7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Eddie DeezenFamily | 100% |
Adventure | 76% |
Animation | 68% |
Fantasy | 60% |
Musical | 28% |
Holiday | 24% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1
Mandarin: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
All Dolby Digital Tracks are 640 kbps.
English SDH, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional)
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
If I were you I would think about climbing on board.
It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas. The joy, the spirit, the wonder,
the gathering of loved ones for the year's most anticipated day. It means a little something
different to everyone, but no doubt the day just feels a bit out of the ordinary. More
cheerful, more fulfilling, a little warmer, a bit cozier, and definitely more magical, Christmas is the
one day of the year where the world feels like it's barely moving by; the hustle and bustle of
those days leading up to it play out in stark contrast to the serenity and easygoing spirit that
shines like a beacon of hope once a year on December 25th. Robert Zemeckis' The Polar
Express, based on Chris Van Allsburg's book of the same name, is but one of many
Christmas-themed movies, but it surpasses most of its fellow holiday films not only because of a
unique style of filmmaking or the action and
adventure that plays such a prominent role in the film, but because of the film's emphasis on
discovery. Not only does the film feature a physical discovery of sorts as the children board a
magical train dubbed "The
Polar Express" that takes them to
the North Pole to meet with Santa Claus and his elves, but along the way they discover some of
the true meanings of Christmas, too:
the discoveries of self, of the heart, of the soul, of friendship, of belief.
Believe.
The Polar Express 3D chugs its way onto Blu-ray with a decidedly average 1080p Blu-ray 3D transfer. Technically, the image is generally
proficient but far from consistently perfect; occasional banding is readily visible, and the transfer does sink deep into a fairly constant puddle of murky,
overwhelming blacks that
tend to devour all but the most well-lit and closes-to-the-virtual-camera objects. The film's opening sequence in particular that sees "Hero Boy"
peering out of his bedroom door's keyhole, gazing out the window, or pretending to be asleep when his parents enter the room are all victims of overly
thick
blacks. Detail, too, is only a little better than average; this is certainly no Shrek Forever After in terms of raw detailing on character faces and
clothes, which often appear rather smooth and indistinct. The animation is fine, but it simply doesn't allow for the kind of detail Blu-ray fans might
expect. Colors are steady and seemingly accurate; even the picture's brighter hues seem reserved, but the transfer handles them well. Much of the
film seems made of darker blues and blacks, with brighter colors gravitating towards slightly dull but glowing oranges and yellows; these shades look
quite good,
and it's in the coloring where the Blu-ray 3D really seems to take several steps ahead of the previously-released anaglyph 3D presentation of the film.
The 3D elements might best be described as "serviceable." There's nothing at all special or unique here; The Polar Express 3D gives off a "so
what?" sort of vibe, one that certainly looks good and stable at-a-glance but never really captures the imagination or excites the senses in quite the
same way as the best of the currently-limited Blu-ray 3D releases. Depth is decidedly average, and nowhere near as good as A Christmas Carol. The transfer is at its best when looking at the train
extending far back into the screen or inside the main car where the children await their arrival at the North Pole; both of these, in certain shots, allow
the frame to seem to extend well back beyond the limits of the television, but for as many "average" 3D shots as there are and even considering a
few "wow" moments -- such as when the iron, triangular-shaped bumper of the train seems to crash into the living room as the locomotive screeches
to a halt to avoid hitting a herd of Caribou -- there are an equal number that don't do much of anything to excite the senses. A few shots look a bit
softer than they do on the 2D version as well, particularly the first appearance of the "Know-it-all" child on the train. The transfer also exhibits a fair
bit of "ghosting" when viewed on Panasonic's first-gen hardware, occasionally to the level of distraction. Fans of The Polar Express will
definitely want to upgrade from the anaglyph 3D version for the vastly superior colors and steadier 3D effect, but casual Blu-ray 3D fans may want to,
unfortunately, allow this disc to slide further on down the wish list. Please note that all screenshots in this review have been taken from the 2D
presentation found on this Blu-ray 3D release.
