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(More customer reviews)This weekend I was happy to receive from Amazon the 2 for 1 Ernest BluRay of Ernest Goes to Camp and Ernest Goes to Jail. For anyone who has ever been an Ernest fan, this is definitely a MUST OWN.
The people of Mill Creek Entertainment (the company that now owns the rights to the Ernest Franchise with the exception of Ernest Saves Christmas, still owned by Disney) have done a stellar remastering of the films. Ernest Goes to Camp is presented as it was when it came out on DVD in its original scop widescreen presentation of 2.35:1 but on BluRay, the colors and sound have been given a complete overhaul. It truly is like watching a film released in theaters only yesterday. You have the option of viewing the film with either Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, and newly created Dolby True HD sound. The music is crystal clear (I LOVE the composition Brave Hearts performed by Gary Chapman), the picture is incredibly vibrant (the opening shot of the moon is truly beautiful and shots at the camp are bright enough to make it feel like it really is Summer), and while there may be no extras included, the fact that the company took the time to go through each frame and remaster is for the ultimate home viewing experience is an amazing honor for one of the most recognizable characters of the 80s. Jim Varney (may he Rest in Peace) would be pleased.
Moving on to Ernest Goes To Jail, the newest treat for fans of this one (it's my personal favorite in the Ernest franchise and I was lucky enough to see it in the theater back in 1990 when I was 6 years old!) is that for the first time, it is presented in its WIDESCREEN presentation of 1.85:1. Definitely a big reason for me to smile when I watched it! The picture is also presented in 16:9 format so it fits perfectly to widescreen TVs. Another great picture and sound presentation here right from its innovative opening sequence which relies heavily on a light blue background. It's a flawless presentation, really. The remastering process is at work again as the blue background is bright and alive. While many scenes take place on interior soundstages, there's still a wonderful presentation to enjoy. Many scenes that take place in the actual jail appear a bit darker, but are often illuminated by what looks like blacklights or floodlights using gels. The sound is once again reverberated in the ultimate way. Ernest Goes to Jail is in the basic sense of the word, louder than Ernest Goes to Camp. There are gunshots, doors slamming, electric crackles, and explosions. All more extreme with the Dolby True HD sound. Not that it's a bad thing! I was once again enjoying watching the film as it made me feel like I was right back in that theater when I first saw it in 1990! It really made me smile.
Alas, there are still no other bonuses for this film, and it would have been nice to see the famous deleted scenes integrated into Ernest Goes to Jail when it was shown on NBC in the Summer of 1994. I was fortunate enough to tape that presentation and I still have the VHS back home in a box somewhere!
The bottom line, this is easily one of the most inexpensive BluRay titles available right now that gives you 2 movies all on 1 disc and as I mentioned earlier, if you are an Ernest fan like me (I've seen them all and I even went so far as to purchase Hey Vern, It's Ernest! The Complete Series on DVD, track down the VHS tapes Ernest's Greatest Hits Vols. 1 & 2 on Ebay, the Ernest Book of Knawledge, and am currently working on creating an Unofficial Ernest Soundtrack), then you should definitely consider adding this to your collection. It is a stunning tribute to an amazing talented man and his love for goofiness.
RIP Jim Varney and long live the legacy of Ernest P. Worrell!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Ernest Double Feature: Ernest Goes to Camp & Ernest Goes to Jail (2011)
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