European Vacation (1985) Reviewed

National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) . Review Archive: # | A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z | Viewer Ratings | Main WARNER BROS. MOVIE INFO Director: Amy Heckerling Cast: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill, Jason Lively Screenplay: John Hughes, Robert Klane Tagline: For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America! MPAA: Rated PG-13. DVD DETAILS Presentation: Widescreen 1.85:1/16x9 Audio: English Monoraul French Monoraul Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Closed-captioned Runtime: 94 min. Price: $19.98 Release Date: 4/2/2002 Bonus: • Audio Commentary With Actor Chevy Chase • Theatrical Trailer PURCHASE • DVD Search Products: EQUIPMENT Sony 36" WEGA KV-36FS12 Monitor; Sony DA333ES Processor/Receiver; Panasonic CV-50 DVD Player using component outputs; Michael Green Revolution Cinema 6i Speakers (all five); Sony SA-WM40 Subwoofer. RELATED REVIEWS National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) Reviewed by Colin Jacobson If you look at a short list of Chevy Chases hit films, youll indeed discover its a very short list. Itd include 1980s Caddyshack , 1983s National Lampoons Vacation , and 1985s Fletch . Interestingly, Chase went on to appear in sequels to all three of these. He was the only original castmember of Caddyshack to come back for its flop 1988 sequel, and he also returned for 1989s Fletch Lives . Neither of those franchises made it past a second iteration, though it appears that Kevin Smiths leading a third Fletch flick that wont star Chase. His most enduring chain is definitely Vacation , which has so far offered three sequels. None of these enjoyed the success or fan popularity of the original. First out of the hopper came 1985s National Lampoons European Vacation . European Vacation assumes you saw the original flick, as it provides very little exposition to establish the characters. At the very start of the film, we re-encounter the Griswald family from the first movie: father Clark (Chase), mother Ellen (Beverly DAngelo), and teen children Audrey (Dana Hill) and Rusty (Jason Lively). They appear on a TV game show called Pig in a Poke where they win the grand prize: an all-expenses-paid two-week trek across Europe. And theres your plot! Essentially, European features no real storyline; it just plops the Griswalds in Europe as an excuse to show them encounter various wacky scenarios. They begin in London and then move to Paris, Germany and Rome before they finally come home. The closest thing to a plot relates to Clarks continued obsessiveness; he wants to complete a happily family vacation no matter what the cost. However, European s Clark lacks the same drive and fervor found in the first film. Sure, he expresses his intent to get his own way and move forward despite many setbacks - and persistent disinterest from his family - but these elements felt lackluster and forced. In Vacation , Chase made Clark a man possessed, but this one did little more than pay lip service to that original attitude. That lackadaisical tone spread to the whole movie. For the most part, European seemed to exist just to be a sequel. The first film had some spark and originality, but European felt obvious and forced. Really, Clarks obsession influenced and united the original movie as he worked toward a nervous breakdown as various societal elements ruined his big family trip. In the sequel, Clark essentially becomes little more than the ugly American. Very few of the problems occur due to external forces; Clark causes most of them, as he seems more and more like a bumbling fool. Despite the lack of focus, European had some entertaining moments. The satirical view of British politeness could be mildly funny, and a case of mistaken identity in Germany also generates a few laughs. However, most of the humor really didnt go anywhere. The gags didnt seem overtly bad for the most part, but they just fell flat. Part of the problem related to the acting. As noted, Chase came across with little of the spark or energy he displayed in the first flick, and that left a big hole at the center. DAngelo was adequate but left without much to do, while the kids created substantial concerns. We found neither of the original actors; Anthony Michael Hall played Rusty the first time, while Dana Barron portrayed Audrey. (Apparently the filmmakers wanted to keep the kids the same age for all the Vacation flicks even as Clark and Ellen aged.) Lively appeared too goofy and grating, and I actively disliked Hill. Honestly, I never could stand her, and her presence remained emotive and fussy. With that dumpling face, she looked like a Cabbage Patch Kid come to life, and her acting followed suit, as she seemed broad and whiny. Frankly, European Vacation wasnt an unpleasant experience, but it appeared bland and unmemorable. The movie rambled through its 94 minutes with little spark or excitement, and some weak acting from the main cast didnt help matters. Ive seen many crummier films than European Vacation , but I still thought this one was lackluster and only sporadically entertaining. Casting note: as I watched European , I marveled at how good DAngelo looked for her age. As it happens, I didnt need to marvel; she was only 30 at the