Alan Smithee

Searched for the answer to this and couldn't find it- Target has the in-name-only sequel "Home Alone 3" on DVD for 5 bucks and with a newer cover than the original release (one of Fox's first DVD titles, and at the low low price of $34.95). The way they print the specs on the back cover makes it impossible to tell if it's 16x9 "enhanced" (anamorphic) or not, the original DVD was letterboxed in a 4x3 frame which results in either a small picture in the middle of your widescreen TV or having to zoom it which further magnifies the crappy resolution. I don't know if it's ever been redone, but many of Fox's other early titles were.

I'm tempted to get it just for completeness sake since it seems there won't be a Blu-Ray, but only if it's 16x9. Does anyone know?

orangerunner

I have always found the specs on some 20th Century Fox DVDs rather frustrating.

For instance I have "Working Girl" which states "Widescreen Format (Aspect ratio 1.85:1)" which could mean 4X3 letterboxed but it is actually 16:9 anamorphic. Other titles use the word "anamorphic" which is more clear.

Other fox titles which are 4:3 letterboxed must have a "flag" embedded in them to automatically zoom when played on my SONY Blu-ray thus giving the impression it is a legitimate 16:9 anamorphic presentation when it is not. "The Abyss" works this way on my SONY player.

Noonan

Please don't

Alan Smithee

Nice threadcrap. I guess nobody knows. My old Sony Blu-Ray player which I gave to my crazy ex-girlfriend could read the auto-zoom flags, only player I've seen do that. Sort of wish my Oppo at least gave you the option for that. If the DVD is 4x3 letterbox though then I might as well just wait til I can find the laserdisc, or for some other company to license it on Blu-Ray. Don't care too much about the other sequels since they were direct to video, rented the last one via digital and it was truly awful.

Noonan

You have a multi-year thread about your hoarding and I'm thread crapping by suggesting you don't buy a worthless DVD of a garbage movie you'll never watch? Alrighty then. Enjoy your never to be watched, new dust collector.

story

What is "completeness sake"? I don't know what that means.

Bluelitespecial

I think having 1 & 2 is enough for being complete.

Alan Smithee

Having all the movies in a series (linked by the same name at least along with numbers, even when in the case of Home Alone 3 the characters are completely different) regardless of how crappy some of them are. It's what's kept me buying all the Halloween movies so far.

Obi-Wanma

If that's what you're concerned about, your collection isn't complete without parts 4 and 5 too.

story

I know that "completeness" means "having all." But what does "sake" mean here? I mean, sure, the dictionary definition is about a cause, a purpose, an end. But I don't know what that means to you. Having all as a cause to what? Having all as a purpose of what? Having all as an end for what? What does that mean?

WillieMLF

I didn't even know there was a 4 & 5. His parents should be in jail by the second movie....

Alan Smithee

Bumping this to finally provide the answer to the question: No.
The menu screens are 16x9, but the movie itself is 4x3 letterbox. The cover and disc labels have been redone, dated 2015, but the actual disc content is the same from 1998. The cast info which was common on DVDs then is severely outdated, with Alex D. Linz saying he hopes to be a big movie star and John Hughes still being alive.

$3.74 at Walmart right now, paid about the same amount for a box of Pop Tarts at the same time. Maybe I'll end up eating the DVD for breakfast. At least I didn't pay $34.99 for it- wonder how many people did initially?