Home Alone Blu-ray offers solid video and great audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) has become the man of the house,
overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on Christmas vacation, Kevin
gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he’s not decking the halls with tinsel and
holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin’s rigging a bewildering battery
of booby traps to welcome them!
Home Alone is a Christmas movie in something of a more superficial sense of the term,
the
film set during that most wonderful time of the year but playing as a comedy with
action and adventure elements rather than as a straight Holiday film. Nevertheless, this family
favorite is often mentioned in the same breath as several of the definitive Holiday greats,
including
It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Story.
Home Alone certainly differs from those films with its more contemporary setting
and arguably broader appeal, though Bob Clark's 1983 classic may have something
to say about
the latter. Some 18 years after the film's initial release, little of the appeal has been lost to time.
Some elements of the film don't hold up particularly well, but its core remains strong and
entertaining, and the film's relatively small yet crucial thematic undertones on the importance of
family,
the bonds of love, and the spirit of the season shine through still today, even in the shadow of
the
still-entertaining final act for which the film is most well-known.
Macaulay Culkin gets a head start on obtaining the right look to play in the remake of 'Eraserhead.'
The McCallister household is in full holiday mode, the home serving as a base of operations for the
extended family's Christmas trip to France to visit additional relatives. Young Kevin (Macaulay
Culkin, Uncle Buck) bears the brunt of the visit, seeming to get into everyone's way,
serving as the outlet for the family's frustrations, and is an easy target for the older kids. When
he is blamed for a dinner disaster, Kevin is sent to the attic for the night with an empty tummy.
The
following morning, he is forgotten, a head count accidentally replacing Kevin with an unrelated
neighbor child of approximately the same age, and by the time Kevin awakens in the attic, the
family is well on its way to France. With the run of the house and pleased that his wish to make
his family disappear seems to have come true, Kevin spends his days watching rubbish on
television, having more than his fill of junk food, and digging through his older brother's personal
belongings. When a pair of bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Casino, and Daniel
Stern, Otis) target the
McCallister house, Kevin, as the man of the house, sets out to defend his property with an
astonishing level of ingenuity and effectiveness.
While Home Alone does not feature a plot that is specifically driven by the Christmas
season, there is no denying that the Holiday, and particularly its spirit and meaning, plays a
crucial
role in the tone of the picture and serves as the heart of the film from an emotional perspective.
Certainly, the hustle and bustle of the season is the driving force behind the plot, and scattered
amidst the
gags and antics are a few touching scenes that reflect on the true meaning of the season,
particularly the importance of family. Kevin learns through his time alone and his confrontation
with the criminals that it's not necessarily the daily routine that makes family life good or bad, or
tolerable or enjoyable, but it is rather the spirit, the bond, the far-too-often unspoken
understanding that the strength, the togetherness, the friendship, the support, and the
love are universally understood and ever-present every day, every night, or
even after years of separation and sorrow. Indeed, the film's best -- and most important -- scene
features Kevin discussing his situation with an elderly, misunderstood neighbor inside the local
church as two generations reflect on what they once had, and lost, and hope to once again
regain. The scene solidifies the theme of the film and serves as an emotional bridge that sets up
viewers for the film's climactic third act as Kevin battles the crooks.
Most viewers sit down to take in Home Alone year after year not for the film's emotional
content but rather for the many antics and laughs found throughout the movie, and most are as
fresh as the day they were filmed. Obviously, the film's payoff and biggest laughs stem from the
climactic sequence featuring young Kevin battling the robbers with any and all means at his
disposal, and this final act serves as the core of the film and what makes it so memorable. Still,
there are plenty of laughs that are just as worthy as anything offered by the final act during the
middle portion of the film. Kevin's introduction to and use of one of the scenes from Angels
With Filthy Souls, for example, provides two of the best moments in the film. Kevin
effectively uses the scene to toy with a pizza delivery boy and subsequently utilizes it, in
conjunction with some of his older brother's firecrackers, in hopes of scaring off his adversaries.
Still other gags don't hold up quite as well; several of the film's more well-known scenes come
and go with more of a groan than a laugh, particularly that featuring Kevin applying aftershave.
If Home Alone contains any glaring weaknesses, they come in those scenes featuring
Kevin's extended family. The opening act in particular borders on unwatchable, and some repeat
viewers may see the many flaws in the sequences, particularly in the dialogue and acting. Both
feel unnatural, choppy and forced, and these segments of the film never seems to mesh, coming
off as poorly scripted and questionably acted rather than playing with a more natural flow. There
is never a sense of reality to these scenes; rather, the film seems to try too hard to recreate a
chaotic household on the eve of what is surely a daunting family task. Granted, the movie is
meant to play as fantasy rather than reality, but there is a discernible disconnect between the
two here. This segment just doesn't jive with the rest of the picture, though it is necessary in
setting up the film's
primary conflict and emotional undertones. Home Alone definitely picks up considerably
in the second half, not only because of the antics in the midsection and the comedic action at
film's end, but also because of the more touching moments alluded to earlier.
Home Alone comes home on Blu-ray in a rather nice looking 1080p, 1.85:1-framed
transfer. Colors are bold but the image takes on a hazy appearance in many shots. Detail is
generally high; all the intricacies of the house look better than ever. A few close-up shots of more
mundane objects like a tile floor and a back door reveal all varieties of scuffs and dirt, making the
home looked "lived in" and the image rather realistic in such scenes. The wallpaper, the odds and
ends in the basement, and the junk scattered throughout the attic all look sharp and generally
true to life. However, detail on close-ups of actors is virtually nonexistent, as most look caked in
heavy
makeup and terribly smooth. Various outdoor scenes, particularly those taking place during the day,
fare much better, looking less like there is a film over the image and more natural in appearance.
There is little in the way of noise over the image. Blacks seem to veer towards a dark purple in
some shots, and flesh tones appear accurate, despite the rather smooth nature of faces as noted
above. All in all, Home Alone has never looked better, and while this transfer doesn't reside
in the same class as the best of the Blu best, it represents a rather nice visual upgrade that
longtime fans will appreciate.
Home Alone hangs out on Blu-ray with a high quality, and surprisingly active, DTS-HD
MA 5.1
lossless soundtrack. Many might expect this soundtrack to be front heavy with little in the way
of
subwoofer or back channel support, but quite the opposite is the case. There is a nice power and
vitality to the soundtrack, particularly during the more robust parts of the score, for example the
scene featuring the family scrambling to get ready on the morning of the trip in chapter six. Bass
makes its presence known more than once. Several sounds sweep into the surrounds to
excellent
effect. Most sound natural, a few sound a bit forced into the track. The mix can be almost
obnoxiously loud in a few spots that might have viewers fiddling with the remote during some of
the
film's key moments. The Angels with Filthy Souls scenes sound far better than the old
VHS tape
looks in the movie, and it is a bit disconcerting looking at the old, ragged image while the audio
fills
up the soundstage with power and precision, particularly in accompaniment of the gunshots.
Nevertheless, Home Alone features a very surprisingly robust soundtrack that will leave
fans satisfied with the experience and the Blu-ray purchase.
Home Alone keeps viewers busy at home with a plethora of bonus features. A
commentary
track featuring director Chris Columbus and actor Macaulay Culkin is first. This easygoing track
features the two reminiscing on the experience, featuring discussions on the shoot, the look and
feel of the film, the thoughts and reactions of the various cast members to Culkin's stardom, and
plenty more. There is nary a dull moment in the track; the two participants are extremely affable
and enjoy the experience of sharing their thoughts on the film. 1990 Press Featurette
(480p, 3:52) is a brief piece that features plenty of clips from the film and showcases cast and
crew
sharing their thoughts on what the film is about. The Making of 'Home Alone' (480p,
19:25) is an extended piece that again features cast and a broad range of crew members sharing
their experiences working on the film. Mac Cam: Behind the Scenes with Macaulay
Culkin
(480p, 4:46) features the actor reminiscing on his experience of shooting behind-the-scenes
material.
Moving along, viewers will find How to Burglar-Proof Your Home: The Stunts of 'Home
Alone' (480p, 7:04). This piece begins with a montage of most of the hard-hitting stunts of
the film and continues with a look at the making of the scenes. 'Home Alone' Around the
World (480p, 3:53) takes a brief look at several scenes dubbed in various languages.
Where's Buzz Now? (480p, 3:03) features cast and crew trying to figure out where the
character Buzz might be today. Angels With Filthy Souls (480p, 2:06) takes a brief look
at this "movie within a movie" and features the footage full-screen, though it appears to be a
different take of that used in the film. Next up are a series of deleted scenes and alternate takes
(480p, 15:04), followed by a blooper reel (480p, 2:04). Concluding this supplemental package is
a 1080p trailer for The Simpsons Movie.
Home Alone is an enjoyable family comedy that generally remains strong, though various
segments of the film, particularly any scene featuring Kevin's family, don't hold up quite as well.
Still, the movie enjoys continued prominence as a Holiday tradition with a well-integrated message
on the importance of family. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release of Home Alone leaves
nothing to be desired, except, perhaps, its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, on the
high definition format. Featuring a solid video transfer, a far better than anticipated lossless
soundtrack, and no shortage of bonus materials, fans will want to gobble this disc up, and it will
make for a great stocking stuffer and film to watch after all the Christmas presents have been
opened. Recommended.
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