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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    A Christmas Story 4K Ultra HD

    Featured In Issue 264, November/December 2022

    Picture4.5
    Sound3.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    3000092741
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $27.85
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    93
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    ABC
    (Theatrical Year):
    1983
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    11/1/2022
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Bob Clark
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 2.0
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    "A Christmas Story" is based on the novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" by humorist Jean Shepherd. It is a whimsical and slightly twisted tribute to the traditional all-American Christmas. Set in Indiana during the 1940s, the film follows the adventures of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Billingsley) as he pursues his happiness in the form of a genuine Red Ryder Two Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary by Actor Peter Billingsley and Director Bob Clark, a 19-minute interview-laden (with the director and the kids in the movie), the featurettes "Christma In Ohio: A Christmas Story House" (HD 21:15), "Another Christmas Story," (SD 18:18) a fun five-minute history on the "Daisy Red Ryder," (SD 05:18), "Get A Leg Up"" (SD 04:38) "Flash Gordon" a semi-hidden script of a deleted scene (SD 03:11), the Leg Lamp Spot, Jean Shepherd Original Radio Reading, the theatrical trailer and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

    The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed on film using the Panaflex camera system and sourced from an outstanding new 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is perfectly natural throughout with a vividly saturated color palette that elicits a filmic 1940s setting with excellent depth. Flesh tones are natural throughout. Holiday lights, the colorful classroom setting, Santa's North Pole display at the department store and wrapped Christmas gifts exhibit warm and rich colorful hues. HDR contrast is excellent with bright white levels, deep black levels and revealing shadow delineation. This is a wonderfully colorful natural picture that is engaging throughout. The new 4K mastering delivers a new reference standard for the Christmas classic. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 monaural soundtrack is clean throughout. Fidelity though is limited, and distortion is noticeable in the form of strident sound elements. This is a very enjoyable monaural soundtrack experience for this Christmas classic. (Gary Reber)

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