7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Through a carnival wishing machine, a 12-year-old boy is transferred into the body of a 30-year-old man.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Jared RushtonComedy | 100% |
Family | 58% |
Romance | 39% |
Coming of age | 32% |
Imaginary | 16% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Original)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono
Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono
English SDH, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional)
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
I wish I were big.
It is the kid at heart inside everyone that represents the audience that will most appreciate Tom
Hanks' wonderful Big, the story of a boy instantly transformed into a man and his
struggles
with all of the responsibilities and emotions that mark that stage in life. Big tells the
story
of an individual seen through the eyes of others as a grown man but who watches the world go
by with
the understanding of a young boy. His wonder at the suddenly faster, more complicated world
around
him and his adolescent thought processes serve him well in every endeavor, the film stating that
it is
perception, not age; heart, not ability; and passion, not facts and figures; that drive success at
any task. A reminder to all who watch on the importance of remaining forever young not
necessarily in physical age but rather in heart, mind, and spirit, Big remains one of the
more charming pictures of the past several decades, its uncanny ability to comment on some of
life's most challenging problems from the perspective of a mind untarnished by the daily grind of
life as an adult makes for compelling drama, plenty of humor, and touching situations that all
come together to make Big a wonderful film for all ages.
When you wish upon a carnival booth...
Big matures to Blu-ray with a nice looking 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. The most noticeable trait the transfer has to offer is its above-average color reproduction; the film features a broad spectrum of colors and never do they disappoint. Whether Josh's red Dukes baseball jacket or the green dinosaur in his loft, each hue -- bold and bland alike -- are rendered nicely on this release. Detail, too, suffices throughout. In addition to a rather good sense of depth to the image, the transfer reproduces each small detail in every frame nicely. Whether the run-down interior of the shady St. James hotel or the plush furnishings seen throughout MacMillan Toys, objects are presented with a satisfactory texture and level of visible detail. The transfer also features a noticeable but not overbearing amount of film grain, but very bright backgrounds feature a bit of noise. Blacks are adequately rendered and flesh tones range from solid to a shade of pink in some instances. On the whole, however, Big looks just fine, the transfer not as crisp and lifelike as the best the format has to offer but plenty good for a 1980s comedy.
Big graduates to Blu-ray and features a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. This offering features plenty of room-filling activity from each speaker in the system, the entire soundstage filled with the dynamic sounds of the carnival early in the film, for instance. Neither terribly clear nor completely undefined, most every sequence features plenty of fascinating and distinct sounds spread all around the soundstage. Other sound effects -- screams and a gunshot outside Josh's sleazy New York hotel room, for example -- deliver a believable presence that, combined with Hank's great performance, makes for one of the best scenes in the film. Also impressive are a few scenes that offer a fairly deep, rumbling low; a ride on a roller coaster rattles and shakes the listening area to fine effect. The track also reveals more subdued sounds that seemed lost in the shuffle in previous home video versions, for instance chatter amongst background onlookers at FAO Schwarz as Josh and MacMillan play on the big keyboard. Supported by good dialogue reproduction, Big delivers a soundtrack that never disappoints in the context of the movie.
Big grows up on Blu-ray with several supplements, including two editions of the film, a
104-minute theatrical cut and a 130-minute extended cut. As to the bonus features, the
package is headlined by 'Big Brainstorming' -- An Audio Documentary by Gary Ross and Anne
Spielberg. Joined by Pete Ventrella, the piece begins as a standard commentary track but
quickly moves to a collection of audio recordings featuring the writers brainstorming the idea for
Big prior to writing the actual script. An interesting piece and a nice departure from the
usual onslaught of standard-fare commentary tracks, fans of the movie and any Blu-ray fan in
search of something different from their bonus materials should give this feature a listen. Also
included in this package is a collection of eight deleted scenes (480p, 15:03) with optional
introductions from Director Penny Marhsall on several.
'Big' Beginnings (480p, 16:29) is next, a piece once again featuring writers Gary Ross,
Anne Spielberg, and later, Producer James Brooks discussing the origins of the picture and how it
came together. Chemistry of a Classic (480p, 23:47) features cast and crew recalling
their experiences, discussing why Big remains a great movie today, and how the movie
came together with the combined talent of all involved elevating the film to nearly unparalleled
heights. The Work of Play (480p, 9:54) features a collection of people who actually play
with toys for a living discussing their jobs, which includes brainstorming ideas, testing products,
and manufacturing.
Hollywood Backstory: 'Big' (480p, 21:16) examines the story behind the movie, looking
at a broad range of topics, from the film's origins, the choice of director, the work of Tom Hanks,
the film's themes, its popularity, and much more. Next is Carnival Party Newswrap
(480p, 1:33), a brief look at the film's premier. Concluding the supplements are two theatrical
trailers (480p, 1:16 & 2:25) and two TV spots (480p, 0:32 each) for Big.
Much like Josh Baskin, Big may age in years but certainly not in spirit, the film as charismatic, thought-provoking, and touching today as it was the day it was released. A timeless tale of the meaninglessness of the passage of time and the importance of youthful exuberance, a gentle approach to life's most challenging problems and situations, and a healthy amount of fun along the way, Big represents cinema at its most magical. The film recalls the easier, more innocent years of childhood, but more importantly, conveys the message that the passage of time or the structure of the adult world need not blur or erase those child-like thought processes that can define the very essence of every individual that chooses to keep them at the forefront of their lives. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release of Big does the film justice. Featuring above-average technical presentations and a few bonus materials, both longtime fans of the film and newcomers alike should not hesitate to make Big a permanent addition to the Blu-ray collection. Highly recommended.
Collector's Edition
1989
2004
30th Anniversary
1989
1987
1988
2003
1994
2011
2011
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
1988
1989
2017
2011
2004
Movie Only Edition
2011
2006
2005
1998
25th Anniversary Edition
1993