The Polar Express 3D powers onto Blu-ray with an impressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack; this is the third different primary soundtrack the film has received across its three Blu-ray releases, graduating from the Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation accompanying the film's inaugural 2D-only release and supplanting the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless mix found on the aforementioned anaglyph 3D disc. Warner's latest DTS offering is quite good in every category, but not groundbreaking or all that memorable, either. The track handles some of the lighter supportive elements very well. The jingling of sleigh bells heard off in the distance at the beginning of the movie and foreshadowing what will become a symbol for one's belief in Christmas later in the film is expertly handled; the sense of distance is impressive, and the clarity of the bells seems second-to-none. Soon thereafter, the Polar Express rumbles into the soundstage with a prodigious level of realistic bass, accompanied by the high-pitched and very well-realized screaming of the whistle. Additionally, the soundstage is wonderfully wide and spacious, noted in several scenes and particularly as doors fling open to either side of the listening area. Atop the speeding train in several scenes, listeners will faintly hear the sounds of a chilly wind and the rattling of the train as it powers along the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, neither sensation is seamless, as both fai to completely immerse the listener with a heftier surround support that might have made the scene into a classic audio demonstration segment. As it is, it's a serviceable disappointment of sound. Nevertheless, the track features nicely-spaced and crisply-delivered music -- notably heard during the full rendition of The Polar Express theme song heard in chapter 12. With excellent dialogue reproduction, The Polar Express 3D delivers a strong, but not quite complete and top-tier, sonic experience.
The Polar Express 3D ports over an almost identical supplemental package from its anaglyph 3D predecessor; all that's changed is the
exclusion of the preview for the THQ video game. Things begin with You Look Familiar (480p,
4:11), a feature offering viewers a glimpse into how
performance
capture technology was utilized in the making of the film. Also showcased are Tom Hanks' many
roles
in
the movie. A Genuine Ticket Ride (480p, 13:32) is an entertaining five-part making-of
feature, hosted by two
of
the children audiences meet on the train, including "Know-It-All." After a 2 minute introduction,
viewers are led on
an all-too-brief
journey through the process of making the film. Performance
Capture,
Virtual Camera, Hair and Wardrobe, Creating the North Pole, and
Music represent the five aspects of the filmmaking process that are covered in this
supplement. True Inspirations: An Author's Adventure (480p, 5:28) is a discussion with
The Polar
Express author Chris Van Allsburg. He recounts his upbringing, background as an artist, and
the origins of his stories, including, obviously, The Polar Express.
Behind the Scenes of 'Believe' (480p, 4:24) takes viewers into the recording studio and
offers a brief history of the development into this song, including a chat with singer Josh Groban.
Flurry of Effects (480p, 8:48) is yet another five-part feature that provides a fascinating
real-time comparison showing both the motion-capture acting simultaneously with the final
version of the film. Scenes featured include All Aboard, Hot Chocolate, Hobo
on Top of the Train, I Believe, and Goodbye. Smokey and Steamer
(480p, 7:04), a deleted song from the final film, is presented in its
early "Michelin Man" phase of development. It was performed by Michael Jeter who passed away
during filming. Josh Groban at the Greek (480p, 4:33) is a live performance by Groban
of the song Believe. Meet the Snow Angels (480p, 2:44) is a brief series of
interviews
with the cast and crew as they describe their fondest memories of Christmas, as well as their
thoughts on
the meaning of the holiday. A 480p theatrical trailer for The Polar Express is the final supplement in this collection.
The Polar Express has quickly endeared itself to the Christmas movie public and currently ranks among the finest Christmas movies of them all, coming up just short of the genre's pinnacle where films like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life reside. Not only a visual tour-de-force that employs some of the latest and most exciting breakthroughs in moviemaking technology, The Polar Express is also a wonderful Family film that captures the wonder and mystery of Christmas from a child's perspective. Featuring action, adventure, heartfelt drama and emotion, dancing waiters, and a strong message about the importance of finding that inner gift that is more precious than anything that might appear underneath the Christmas tree, The Polar Express is a definite winner and a film suitable for every member of the family. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray 3D presentation of The Polar Express doesn't quite deliver an upper-tier 3D transfer, but it's certainly good enough to warrant a purchase if collectors don't already own the film on one of the previously-released Blu-ray editions. The lossless soundtrack is of a good-but-not-great quality, and the supplements are practically identical to what was included in the last release. Recommended to first-time owners, but only when the price settles down into the $15-$20 range.
2004
The Polar Express: Presented in 3-D
2004
2004
2004
Promotional Copy
2004
2004
Exclusive Lenticular + Postcards
2004
Fold-Out Slipcover
2004
Christmas Lights
2004
Ugly Sweater packaging
2004
2004
Iconic Moments
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
Presented in 3D
2004
2004
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2016
2008
2012
The Signature Collection
1940
2009
Anniversary Edition | The Signature Collection
1953
80th Anniversary Edition
1939
Peter Pan 2 | Special Edition
2002
2012
Special Edition
1996
2014
2021
2010
50th Anniversary Edition | DVD Packaging
1963
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2013
25th Anniversary Edition | The Signature Collection
1991
2020
70th Anniversary Special Edition
1941
60th Anniversary Edition
1951