Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1737 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-10-13
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A perfect marriage of novel but incisive writing, acting and direction, Big is the story of a 12-year-old boy who wishes he were older, and wakes up one morning as a30-year-old man (Tom Hanks). The script by Gary Ross(Dave) and Anne Spielberg finds some unexpected ways of attacking obvious issues of sex, work, and childhood friendships, and in all of these things the accent is on classy humour and great sensitivity. Hanks is remarkable in the lead, at times hilarious (reacting to caviar just as a 12-year-old would) and at others deeply tender. Penny Marshall became a first-rate filmmaker with this 1988 work. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.co.uk Review
A perfect marriage of quirky but incisive writing, acting and direction, Big is the story of a 12-year-old boy who wishes he were older, and wakes up one morning as a 30-year-old man (Tom Hanks). The script by Gary Ross (Dave) and Anne Spielberg finds some unexpected ways of attacking obvious issues of sex, work and childhood friendships, and in all of these things the accent is on classy humour and great sensitivity. Hanks is remarkable in the lead, at times hilarious (reacting to caviar just as a 12-year-old would) and at others deeply tender. Penny Marshall became a first-rate filmmaker with this 1988 work.--Tom Keogh, Amazon.com--This text refers to the VHS tape edition.

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 English
Dolby Digital 2.0
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Original Theatrical Trailer
Czech\Danish\Finnish\Hebrew\Hungarian\Icelandic\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Swedish

Customer Reviews

Big
The idea of the child in an adult's body (or adult in a child's body even) has been done in films before this, in films after this and will probably be done again in the future.

Whether "Big" is the best of the bunch is a pretty subjective matter but in my humble opinion it simply has to be.

Tom Hanks is simply wonderful as the 13 year old Josh Baskin and was quite worthy of his Oscar nomination. He brings an innocence to the role that is absolutely perfect, he never goes childishly silly and he never acts like a young boy pretending to be grown up, he simply acts like a 12 year old and the performance is incredibly realistic.

I think this is where this film scores over some of the other of this ilk, in that it concentrates on the golden times of childhood and doesn't become just a situation comedy. It reminds you of how wonderful it was to be 12, when the summer days seemed endless. It reminds you of how central your family was when you were young and how "best friends" really were the best.

Apart from Hanks there isn't really much room for anyone else. Robert Loggia as the kindly toy company boss is good value and Elizabeth Perkins as Hank's love interest performs with sensitivity. Special mention though for two fantastic child performers in both David Moscow as the young Josh but especially to Jared Rushton as Josh's best friend Billy.

It is sentimental, make no mistake about that, but I don't think it can be accused of being sloppy and I'm sure it will delight watchers both young and old.

Perfect Date Movie
"Big" is funny. Tom Hanks in "Big" is as funny as in Forrest Gump, as touching as "Sleepless in Seattle," and as goofy as "Tuner and Hooch." You see the beginnings of the star of "Castaway," "Apollo 13," and "Catch Me If You Can." Hanks took on a solid movie and made it a great one.

The story is simple, based on classic plotlines that extend back through fairy tales. Josh, the boy, is bummed his life is dictated by his small size and young age. He is unexpectedly granted his wish to be 'big', which means 30 years old. He then faces the adventures of being a grown-up.

Scenes from this movie are famous, including the FAO Schwarz toy store dance on the keyboard floor mat. It has everything a vaudeville skit would have, from music to dance to the mix of an old and young man. It works incredibly well. Chopsticks has never been as entertaining.

Josh becomes by serendipity the VP of toy development. Despite his immaturity, the owner feels Josh is tuned into the pulse of youth, unlike the lackeys cranking out marketing reports. His colleagues become jealous of his fast rise and unsuccessfully try to root him out. One of those trying to learn his game is Susan, but he wins her over in a confusing escapade of love.

The movie is an overall pile of fun, but lacks in a few areas. It is dated, very stuck in the 1980s. That is tolerable. Had Josh been kidnapped, why wasn't his boyhood friend interviewed by police? Why didn't Josh ever confide in Susan while they fell in love? A number of other unanswered questions develop at the end dealing with his job, his apartment, his bank account.

Even though I have questions, the movie is still a keeper. It is funny, makes strong statements about good parenting, and has a charm only Tom Hanks could bring. Good, clean fun... a perfect date movie.

Anthony Trendl

One Kids Wish Is Another Man's Curse
Tom Hanks plays the role of young boy Joel Baskin, a usual pre-teen who just wants to have fun and play with his mates. He sees an exciting arcade machine in the fair one day and decides to pop a quarter inside - he is asked to make a wish, he wants to be big.

He wakes up to find he's a grown man, of around 25-30 and has to grow up fast to deal with adulthood, and find a job to keep him fed, clothed and a roof over his head. He finds out that it's all not as easy as he'd like it to be, and he has the fortune of finding love - yet he has to learn about it too.

This is a great fantasy movie which I have loved for years. When we were kids we all wanted to be grown up so our parents would stop nagging us to clean up our bedrooms, and this is the consequence of doing so. I like the mythical aspect of it all, and the funny quirks you'd find normal as a kid, but just isn't acceptable as an adult. Tom Hanks is amazing in this, and just shows you what an actor he was before he got all serous on us. The supporting cast are great too.

This is a great movie for a young one between 9-13, but also very good for adults. I would suggest you get the Special Edition as it has all the extras and commentaries you might just enjoy more.

This is a classic tale, and well worth buying.