New remaster of A Christmas Story out today - how's it look?

A Christmas Story is supposed to be out today in remastered form - anybody grab it yet? Please let us know if it looks/sounds better than the one that's been out for awhile now...

 

Well, we already know it has to look better - it's in widescreen!

 

Well, if you have a big screen set that is.... Me, I'm old fashioned and have a 27" Sony - for us regular sized screen folks, how's it look???

 

Mike,

I picked this up today with "The Lion King" and the new "Christmas Vacation," but didn't have a chance to skim through it until just now.

My review: go to the store and get this. Now. The new transfer is spectacular. The special features are also great. I found myself howling with laughter during the documentary and even during the "trivia" game, in which Peter Billingsley and other castmembers tell you whether or not you were right.

Warner deserves a pat on the back for this set.

 

That's what I wanted to hear!!!

 

Mike,

One more thing - find the easter egg on disc two. It's hilarious.

 

Yipes - I'm gonna play stoooopid here - I see references to Easter Eggs on DVD's (and get that you gotta search for them) - how the heck do you go about a hunt for the elusive hen fruit???

 

Oh MAN I didn't realize this was already out! I can't wait to get it.
Dan C

 

Just hit your up/down/left/right buttons on your remote in the Menu/Chapter section, if something highlights...push enter and it should open the door That's one of the ways

 

The extras on disc 2 are great. Scott Farkus (the bully) is hilarious.

The sound doesn't warble during the movie anymore. Nicely done DVD set.

 

As he was on the underrated, canceled too soon FOX series TITUS. Good to hear this new set lives up to its film.

 

Glad to hear they *finally* did this one right!

 

I have to get this one! It's the best Christmas-type movie I've ever seen, most likely because my own child-hood was very, very similar. Thanks for the recommendations guys!

 

I knew I shouldn't buy it, money's way too tight right now. But I saw it at a large discount store and held it in my hot hands and couldn't put it down. So now I own it. Ah, screw the phone bill.

It's so cool! The bonus material is stellar and the transfer is eye opening. Good riddance to that horrible hazy faded print we're all used to. This one looks beautiful.
I never get tired of watching this movie.
Haven't had a chance to watch it with the commentary yet, really looking forward to that though.

Dan C

 

What's the scoop on the sound, guys? Dolby Stereo, DS tweaked to 5.1, real discrete 5.1, mono, or what? And what's the aspect ratio? I would guess either 1.66:1. or 1.85:1.

This is a nice little movie, and works precisely because it truly evokes a certain time and place and you can believe, for a little while, that it's real. So few modern movies can recreate a time period as was done here.


ED

 

Quite real

 

Sorry Ed, I can't give you the specifics. The aspect ratio isn't printed on the box and I only have a stereo, rather than true surround, for my humble HT.
Others here I'm sure will chime in.

One of the fantastic bonuses on Disc 2 is actual radio broadcasts of Jean Shepherd reading his stories. It's so great to hear him recollect these things. At one point he gives a station ID, happens to be WOR in New York. Audio sounds as if it's recorded right off the air. Adds to the charm actually.

Dan C

 

"My father wove a tapestry of profanity which to this day is still hovering somewhere over Lake Michigan."

 

Hey Ed, it's a quite pleasant Dolby Digital (center channel only(!) thank goodness). You won't be showing off your system with it but they've made it sound much better than any previous version. No warbling sound anymore.

 

And who ever wrote that Yosemite Sam-type profanity deserved a special Oscar for script writing. Brilliant garble!!!

 

Looks like your standard 1.85:1.

 

Oh yeah, I saw the DVD set at Target for $19.99 (which is what I paid at Best Buy) but Target had a small Ralphie bobble head figure... if that stuff's important to you.

 

We noticed that Randy (Ralphie's brother) wasn't interviewed on the bonus disc. We suspect rehad.

Just joking, but he was a child actor.

 

There was a TV Guide cover feature on A Christmas Story that mentioned the little brother. He just sort of left the movie biz and no one seems to be able to track him down. They didn't hint at anything bad, but you kinda have to wonder.
Dan C

 

I looked him up. He did an episode of Different Strokes and something else that I've forgotten. Then he stopped showing up. Bad feelings about his acting career?