time! Surprisingly, Hill was less than a decade younger than DAngelo; only Chase - who was well into his forties in 1985 - actually could have sired the girl. The DVD Grades: Picture B / Audio B / Bonus C National Lampoons European Vacation appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, single-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The picture showed a few signs of age, but overall I thought it looked very good. Sharpness consistently appeared solid. One or two wider shots came across as a little soft, but they werent a major issue. The vast majority of the movie seemed crisp and well defined. Jagged edges and moir effects caused no issues, and I saw no signs of edge enhancement. In regard to print flaws, some mild grain caused to most noticeable problem, as it reared its head to a moderate degree during the first half of the film. Most of the second part seemed pretty clean, however, and other defects appeared fairly insubstantial. The film offered a few nicks and occasional speckles, but these didnt provide any significant concerns. Colors usually looked quite good. They seemed generally clear and accurate, with some vivid and bright tones as display. On a few occasions, they came across as a bit heavy, especially when we saw colored lighting, but as a whole, I thought the hues were solid. Black levels appeared reasonably deep and dense, while shadow detail appeared a bit muddy at times, but for the most part, the low-light sequences remained fairly clean. Overall, European Vacation demonstrated some modest issues, but I felt it offered a pleasing image as a whole. Also fairly good was the monaural soundtrack of European Vacation . Speech occasionally came across as somewhat thin and flat, but the lines lacked any edginess and they showed no problems related to intelligibility. Effects also seemed somewhat tinny, but they retained acceptable fidelity and clarity, and they demonstrated no issues related to distortion. Music sounded quite strong, as the songs and score were bright and rich. They featured surprisingly positive bass response and seemed pretty dynamic considering their age. I heard a little hiss and hum at times, but those concerns werent excessive. Overall, I found the track to seem very nice for its period and the restrictions of the monaural format. European Vacation doesnt provide many extras, but we do find one substantial one. In addition to the films theatrical trailer , we get an audio commentary from actor Chevy Chase. He offers a running, screen-specific track, but dont expect much. For the most part, Chase does little more than offer general comments about how much he liked the cast and he tells us when he thinks somethings funny. We learn a few modestly interesting comments, such as which pieces of wardrobe Chase still owns, and at one point he indicates that he previously thought European was a bad movie but this screening changed his mind. Chases commentary isnt a total loss, but it provides little concrete information and features sporadic remarks with many gaps. At least he actually criticizes the film a few times, as he tells us his opinion of how Rusty was depicted. Ive heard worse commentaries, but this was still a rather dull piece. I felt the same about National Lampoons European Vacation as a film. It had a few decent moments and remained watchable for the most part, but it seemed fairly bland and uninvolving as a whole. The DVD offered moderately flawed but generally solid picture and sound plus a fairly flat audio commentary. Fans of the Vacation series should be happy with this release, but those less forgiving will probably prefer to stick with the original film alone. Viewer Film Ratings: 3.7878 Stars Number of Votes: 33 20 1 3 3 6 View Averages for all rated titles.

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London Vacation - House London Vacation Property Owners Join us VRBO ® is Vacation Rentals by Owner ® Home Europe United Kingdom England Greater London London Edit Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #56201 Cosy 4 Bedroom House in Northwood Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe Accommodations: House - 4 Bedrooms - 2.5 Baths - (Sleeps 6) Exterior View - London, England Vacation Welcome to our cosy home at Knoll Crescent. Our charming 2000 square foot home is situated on a quaint street in Northwood and can accommodate up to six people. After a busy sight-seeing day in the city, Knoll Crescent is the perfect retreat to come home to. You are a short walk away from busy Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants, pubs and shopping amenities. The Underground station (Metropolitan Line) is a short walk away, providing quick and easy access to all other areas of London. Calling all golfers, you are within walking distance to the Haste Hill Golf Course. On the main floor of the house, you will find the comfortable living room complete with leather sofas, flat screen TV including Sky TV channels and VCR. Adjoining this room is the formal dining room which holds a large oval dining table with eight chairs - perfect for large group meals. The lower floor is rounded out by a powder room, a spacious kitchen (with dishwasher, toaster, kettle, refrigerator, pots and pans, dishware and cutlery), breakfast table, an adjoining laundry