TravisPNW

Oh I watch plenty attentively on my calibrated OLED... I just didn't notice it before hence my original reply. Just now when I went back looking for it I do in fact see it... but does it distract me? Not any more than it did the first time. Does it ruin the experience? Not at all.

It all depends on the lighting of the scene and it actually blends with the grain pretty well... probably why I didn't notice it until I went looking for it.

This kinda reminds me of all the people who complain about vertical banding on their OLED panels. I've seen some that were blatantly obvious but with mine the bands are very faint and I've only noticed them in scenes from older films that were dark gray and grainy and didn't bother me anyway.



Indeed. It's there but it's not a dealbreaker IMO for anyone interested in purchasing an 80's classic.

I still enjoy it and overall don't mind it there. Just glad I am not the only one, meaning unique to my disc. Maybe I so readily noticed it is because my eyes are only 6' away from my 65" OLED. I exceed the THX recommended 40 degree viewing angle, but it is just right for me.