FILM REVIEW: Home Alone

[diebitter]

15 years! 15 [censored] years! That's how long ago this was made. I just can't believe it!


Anyway....

Home Alone is a simple little tale... small boy gets left alone at Christmas in a great big house, realises burglars have targeted his house, and needs to act accordingly. And he's a very smart little guy, and boobytraps the place to make sure these guys regret it!

I love this film, it's about the sickest kid's film ever and manages to remain acceptable by playing on the sweet (and a little mawkish) side of Christmas spirit to counterbalance it's excessive and hilarious violence.

It moves along well, with some slow sentimental scenes that don't sit brilliantly, but aren't too jarring. Culkin is great, and is both charming and reasonably acceptable as a little boy who does very bad things to the bad guys.


Hell, why don't you just share your favourite bits? Mine? I love the stamping on the Christmas decorations in bare feet, but my very favourite is the spider on the face. Man, I can't stop laughing at that one!


Just like several other Christmas films (Wonderful life, Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation make the holy foursome in my book, with maybe the addition of Trading Places for the adults), no Christmas is truly complete without watching this, I say!

OVERALL: 3.5
REWATCHABILITY: Yearly, at Christmas!
All ages, but very small children might get upset in places when there's shouting. hitting etc.


RATINGS (out of 5):
0 - This is a complete waste of time, and you will regret wasting it
1 - don't bother unless no other options at all
2 - okay for a single watch, if you've got time
3 - Definite watch if you get a chance
4 - See it very soon, at least once before you die
5 - See it immediately, no excuses


Opinions/comments/arguments please, especially if you think I missed anything worth of discussion/expansion, or violently agree or disagree.

PM me any films you'd like reviewed

RECENT CHRISTMAS REVIEWS: Trading Places, It's a Wonderful life, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation - all in the OOT Film/DVD/TV archive (http://195.224.49.159/ootfilms.htm)

[jakethebake]

The part with the poor old neighbor guy and his granddaughter always makes me cry. /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[ThomB]

Great film

[toss]

Great movie when you're a kid. Still watchable as an adult. Probably good when you have an few hours to burn.

[surfinillini]

[ QUOTE ]
Still watchable as an adult

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this a John Hughes flick?

If so, he rocks...wierd science pwns.

[InchoateHand]

I thought this movie was incredibly sappy, irritating and lame 15 years ago. I can only shudder to think the revulsion I would experience now. It was a movie for half-wits, and thankfully Macaulay Culkin burned himself out quick so his incredibly obnoxious and ever-so-punchable face disappeared.

I have heard he has gone on to a succesful stage career, and more power to him.

How you like this trite, not remotely laughable (in the good way) filth is far beyond me.

[diebitter]

A hater! Cool!

Can I ask, do you like the Grinch (the cartoon i mean)? I think you do, deep down.

I bet I can guess your favourite Christmas film. Bad Santa, right?

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
his incredibly obnoxious and ever-so-punchable face disappeared.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually it just became more punchable.

http://lifesrichpageant.typepad.com/lifes_rich_pageant/images/partybig102403.jpg

[InchoateHand]

Never seen Bad Santa, no desire to either.

The Grinch is awesome, who doesn't like the Grinch?

[diebitter]

[ QUOTE ]
Never seen Bad Santa, no desire to either.

The Grinch is awesome, who doesn't like the Grinch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yah, dumb question. Can you tell me one of your favourite films?

Seriously, I'm interested. You identifying a character actor you like as 'the black guy' caught my attention, is all.

[InchoateHand]

Sorry to disappoint--like music, don't really have "favorites," far too mood dependent.

And my taste is far from refined. Perhaps, living in the UK, you were spared the six months of hands-to-the-face everywhere that invaded America in the wake of "Home Alone." Perhaps I unfairly connect that tiresome advertising with the actual movie--in any event, I haven't seen it since then.


My list would be pretty pedestrian anyway, with a bias towards films I saw recently.

[MaxPower]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought this movie was incredibly sappy, irritating and lame 15 years ago. I can only shudder to think the revulsion I would experience now. It was a movie for half-wits, and thankfully Macaulay Culkin burned himself out quick so his incredibly obnoxious and ever-so-punchable face disappeared.

I have heard he has gone on to a succesful stage career, and more power to him.

How you like this trite, not remotely laughable (in the good way) filth is far beyond me.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm with you. This movie blows.

I like this movie A LOT 15 years ago. so i guess I better never watch it again so it doesnt tarnish my memeory....

[jojobinks]

this film is pure garbage.

diebiter: a guess that i don't mean in an insulting way at all; you were 10 years old (or younger) 15 years ago, and still have those childhood feelings for home alone.

i don't know any adults who were adult when the movie came out and can stomach it.

[diebitter]

I was 25 when it came out, and saw some of it yesterday (admittedly only the bit from the stepping on christmas decorations to the spider on the face bit - cos my kids came got me, they know I love those bits). So there you go.

We watch it yearly in our house. And it makes me laugh like drains. I think maybe it is better watching with kids though, as they really laugh their heads off.

Atually jojo, you might have something, cos I don't think I saw it when it came out, I think it waited till it was on TV or something.