WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Home Alone
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 06 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O’Hara.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 1866-85
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $29.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 103
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1990
(LD Release Date): 08/91
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Chris Columbus
(Screenplay/Written By): John Hughes
(Story): NA
(Music): John Williams
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Sandy Veneziano
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Raja Gosnell
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mark Radcliffe, Duncan Henderson & Richard Vane
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): John Hughes

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.75:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Home Alone has become the most successful comedy in motion picture history. And Macaulay Culkin has become the most recognizable young boy star in America as a result.

LaserDisc Picture:
Home Alone has been matted to 1.75:1 while Home Alone 2 measured 1.78:1. Of the two digital transfers, Home Alone is the bettering looking presentation. The picture is very bright but sharp and generally artifact-free. It has excellent contrast and vivid colors but is marred by orange tinted scenes throughout which makes for unnatural fleshtones. Home Alone 2 has a similar bright appearance but is seriously marred by a very reddish cast, exaggerated color and unnatural fleshtones. Traces of video noise detract as well.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Both editions have wonderful John Williams music scores that extend spaciously into the surrounds. Most of the time, however dialog scenes sound mono, except for an occasional surround effect and the wrap-around music effects.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: