Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Xmas Movie
Review: OK, I admit I was forced to watch it, but found myself enjoying it anyway. Chevy Chase is back once more, and from the previous ones I've seen, it's the most disappointing. There are a few funny moments, but they were predictable. How many times can you watch someone stapling Christmas lights (talk about going overboard with THOSE!) without knowing they're going to attach themselves to the roof, and then fall off the ladder? Having the dreaded family over makes me wish I'm not going anywhere this Christmas! You've got all the worst family members you can possibly imagine ... and then add some! The mum is at her best in this film, and the children are Juliette Lewis is an early role, but still looking & sounding the same, and the guy who later got a fish hook through the neck in I Know What You Did Last Summer. This isn't my fave National Lampoon Movie/Vacation movie. But it's a great movie to watch at this time of year - even though I keep complaining that I'm watching Christmas movies in the middle of November, and I want it to be Christmas NOW!!!
Rating: 
Summary: We're gonna be the hap-hap-happiest...
Review: Chevy Chase did it again. Although this is the worst in the seris it's still phenomonale. In this one Clark invites all of the faimily, except Eddie who shows up anyway. He invites Ellen's aunt who's insane, i.e. wrapping up her cat and Jello mold as presents. Plus, her husband who's like a souped up Aunt Edna. All in all, very funny.
Rating: 
Summary: needs more
Review: I LOVE this movie. But on the back of the box it shows a picture of a scene that isn't even in the movie?! Why is it not in the extras? We need bloopers and deleated scenes!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Christmas Comedy out there!
Review: So funny it will make your gut and facial muscles hurt! In the tradition of the other NL vacation movies, Chevy Chase is on a mission to create the BEST Griswold holiday ever! From stapling himself to the roof, riding on the worlds fastest sled, and putting a Christmas tree through his humbug-neighbors window - this movie will keep you laughing all the way through! A great movie to watch to get into the holiday spirit & shake off those Christmas frustrations ... and it's funny enough to watch even if it's June!!!
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Summary: Widescreen at last!!!
Review: I'm so glad Warner wised up and re-released this in OAR. It truly is the best Vacation movie and this DVD is miles better than my crappy old pan and scan VHS copy. With a strong John Hughes script, an ace comic performance from Chase and onslaught of jokes and quotable dialogue this is not only best of the "Vacation" series but one of THE Xmas movies. There certain movies that Xmas cannot be without (Scrooged, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Gremlins are the others) and this is one of them. Xmas Vacaction is definitely the new 'It's A Wonderful Life'. This time the Griswolds are staying at home in the snowy suburbs of Chicago and are preparing for the 'best Xmas ever' as Clark has been dreaming of a 'good ol' fashioned family Xmas all his life'. But it's not that simple. The in-laws hate each other, brother and sister are forced to sleep together, there's no Xmas bonus (not a good one anyway) and Hillbilly cousin Eddie (a classic performance from Randy Quaid) imposes in an impromptu 'surprise' visit. It seems like a disaster waiting to happen but there is no waiting; Just disaster, as everything that can go wrong...does. And them some. But the ever-delusional Chase will not let any little mishaps sway his optimism. The suburban-American Xmas atmosphere is captured perfectly and snow covered scenery gives the impression of a very cosy Xmas. Watch this film during advent, I guarantee it will be to your festive benefit. The new DVD has an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and has a Dolby 2.0 soundtrack. It's definitely one to get for this time of year.
Rating:
Summary: Forever Classic
Review: One of the best movies of all time. Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid make a timeless Christmas Classic.
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Summary: The only holiday movie I need.
Review: First of all, to all the nit-picky reviewers complaining about the lack of widescreen or more special features, the special edition of this movie just came out. So go get that, and spare us your tired diatribes. Now, onto the movie. To me and my family, nothing says "christmas" like Christmas Vacation. In my house, it is NOT the holiday season until we've watched it a couple of times. It's a holiday classic, not to mention a comedy classic. It reminds me a lot of christmas at my house. It's the best christmas movie ever made. Period. END OF SENTENCE!! We all remember the Griswolds, don't we? Well, it's christmastime, and Clark (Chevy Chase) wants nothing more for his family than the best christmas ever. Of course, if your IQ is higher than your shoe size, then you should know it's not exactly smooth sailing. Burnt-out bulbs, oversized trees, and Ellen's wacky Cousin Eddie are just a few of the many mishaps along the way to the 25th. So many memorable scenes, so many memorable lines. (Check out the scene where Clark encounters a VERY attractive saleslady in a department store while shopping for lingerie. Priceless.) All in all, this movie IS christmas in my household, and it should be in yours. Definitely buy this on DVD. Don't even think, just do it.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie, but what an awful DVD.....shameful
Review: I would be ashame if I was Warner Bros. for releasing this DVD. Warner Bros has managed to put one of the best movies of all time on to one of the worst DVD's of all time. What a joke. Full-screen, no features.? Come on. And of course they release another DVD of Christmas Vacation 9 months later with some features. So now consumers have to buy the other if they want widescreen and features. What a joke. Give us a little better WB.
Rating:
Summary: Home For The Holidaze
Review: The National Lampoon's Vacation films have had somewhat of a spotty track record over the years. And while the first film in the series is my favorite, Christmas Vacation comes in a very close second. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is determined to make this year's holiday "the most fun filled family Christmas ever". With his loving wife Ellen, (Beverly D'Angelo), and their two kids, Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and "Rusty" (Johnny Galecki) around him, how can things go wrong? As is the norm with the Griswold family--plenty. Directed by Jermemiah Chechik, with a script penned by John Hughes, the film makes you forget the lopsided Eurpean and dreadful Vegas Vacations really quickly. Chase is in top form this time as always hapless Clark. His scenes on the roof setting up decorations gets me every time, The slapstick he does here reminds me of his SNL days. He also has good on screen chemistry with D'Angelo. Before she became a sought after film star, Lewis makes quite an impression here, as does future Roseanne star Galecki. The pair make great replacements for the "kids" in the first 2 films. Without a doubt though, actor Randy Quaid as smarmy Cousin Eddie, is the movie's secret ingredient. He is pitch perfect in his finest comedic role to date. The "Special Edition" version of the DVD boasts a solid feature length audio commentary with Quaid, D'Angelo, Galecki, fellow cast member Miriam Flynn, Chechik and Producer Matty Simmons. As you might have figured Quaid provides some great sound bytes for the commentary track too. I have say though, that I wish Chase could have been on the track somehow--It just doesn't seem the same without him. Other than the theatrical trailer, there are no more extras on the disc. Some deleted material or a blooper reel would have made the Special Edition more Special I am pretty cynical when it comes to Christmas films and the holidays in general (which explains why I chose to review this DVD around Holloween). I can't stand anything too sappy or overwrougt with melodrama. Chrstmas Vacation steers pretty clear of that kind of stuff and goes for the laughs instead. Recommended
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Summary: Common misconception on "Matted widescreen"
Review: I just want to clear up a misconception that another veiwer posted on this sight:
The full Screen Version of Christmas Vacation is not Pan-and Scanned. The movie was shot in full frame dimensions, and then the top and bottom was cut off so it would fit a 1.85:1 Movie screen. The "Matted Widescreen" version is what was seen in the theater. With the full screen version, you're actuially not missing 20% of the image, you're actually getting 120% of the image. with the widescreen version, you're getting 100%.
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