room (washer and dryer) and entry to the private backyard. On the upper floor, you will find the master bedroom with queen-size bed and en-suite (shower) bathroom, a second queen-size bedroom and two single bedrooms. The main bathroom on this floor is of generous-size and houses a bathtub with hand held shower fixture. Linens provided. Sorry but smoking and pets are not allowed. Terms and conditions: Booking procedure - please send your request for your specific dates by e-mail or phone. We require a $1000 damage deposit in Canadian dollars payable by certified cheque. Living & Dining Room - London, England Vacation Amenities: Phone, TV, Cable TV, VCR, Full Kitchen, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Cooking Utensils provided, Linens provided, Washer & Dryer, No Smoking Activities (on site or nearby): Golf, Restaurants, Shopping Rates (in Canadian Dollars): Personal Currency Assistant ™ Year Round .. $1200/week.Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. Master Bedroom - London, England Vacation Note: Each property is individually owned or managed. Dates available:  Year Round Phone: (604) 609-9651 Please say: "I saw your listing #56201 on VRBO" Home Europe United Kingdom England Greater London London Edit Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #56201 There have been 3079 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset on February 23, 2005 This listing was first published here on February 23, 2005. London Vacation Date last modified - December 16, 2005 VRBO® is Vacation Rentals by Owner® - The largest and most popular vacation rental site. Specializing in BY OWNER vacation rentals, homes, condos, cabins, villas and apartments ALSO privately owned properties offered thru rental agencies and management companies. To report any problems with this site contact webmaster@vrbo.com URL: http://www.vrbo.com/56201 ©1995-2005 by VRBO International LLC - all rights reserved

italy Travel for Kids

Travel for Kids: Italy fun things to do with kids in Italy "All over Italy, people were friendly, especially to kids. My kids loved it when waiters treated them like real people and tried out their English on them," writes a friend. Italy is also a great place to travel with another family, or bring the grandparents – Italians are happy to accommodate a big family group. Tip: Don't miss our top picks for children's books on Italy, recommended by the staff of Travel for Kids, see below. Rome North Venice The Dolomite Alps Emilia-Romagna – Bologna Liguria – Genoa Milan Central Tuscany Florence South Campania Naples Pompeii Gondola rides in Venice, medieval towers of Lucca, Pinocchio's home town, picnics on the Italian lakes, the bustling piazzas of Rome. Looking for a well-rounded itinerary that combines travel to Italy's popular cities, villages and coastal towns in one trip? Intrepid Travel is just the family tour company to be your guide, as you bike, cruise, hike, and ride the trains around Italy: Intrepid Travel (Promotion code: 1177) Do you have a baby or toddler in tow? Little ones are wide-eyed and ready for adventure, but help with travel logistics is a big plus. Ciao Bambino! will set up a custom itinerary for Italy, with little kids in mind: Ciao Bambino! Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci Jon Scieszka, Adam McCauley Hilarious adventures of the Time Warp Trio, Fred, Joe and Sam, as they are whirled back to Renaissance Italy to look for da Vinci. When they fall into the clutches of Lord Borgia and Nicolo Machiavelli, Leonardo and the trio da Brooklyn cook up an invention to save their skins. (Easy reader) The Diary of Melanie Martin Carol Weston Breezy, comical adventures of 10-year-old Melanie in Italy, "Or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo and the Leaning Tower of Pizza." Perfect to bring on your trip. (Chapter book) Stavaganza Trilogy: City of Masks City of Stars City of Flowers Mary Hoffman A dazzling historical fantasy, set in 16th century Italy. Each book is set in a different city that resembles Venice, Siena and Florence. Magical talismans transport teenagers from present day to the Renaissance, where they encounter deadly feuds, legendary horse races, masked duchesses, mystery and adventure. A fabulous series, so captivating, when you visit these cities, you'll feel like you're part of the story. (Chapter book) The Blood Stone Jamila Gavin In Venice, Filippo Veroneo's family owns a peerless diamond pendant, the Ocean of the Moon, a jewel created by his father. To escape the clutches of his greedy guardian, Filippo leaves Venice on a fishing boat, but he carries with him the precious diamond, a ransom for his father in far-off Hindustan. A shimmering adventure of 17th century Venice, crossroads of the world. (Chapter book) The Renaissance Tim Wood All about the Renaissance, which began in Italy – Italian city-states, painting and sculpture, architecture, music and poetry, alchemy and science, warfare and technology. "See-through" scenes of a Florentine town house and St. Peter's cathedral in Rome. (Picture book) Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance Treasure Chest Andrew Langley A treasure chest full of goodies – mini-bio of Leonardo, (the quintessential "Renaissance man"), plastic flying machine to build, Leonardo's sketchbook, paper