National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) (25th Anniversary Edition)

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by My Other Self

It's considered a soft-reboot of the franchise. It's not an actual continuation of the original series.

Also, this new film doesn't have the National Lampoon branding.

Neither did Vegas Vacation (1997).

[mar3o]

Would it have killed them to use the original poster art?

This really needs a new transfer, since the current one is rather lousy, and this film deserves it for sure. But I'll be stunned if it happens. The Diamond Luxe of Gremlins used the same transfer as the previous release, though at least Gremlins looked quite good to begin with, as opposed to Christmas Vacation which looks pretty muddy.

[bowlingbilly10]

I don't see no picture. When I clicked on it, it just gave me a question mark??

[whiteberry]

I expect them to do the same thing they did with the Christmas Story 30th anniversary disc: use the old transfer, throw it in a steelbook with a digital copy, and maybe throw in a minor new extra.

[worldchmps]

The image in the first post isn't a steelbook. You can tell it's a box with a standard amray case inside. You can see it on the left hand side of the image. I'm betting they just want to cash in on the recent movie. Same transfer maybe one new extra. Have the current version. I won't double dip for a new extra or two or fancy packaging.

[StingingVelvet]

Neat!

I still have the first and this one on DVD, so this will be a nice upgrade. I don't like or collect many comedies, but this is an exception. Watched it SOOOOOOO many times as a kid.

[mpstjohn]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Call it whatever you want, but it has the same exact plot as the 1983 film. I guess it's a sequel, in theory, yes, but really, it's a remake in the guise of a sequel. Ed Helms is playing Ed Helms, he's called Rusty but he's certainly not the same character as seen in any of the prior movies (it's like he took a stupid pill all of a sudden lol), etc. Yeah, you get a Chevy and Beverly cameo near the end -- but otherwise, it certainly doesn't feel like a continuation of any of the prior movies. More like a super-raunchy remake of them (and specifically the 1983 original).

To me, it's like the last version of THE THING -- which was technically a "prequel" by definition even though it was really a remake, with the same recycled scenes from the 1982 movie showing up throughout it.

Its a sequel. I mean if want to get technical, Christmas Vacation feels like a remake of the original vacation. Clark wants his family to have the perfect holiday, goes crazy and it ends with someone being held hostage (replace John Candy with Brian Doyle Murray) and a SWAT team swarming the family in the end only for things to be called off in time for the movie to end. Even Vegas and European Vacation deviate slightly from this formula but Christmas is at least the second best one and kind of does the same thing (they even bring Eddie back).

Is the new movie, lazy? Absolutely, and the casting is ridiculous, though I wouldn't be surprised if at one point they asked Anthony Michael Hall, he looked at the script and said no and it just became "lets get one of the guys from The Hangover and call him Rusty" (even though they use pics of Rusty from the original).

As far as leaving "National Lampoon" off the title, the brand name doesn't mean what it did then, we went from "Animal House", "Vacation", "Christmas Vacation" and much later "Van Wilder" to DTV movies like "Last Resort" (with the two Coreys), "Dorm Daze 1 and 2", "Pledge This" (who's biggest star was Paris Hilton), "The Legend of Awesomest Maximus", "Van Wilder 2 and 3" and "Christmas Vacation 2".

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by mpstjohn

As far as leaving "National Lampoon" off the title, the brand name doesn't mean what it did then, we went from "Animal House", "Vacation", "Christmas Vacation" and much later "Van Wilder" to DTV movies like "Last Resort" (with the two Coreys), "Dorm Daze 1 and 2", "Pledge This" (who's biggest star was Paris Hilton), "The Legend of Awesomest Maximus", "Van Wilder 2 and 3" and "Christmas Vacation 2".

When their films started going DTV in the 90's, that is when they truly lost credibility, especially because films like Last Resort were so goddamn awful.

Last Resort is honestly one of the worst films I've ever seen starring reasonably well known actors. It's complete crap.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by worldchmps

The image in the first post isn't a steelbook. You can tell it's a box with a standard amray case inside. You can see it on the left hand side of the image.

I'm sorry, but as I examine the image you are referring to, it looks like a steelbook to me. It has the normal removable cardboard back that comes over the top, notice, it doesn't cover the bottom like it does the top, but other than that, this looks like a steelbook to me.

[HD Goofnut]

If this gets lossless audio I will double dip. If it get a new master on top of lossless I will giddily double dip.

[GenPion]

I doubt it will be remastered but it should be a new encode and lossless audio upgrade based on other titles WB has done. Christmas Story got an upgrade with a steelbook.

[NeMo_ET]

As much as I like steelbooks, I'm not double dipping unless there's some sort of A/V upgrade. Typically, what do diamond luxe editions have that the original release doesn't? For example, I still need to get gremlins and was looking at the luxe edition. Are there any A/V upgrades over the older releases?

[PowellPressburger]

If it is getting a Diamond Luxe Edition it should at least be getting some sort of special edition treatment (you'd think)

I don't recall the old BLU release but did it contain the original WB opening logo? I have a feeling it has been updated since then, if not if this is a new transfer WB will replace it more than likely.

[Riddler The Slag]

I will chime in and just say as long as it gets a new transfer and a huge improvement in audio I will be in for this one.

And yeah, I'll grab the Steelbook!

[Bluyoda]

This'd better be a proper remaster from the original negative with a new AVC encode and lossless audio, otherwise they can keep it.

[Wernski]

Haven't all Diamond Luxes so far been: same transfer, new extras?

[wonkavision]

From DVD to blu-ray, I've lost track of how many times I think I have bought this movie. Or maybe it's my imagination playing tricks. For some reason, Christmas movies seem to get lost oh so easy as many family and friends like to borrow christmas titles.

I like this cover as I always hated the way too frenetic original art (and he was never electrocuted).

[Rorschachian]

Meh. I'm waiting for a franchise boxset. Seriously, how hard would it have been for WB to do a Vacation "4-film favorites" collection?

[Astro Zombie]

Dammit, I just bought the old Blu a few months ago.

[Dylan34]

It's good to see that everyone on here is in agreement about picking this up again IF Warner's has given it a new transfer or encode, and new audio. This was released to blu in 2006 so it's definitely time for a facelift ( preferably a 4K one from the negative)! I guess we'll wait and see what's announced.