5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
It's Christmas time once again and Scott Calvin juggles a full house of family and the mischievous Jack Frost, who is trying to take over the big guy's holiday. At the risk of giving away the secret location of the North Pole, Scott invites his in-laws to share in the holiday festivities, and upcoming birth of baby Claus with expectant wife, Carol. Along for the adventure are Scott's extended family, son Charlie, ex-wife Laura Miller, her husband, Neil Miller and their daughter, Lucy who, together with head elf Curtis, foil Jack Frost's crafty scheme to control the North Pole.
Starring: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy CrewsonFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 78% |
Fantasy | 47% |
Holiday | 32% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I hope you’re not delivering when I’m delivering.
I'm not quite sure who the target audience is for the Tim Allen Christmas sequel Santa Clause
3: The Escape Clause. Adults certainly won't find much holiday cheer in this film, and
younger children will most likely not get the complexities of the broken families angle, nor will they
likely be entertained by (or even really understand) Jack Frost's scheme to become Santa Claus and
cash in on the North Pole and popularity of Christmas. Teenagers, obviously, will not want to be
caught dead watching this in theaters or picking up the Blu-ray. I'm guessing the "G" rating is
trying to lure in parents who will drag their children to anything the MPAA says will be appropriate
for them, and I'm also guessing most adults will be asleep as the credits roll and the kids will be
jumping for joy that it's over and time to get a Happy Meal.
If you think this movie stinks, raise your hand.
Santa Cluse 3: The Escape Clause, presented in it's original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and in 1080p high definition, is the epitome of what a modern high definition image should look like. The movie was filmed with no artsy look to it. It's a straightforward presentation and the source material is pristine. There is no edge enhancement to speak of, no noise, and no grain. This image is sharp, clear, offers up perfect blacks, is high in detail, and features bright, vivid, and eye-popping colors. The whole movie is filled with every possible color imaginable, and each and every one of them look perfectly natural. It's as if you're standing in the North Pole the entire time. This image is beautiful to behold.
Featuring an uncompressed 5.1 audio track along with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track, Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause sounds just as good as it looks. This soundtrack features exceptional separation of the channels. Directionality is wonderful and surrounds are active with the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the North Pole at Christmas. Every speaker is seemingly it's own little world of Christmas sound. Music fills your room with Christmas bliss. Dialogue is clean, natural, and distortion-free. Bass is present but never overbearing. This is one of the finest audio presentations to date, bar none.
The featured supplement is a commentary track featuring director Michael Lembeck. To say he's
enthusiastic about his movie and this commentary track would be a vast understatement. He
jumps right in to the nitty gritty of the filmmaking process and he never lets up until the end of
the movie forces him to do so. Next is a rather worthless feature: Deck the Halls: Virtual
Holiday
Decorator. This feature allows you to decorate a generic living room complete with a
designer Christmas tree, stockings, wreaths, and a Christmas jukebox. It's fun for about thirty
seconds and it gets really old, really fast. Perhaps a six year old would find enjoyment from this
feature, but the adults will want to pass on this one.
Jack Frost and Mrs. Claus: A Very Different Look (1080i, 4:02) is a look at the wardrobe
and appearance changes these two characters underwent during filming. The New
Comedians: On the Set With Tim and Marty (1080i, 2:59) is a brief look at the chemistry
between these top comedians on the set. Creating Movie Magic (1080i, 4:03) discusses
the creation of some of the numerous visual effects in Santa Clause 3. Christmas
Carol-oke (1080i, 6:24) features seven Christmas carols, presented karaoke-style, while
showing
scenes from the Santa Clause trilogy. Songs include Jingle Bells and Silent
Night, among others.
Other features include a blooper reel (1080i, 2:58), an alternate opening scene (1080i, 3:34)
that is best left as the alternate, Greatest Time of Year: Music Video
With Aly & AJ (480p, 3:17), and a movie showcase (several scenes that best demonstrate
the top-notch audio and video quality of this release). Finally, a Tour of Elfsburg is a look
around the main menu, a CGI version of the village of Elfsburg from the movie.
Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause simply didn't peak my interest as I hoped it would. Others may feel differently, and it's certainly not a horrible movie, but there are many, many more Christmas movies out there that surpass this one in just about every way imaginable. However, none of them look and sound as good as Santa Clause 3 does on Blu-ray. This is simply the best looking and sounding Christmas movie ever to make its way onto home video. The supplements are alright but they are nothing you can't live without. This disc is worth a rental if only to see just how great it looks and sounds on Blu-ray.
2006
2006
2006
2002
Anniversary Edition
1994
Grinchmas Edition
2000
2008
2006
2007
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
2010
1996
2003
Deluxe Edition
1969
50th Anniversary Edition
1964
2007
2003
1993
2014
2020
2006
1992
1991
Lenticular Faceplate
2012