Connor Bynum // Film Critic
A CHRISTMAS STORY
It’s difficult to imagine the holiday season without finding the time to fit in a viewing of A CHRISTMAS STORY. Initially debuting theatrically in 1983, this quirky and inoffensive holiday romp has aged like wine and has easily become regarded as nothing short of American tradition that can now be owned on 4K UHD today.
Movie Grade: A
Set in 1940s Indiana, the film perfectly captures the essence of being a kid during the Christmas season. A wide-eyed third grader named Ralphie (Peter Billingsly) navigates the complex and ever-shifting social dynamic of being a kid while also trying to figure out a way to convince just one adult in his life to get him a BB gun for Christmas. The BB gun storyline serves as a backbone for the film, while numerous shorter stories are told in an almost episodic structure. Another day, another obstacle to overcome.
Whether it’s having a friend get his tongue stuck on the flag pole, dealing with a bully, or even getting busted for swearing, each of these little short stories play like a greatest hits collection of core childhood memories. Jean Shepherd provides narration for the film as a fully grown-up Ralphie, and this little detail makes the film work as well as it does. Shepherd’s delivery as he describes the simplicity of childhood shenanigans paired with the eloquently diverse vocabulary as an adult is simply comedic brilliance.
A CHRISTMAS STORY is a delightful holiday film that deserves to be on everyone’s wish list this year.
Video/Audio Grade: A
It’s probably best to get it out of the way now: this 4K disc is for film lovers through and through. The film is presented in native 4K resolution and it’s easily the best it has ever looked. Even with the 4K resolution and addition of HDR10, the disc maintains as much of the classic film look as possible. Grain is very present and many shots are filled with a sort of haze that you just don’t see in modern films anymore. All of that being said, this disc may not be for you if you don’t appreciate that sort of aesthetic. Film grain aside, the uptick in resolution on this disc is top notch. Skin tones and costumes are clear, and the shabby lower-middle class design of the family home is wonderfully pronounced.
As for the audio side of things, the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix is about as straightforward as they come. No need to upgrade to a fancy Atmos system to get the full experience out of this one. But then again, is there really even a good reason to complain about not getting at least a proper 5.1 surround mix? The dialogue is perfectly clear and balanced with the music and other effects to the point where the 2.0 track is more than enough. As a fun bonus, the disc also includes a Mono option for those looking for an even more authentic experience to its theatrical release.
The HDR10 is an excellent example of less is more. Colors are indeed richer than what we’ve seen on previous releases, but the increased color spectrum goes for a more naturalistic approach rather than simply jamming the saturation to 11. The numerous exterior scenes with the kids walking to school in the snow are excellent examples of the increased brightness spectrum as well.
Extras Grade: B
With the exception of a previously released commentary track with Director Bob Clark and Ralphie actor Peter Billingsly, all special features are exclusive to the included 1080p Blu-Ray disc. Now, on the subject of the standard Blu-ray, this isn’t the typical reprint of a previously released disc but a downscaled copy of the same remaster used for the 4K disc, meaning that even the Blu-ray is an improvement over previous versions. Additionally, the special features found on the Blu-ray have some vintage selections that were exclusive to collectible editions of the film until now. Special features are broken down below.
- Audio Commentary
- (Vintage) Christmas in Ohio: A Christmas Story House (21:15)
- Another Christmas Story (18:18)
- Daisy Red Ryder: A History (5:18)
- Get a Leg Up (4:35)
- “Flash Gordon” Deleted Script Pages (3:11)
- The Leg Lamp Spot (0:49)
- (Vintage) Jean Shepherd Original Radio Reading (2 clips, 68:57 total)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:10)
Final Grade: A-
This 4K UHD release is easily the definitive version of A CHRISTMAS STORY. Long time fans of the film will find plenty to enjoy. While casual film lovers may not fully appreciate the preservation of film grain on display in this version, the film still has never looked better.
