The Blu-Ray release features decent picture and adequate sound, but the low budget underpinnings of the source materials do not allow for much excitement in the sound and audio departments.
ven before putting "A Christmas Story" into my Samsung BD-P1000 player (the last disc to do so, as the Samsung is being retired), I was fully prepared for a film that would not blow my socks off the chimney. The film's dreamy sequences look as though vaseline was coated on the lens and give a soft look that helps the film achieve its period feel and gives it a flavor that is both dreamlike and almost like watching a moving scrapbook. The 1.85:1 widescreen transfer looks pretty good and clean and even when the source materials do not allow for a lot of detail, it is an improvement over my older standard definition DVD release. Where soft and washed out in the 'dreamlike' sequences, "A Christmas Story" does allow for a few highly detailed scenes that are certainly only capable via a high definition transfer. One particular scene of memory was when trees where shown with ice and snow on their branches. It was wonderfully detailed and three dimensional in imagery. Black levels are good and although there is some film grain source materials looked to have been of good stock. I was satisfied with this transfer, but admittedly, there were a few scenes that looked only slightly better than the older DVD release.
Sound:
It is hard to say too much about the English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono soundtrack. It sounds clear and clean, but sound only emminates from the center channel. With a little tomfoolery, I was able to get sound from all three front speakers, but this hardly yielded any beneficial results other than a larger soundspace. The range of the mono track was quite good, but heavy bass and sharp highs were absent and a flat feeling was quite apparent. I would have loved for something a little better sounding from this release, but the original mono track is the best we are given. A French mono soundtrack is also provided.
Extras:
All of the extras from Warner Bros. 2-disc special edition have been carried over to the Blu-Ray release (as well as the HD-DVD release). Though not the most plentiful or exciting set of bonus materials, there are a few notable moments to be found and the overall quality is both entertaining and good. The Commentary by Peter Billingsley and Director/Co-Writer Bob Clark is good with the two sharing stories over their experiences on the making of the film and reminiscing about the good old times. It is not the best commentary you will hear and Billingsley seems distant through some of it, but fans of the film will find it to be an enjoyable listen.
A few documentaries are also provided in addition to the commentary track. The 20th Anniversary Documentary Another Christmas Story runs for nearly twenty minutes and finds many of the cast recounting their experiences from the making of the film. You certainly get the impression that Scott Schwartz loves his minor celebrity status as a result of the film, but he is lively and entertaining. Peter Billingsley still looks like Ralphie. Bob Clark also joins in on the fun. This was one of the better and more entertaining documentaries I've seen in a while. The Daisy Red Ryder: A History takes a look at the Red Ryder BB gun and offers insight into the inaccurate edition used in the film. Get a Leg Up is a tongue-in-cheek interview with a company that continues to make the Leg Lamps. They are asked questions about being American heroes and whatnot. Odd, but funny. A Theatrical Trailer and Leg Lamp Promotional Clip are tossed in as well as a few Script Pages.
Closing Comments:
"A Christmas Story" is a modern holiday classic that is easily the funniest yuletide picture available. Even though Turner Broadcasting's 24 hour marathon may be a bit much, they helped bring the film to prominence, but you can now find it available in both modern high definition formats. The Blu-Ray release features decent picture and adequate sound, but the low budget underpinnings of the source materials do not allow for much excitement in the sound and audio departments. The value added content is exactly the same content from the 2-disc special edition released a couple years ago on standard definition DVD. With the actors doing such great jobs in their roles and a well written story by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, "A Christmas Story" is the kind of film you can watch again and again.
Sound:
It is hard to say too much about the English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono soundtrack. It sounds clear and clean, but sound only emminates from the center channel. With a little tomfoolery, I was able to get sound from all three front speakers, but this hardly yielded any beneficial results other than a larger soundspace. The range of the mono track was quite good, but heavy bass and sharp highs were absent and a flat feeling was quite apparent. I would have loved for something a little better sounding from this release, but the original mono track is the best we are given. A French mono soundtrack is also provided.
Extras:
All of the extras from Warner Bros. 2-disc special edition have been carried over to the Blu-Ray release (as well as the HD-DVD release). Though not the most plentiful or exciting set of bonus materials, there are a few notable moments to be found and the overall quality is both entertaining and good. The Commentary by Peter Billingsley and Director/Co-Writer Bob Clark is good with the two sharing stories over their experiences on the making of the film and reminiscing about the good old times. It is not the best commentary you will hear and Billingsley seems distant through some of it, but fans of the film will find it to be an enjoyable listen.
A few documentaries are also provided in addition to the commentary track. The 20th Anniversary Documentary Another Christmas Story runs for nearly twenty minutes and finds many of the cast recounting their experiences from the making of the film. You certainly get the impression that Scott Schwartz loves his minor celebrity status as a result of the film, but he is lively and entertaining. Peter Billingsley still looks like Ralphie. Bob Clark also joins in on the fun. This was one of the better and more entertaining documentaries I've seen in a while. The Daisy Red Ryder: A History takes a look at the Red Ryder BB gun and offers insight into the inaccurate edition used in the film. Get a Leg Up is a tongue-in-cheek interview with a company that continues to make the Leg Lamps. They are asked questions about being American heroes and whatnot. Odd, but funny. A Theatrical Trailer and Leg Lamp Promotional Clip are tossed in as well as a few Script Pages.
Closing Comments:
"A Christmas Story" is a modern holiday classic that is easily the funniest yuletide picture available. Even though Turner Broadcasting's 24 hour marathon may be a bit much, they helped bring the film to prominence, but you can now find it available in both modern high definition formats. The Blu-Ray release features decent picture and adequate sound, but the low budget underpinnings of the source materials do not allow for much excitement in the sound and audio departments. The value added content is exactly the same content from the 2-disc special edition released a couple years ago on standard definition DVD. With the actors doing such great jobs in their roles and a well written story by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, "A Christmas Story" is the kind of film you can watch again and again.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]20258[/release]