What old is Scrooged again, and for anyone who has not seen this Bill Murray classic, I recommend picking this title up. Not only does the 4k release offer some bonus features nixed from the Blu-ray, but also, the remaster looks gorgeous! The texture of the black fabrics are better nuanced and the whites are crisp.
And as for deciding what elements should be made 4K, that’s a delicate balancing act. That’s because in 1988, broadcasting used some very low-fi technology (when compared to present day). In UHD, what’s presented is incredible. Instead of ‘remastering’ the broadcast quality of the television program within a show, those were kept low res. Some film grain persists outdoors to convey how Manhattan should look like, and as for the Dolby Vision transfer, it all looks great!
I always praise this film on all my holiday lists, and the reason is that this modern retelling really works. That’s because it deals with a lot more themes than I realised. One includes how does a kid cope with an abusive father? Another is what can enjoying classic television shows offer? Sitcoms offer up a sense of escaping the harsh realities of life, and other genres provide insights into the human condition. As for what the Ghost of Christmas Past represents because part of its design included television monitors, that’s a detail I won’t spoil, but is discussed in the great little featurette, “Bringing the Ghosts to Life.” More could’ve been said, but what got offered certainly got me thinking.
Also, celebrating the holiday doesn’t mean that one should become disconnected from what’s important. That’s what Frank went through, and as I compare his world to mine, this film has become a lot more meaningful. Although he was slowly working his way up the corporate ladder, whether it was worth missing out on being with friends versus sucking up to his boss becomes a lot more poignant after watching the commentary. Frank didn’t have to become a slave to his job. He may have feared being stuck where he’s at, and had to say yes sir to everything his boss asked of him.
Even after looking at Scrooged again after having worn my DVD copy out, there are a lot more details to appreciate. What’s included in the bonus section gets to details I didn’t consider on those previous watches, and as a result, there’s new food for thought. On this list includes:
- A Christmas To Remember
- Updating Ebenezer
- Bringing The Ghosts To Life
- The Look Of Scrooged
- On The Set With Bill Murray
- Showest Clips With Bill Murray
The latter two feature a pair of short clips where Murray works on refining the film segments, and they’re like deleted scenes.
Anyone who hasn’t seen this movie yet is encouraged to check it out. It’s a perfect update on the Charles Dickens classic. Also, I would put Scrooged in any top ten holiday or best performances of Bill Murray list, and that’s no tall order.
4 Stars out of 5
Scrooged Movie trailer