model of Santa Maria del Fiore, slider of the Last Supper (before and after restoration). (Activity pack) Katie and the Mona Lisa James Mayhew Little Katie gets in the picture, when the Mona Lisa invites her to climb into Italian Renaissance paintings. But everything doesn't go quite right, and it takes an angel with a lute to soothe three angry Botticelli dancers and a roaring lion of Venice. Delightful illustrations and fun for little kids. (Picture book) Michelangelo Diane Stanley Life and times of a Renaissance genius – the mega-talented Michelangelo, painter of the Sistine Chapel, sculptor of the Pieta , and architect of St. Peter's in Rome. (Picture Book) The Renaissance Art Book Wenda O'Reilly When you visit museums or churches in Italy, you'll run into these guys – Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Fra Angelico and Botticelli. This is a fun, readable introduction to 30 different Renaissance paintings and sculpture, e.g. why is the baby Jesus holding a pomegranate (not a bumpy muffin) , each saint has a symbol etc. Good for younger kids. (Picture book) Daughter of Venice Donna Jo Napoli 16th century Venice. Donata breaks the rigid confines of her noble family to explore her beloved city. Sparkling story of a teenage girl who would rather wear smelly clothes of a fisherboy than silks and parasols, and glows with the light and colors of Venice. (Chapter book) Ancient Rome (Eyewitness Books) Simon James Essential guide to ancient Rome – history, the emperors (complete timeline), legionaries, senators and slaves, family life, gladiators and the arena, food and dinner parties, music and theater, gods and religion. Fabulous artifacts, detailed photographs, and a model of the Colosseum. (Picture book) Lift the Lid on Gladiators Philip Wilkinson High-quality gladiator action figure (comes with swords, shields, trident, net, helmet, arm and leg guards) and a drawer full of goodies – booklet on gladiators, map of the Roman Empire, cardboard model of the Colosseum, ancient Roman board game. (Activity pack) The Secrets of Vesuvius (Roman Mysteries 2) Caroline Lawrence 79 A.D. Fresh from solving the mystery of the watchdogs in The Thieves of Ostia , Flavia and her three friends are visiting her uncle near Pompeii. Admiral Pliny has given them a Latin riddle to solve, and they need to find a blacksmith called Vulcan, before Mt. Vesuvius pops its top. (Chapter book) This is a great series, with more adventures in The Pirates of Pompeii , The Assassins of Rome , and The Dolphins of Laussrentum , The Enemies of Jupiter and The Gladiators from Capua . Tiger, Tiger Lynne Reid Banks Twin tiger cubs, captured in their jungle home, are brought to Rome for the Colosseum games. One cub becomes a pet of the Emperor's daughter, the other cub is trained for the arena. Will it be thumbs up or thumbs down, when the tigers meet again? A captivating, exciting story of ancient Rome. (Chapter book) On Etruscan Time Tracy Barrett Twelve year old Hector wasn't keen on spending his summer on an Etruscan dig in Tuscany, but when he finds a mysterious stone eye, the dusty ruins around him become a thriving Etruscan village, more than 2,000 years ago. Can Hector protect an Etruscan boy from an evil plot, and keep the archeological dig going? (Chapter book) Italy Monuments Past and Present A.R. Staccioli If you're planning to visit Rome, Ostia, Hadrian's Villa, Pompeii, Herculaneum or Paestum, this is an essential guide to the ruins. With cool plastic overlays, you can see what the dusty ruins look like today, and what they looked like in Roman times. (Picture book) Strega Nona Tomie de Paola Strega Nona, a kindly "Grandma Witch," has a magic pasta pot. Big Anthony gets into trouble when he says, "Bubble, bubble pasta pot, boil me some pasta nice and hot." Fun for little ones. (Picture book) Pizza for the Queen Nancy Castaldo, Melisande Potter In Napoli, Raffaele has the best pizzeria, so famous the queen wants to taste his pizza. He shops for the finest ingredients – cheese, olive oil, sausage, little fish, and makes three different pizzas. The third pizza, with red tomato, green basil and white mozzarella, the colors of the Italian flag, is the queen's favorite, Pizza Margherita. A charming story, with delightful illustrations. (Picture book) Let's Learn Italian Coloring Book Anne-Françoise Hazzan Loads of fun pictures to color – from l'automobile to la casa (house), il gatto (cat), il pesce (fish), seasons of the year, days of the week, animals and food. (Coloring book) Ciao Bambino! Danna Troncatty Leahy, Gabhor Utomo Take a trip around Italy, just for toddlers. A grinning boy and his lovable bear splash in the water fountains, visit a farm, explore the ruins, and best of all, eat lots of pizza and gelato. Adorable watercolor illustrations. (Picture book) Italy Discovery Journal P.L.Byrne A wonderful way for kids to soak up Italian culture and put things in a journal – spot your favorite pasta shapes, pencil in favorite building colors, collect postcards of your favorite landmark, and many fun activities. (eBook) (More children's books on other Italy pages) travel for kids | italy Travel for Kids Your best choice for family travel 2000-2005 Globetracks, Inc. disclaimers and limitation of liability

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