Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, terrible DVD
Review: This second-generation repackaging of the "Vacation" DVD is only a slight improvement over the original version. It's in widescreen. Is this good? No way. It's "MATTED" widescreen, which means it was shot in full screen format (as if it were made for television), and the top and bottom of the images were cut off to fit it properly on movie theater screens. Basically it's the OPPOSITE of what you think you're getting when you buy a movie in widescreen. You're not gaining more picture, you're actually LOSING some. Lesson learned: read the fine print on the back of your DVD's before purchase!It's got commentary from most of the cast. Do you care? Neither do I. Now for the purported extras which don't mean squat. It's a "new digital transfer" - could I tell the difference in a quick look at a selected old vs. new scene? No. The "Family Truckster" featurette gallery is mostly a waste of time. It primarily consists of several new trailers spliced together from clips of the movie, all of which seem to prominently feature the Griswold's new vehicle. Interspersed are short interviews with Christie Brinkley, Dana Barron (the original Audrey, who's actually grown up to be kind of a hottie), Matty Simmons, and the head stuntman on the movie. The "Introduction" is simply a minute-or-so-long shot of Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, and producer Matty Simmons on a couch saying how they hope you'll enjoy the new DVD. And the one aspect of this edition that is a downright insult to DVD fans everywhere - the soundtrack is in MONO once again. Dolby Digital 1.0, center channel only. Why would the studio go to the trouble to repackage a DVD with new stuff and put absolutely no effort into the soundtrack? It's a dialogue-driven movie, so it's not like 5.1 Surround would be a great benefit, but I'd at least like to hear some noise coming out of my left and right channels without having to have my receiver process it artificially. One of the funniest movies of the 80's, repackaged, rereleased, and re-RUINED.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for the 25th Anniversary Edition
Review: Okay...there is absolutely no debating the merits of this excellent early-80's comedy..."National Lampoon's Vacation" is without question one of the funniest comedies of the last 25 years, and definitely Chevy Chase's best film. The problem is Universal's typical shoddy handling of it. I mean, it's the 20th anniversary of this movie, and they release it with a MONO 2.0 soundtrack?! What the---?! IT'S 2003, WHERE THE HECK IS THE 5.1 SURROUND SOUND?! By now many people have home theaters and expect new DVD's to be remastered with surround sound (or geez, at least STEREO) but again Universal has failed us. I wanna hear Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road" in surround sound, darnit! It's the exact opposite problem of Univeral's other long-awaited reissues ("Weird Science", "Sixteen Candles" and "Breakfast Club"). Those movies are mastered in surround but are completely no-frills as far as the extras go. "Vacation" has the extras (commentary, etc.) but [bad] sound. Expect a super-special 25th anniversary edition in 2008 that has good sound and doesn't come in the stupid cardboard snap case that everyone hates!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Chevy
Review: All you wanted from Vacation and more. It's great to see these guys back again for the commentary. The only person I wished to see/hear is Beverly DeAngilo. She would have made this a 6 out of 5. It is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: 20 years and still the best!
Review: I have been waiting for this Special Edition DVD to come out for a while now and it was worth the wait. It has a much cleaner and clearer picture than the original DVD and lots of neat special features. My favorite is the full-length commetary by the Griswold Family. Also the Menus and the and Option screens are a lot more entertaining and animated. This is a must for any Vacation fan, go out and get yourself a copy even if you have the original DVD.
Rating:
Summary: 5-star movie, 2-star DVD!
Review: Probably my favorite comedy movie of all time. I've waited years for this to come out in widescreen DVD, and while Warners did an admirable job in the picture transfer, they failed again, as usual, in the extras and packaging departments. I mean, how many complaints do they have to get about their cheap cardboard snapcases before they get the point?! Their perennial classics, like this masterpiece, deserve better. Judging from the amount of time this movie spends on cable, they've obviously made enough cash on this flick to afford a nice, simple plastic DVD package. As for the extras - spare me! Where's the "making-of" feature? The out-takes? The behind-the-scenes featurette? A few piddling cast interviews and commentary are simply not enough for a 20th anniversary edition of such a fan favorite as this!!
Rating: 
Summary: CHEVY CHASE WAS ONCE A FUNNY GUY
Review: Chevy Chase was once a funny guy. Now on DVD in a widescreen format, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION: 20th Anniversary Edition (Warner Home Video), the best of the Vacation flicks crackles with insane humor. Chase is at his prime in this subversive, dark, cynical and very funny portrayal of a desperate dad hell-bent on taking his family on a crazed road trip to Wally World amusement park in the hopes of fulfilling some demented psychological need. Best extra is the inspired commentary by the actors who play the grizzled Griswold family (along with director Harold Ramis). Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie ever made!
Review: In my opinion this is the funniest movie of all time. I am a huge fan. After you watch this one you will surely want the movies that followed. I encourage you to buy all of them you won't regret. 1. National Lampoons Vacation
2. National Lampoons European Vacation
3. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
4. Vegas Vacation This one is the best but the rest are not far behind. Every one of these movies are hilarious. Chevy Chase is the funniest man on the earth. If you only had these four DVD's you would be happy for the rest of my life. You will watch these over and over again and never get tired of them. You will become an instant fan. This is a good start but get yourself the whole collection!!
Rating:
Summary: I'm whistling Zippity-Do Da out my...........
Review: It doesn't seem very fair that this movie was never available in letterbox until now, BUT I WILL buy this movie now and I'll have so muchfun I WILL be whistling Zippity-Do-Da! Hail Marty Moose! Now what am I gonna do with my Full Screen DVD?
Rating:
Summary: First of Griswald Vacations...the BEST
Review: When I was first introduced to to National Lampoon's Vacations, I first saw Christmas Vacation and thought it was great. We then rented "National Lampoon's Vacation" and thought it was funny as hell! Chevy Chase is funny with his jokes and his looking at the hottie (Christie Brinklie) in the Red Corrvette! Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswald is just as funny. The appearence of the memorable John Candy is hysterical. Imogene Cocoa and Randy Quaid are terribly funny. Wally World, d--n I wish it was real!!!
Rating:
Summary: This is why people fly!!!
Review: Aside from "Fletch" & "Caddyshack" this is one of Chevy Chase's most memorable movies,It is about time this movie gets the DVD treatment it deserves, In this Chase is Clark Griswold, an overworked family man who wants to take his family on a cross-country road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in an effort to make up for some lost time with his kids, Beverly D'Angelo is perfect as Clark's patient wife, as they begin their trip, everything that can go wrong does, starting with being ripped off by a sleazy car salesman (Eugene Levy) who sells them a souped up station wagon to making a wrong turn in St.Louis & ending up in a crime ridden neighborhood, only to have their hubcaps stolen when Clark ask for assistance on how to get back to the interstate to stopping at cousin Eddie(Randy Quaid) who is near broke & downright distasteful, to taking Aunt Edna the rest of the way who constantly bickers & complains to the point of irritation, to heading off a unfinished road which sends them airbourne to being ripped off by intimidating locals who fix the car later to being tempted by one hot Christie Brinkley in a Farrari, to having Aunt Edna suddenly die, every road disaster is here, & anyone who has went cross country(I have) can see the realism here, I did in 1982 right when this movie was being filmed, so I know, one of the best comedies ever, "Christmas Vacation" is the only worthy follow-up simply because of the return of cousin Eddie, but skip the others at all cost!!!
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