The Polar Express Presented in 3-D Blu-ray delivers great video and superb audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
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.
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 3-D experience of this Blu-ray disc) 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 discovery of self, of the heart, of the soul, of friendship, of belief.
All aboard for a ride toward Christmas magic!
Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express is the story of a boy who has lost his faith in
Christmas and belief in Santa Claus. He no longer visits the mall santa, does not make a
Christmas wish list, and the job of leaving cookies and milk for Santa is now his younger
sister's. On Christmas Eve, as he drifts off to sleep, he is awoken by a clatter outside his house.
Tired and confused, the boy discovers a train in front of his house and its conductor calling for all
to board. Convinced to embark on a wondrous journey aboard "The Polar Express," he meets
new friends and re-discovers the magic and wonder of Christmas through the greatest
gift of all -- the heart.
The Polar Express succeeds because it speaks to everyone. Never are the characters
artificial or one-dimensional; they represent a broad spectrum of individuals, the main characters
exhibiting strengths and weaknesses that help themselves -- and others -- through the night
and, hopefully, forever. One of the film's true
charms and perhaps overlooked decisions
is that it never assigns a name to any of the characters, save for Billy, and by doing that, it
facilitates
the act of placing the audience into the movie and seeing this world through the eyes of the
various
characters, each one offering a little something different, and each endearing themselves to the
audience.
Audiences will find a little something of their own hearts, souls, values, and beliefs in each
character as the children learn more
about themselves, about each other, and about the true spirit of Christmas and the gifts of
understanding, faith, and love along the way. Each character is best identified through the word
punched into
their
ticket at the end of the film. Words like "lead," "believe," "depend on," and "learn" are punched
into a fleeting magical ticket but also permanently inscribed onto each character's heart. The
words
represent a strength that a
character has either gained or developed through the course of the adventure, and each one is
something good that the audience can strive for or build upon in daily life. By leaving
the
characters nameless, they are best remembered based not on looks or name but rather by
their character traits. Through the course of the film, audiences come to respect them based on
actions, and this is reinforced by
identifying them solely based on their strengths as individuals. The Polar Express is a
heartfelt
film that reinforces the notion that it is alright to believe in something that stands for good, for
integrity,
and
for hope. In that regard, this film is a wonder to behold.
The Polar Express steams onto Blu-ray with a 1080p, 2.35:1 transfer, available both in a
standard 2-D transfer that is the same as that found on the previous release in
addition to the new 3-D presentation that is the highlight of this package. The 3-D imagery isn't
as interesting or deep as what was seen in Journey to the Center of the
Earth, but it's fairly impressive nevertheless. There aren't all that many "wow"
moments that make viewers jump back in their seats, but the movie does create a nice sense of
depth, with some scenes looking far more 3-dimensional than others. Even with the glasses on,
the effect leaves quite a bit of ghosting and random lines that don't really mesh into the image.
Colors are more subdued through the 3-D prism than they are in the 2-D presentation. The first
time the 3-D effect really springs to life (perhaps because it is the first truly well-lit scene in the
film) takes place the first time viewers see the interior of the Express. The sense of depth is
awe-inspiring, an excellent reproduction. A few scenes practically burst out of the television.
While
the 3-D effect begins to feel routine after a while, it should nevertheless be a big
enough hit with kids and adults alike. The 2-D transfer is also impressive. It looks a tad soft and
dark at times, but these issues are not necessarily a fault of the transfer. Every frame is a
perfect representation of the
original final digital print and the result is simply splendid. Scenes ranging from the mundane
(face-to-face dialogue) to the fast-paced action sequences (a roller coaster-esque train ride) are
presented in digital perfection.
Warner Brothers presents The Polar Express with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack
that offers a nice improvement over the previous edition that sported a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1
soundtrack. There is some truly fantastic bass here that is a clear cut above the previous
offering. As the
Polar Express pulls up to "Hero Boy's" house in chapter two, the soundstage practically becomes a
makeshift train depot, the rumbling tight and concise yet loud and powerful, the moment
startling
in its clarity and precision. Ambient presence throughout the soundtrack is excellent. The first
time "Hero Boy" speaks with the conductor, listeners hear various sound effects all
over the stage that are deep, maybe even a bit foreboding, but are excellently placed all over. As
the
train begins to depart, the moving parts squeal and squeak and churn to life as the train gains
steam and powers its way toward the North Pole in a sonically brilliant moment, subdued and
underscored by Alan
Silvestri's (Romancing the
Stone)
wonderful music. Dialogue reproduction also excels in this edition. The various high action
sequences, particularly a scene featuring the train derailing atop a sheet of ice
after a high speed roller-coaster like adventure, are particularly engaging, though not completely
engrossing. It's a blast to listen to and a nice accompaniment to the visuals. The soundtrack
generally remains focused up front with plenty of support from the rears, though there is never
much in the way of loud, discrete rear channel effects. It is still a thorough, complete experience,
and while the main attraction on this release of The Polar Express is the inclusion of 3-D
visuals, the audio upgrade is just as good and important to the overall experience.
Warner Brothers has ported over every supplement from the previous release of The
Polar Express, and no new supplements have been added. You Look Familiar (480p,
4:11) is first, this 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. Finally, a 480p theatrical trailer for The Polar Express and a
THQ Game Demo
(which is actually a commercial for the game and not a playable demo) finish off the
supplements.
The Polar Express has quickly endeared itself to the Christmas movie public and currently
ranks
among the finest Christmas movies of all time, including A Christmas Story
and
It's A
Wonderful Life. Not only a visual tour-de-force that employes 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 has upgraded this edition of The Polar Express with a fun but somewhat
disappointing 3-D
presentation (the film also retains the gorgeous 2-D presentation as well) and an engaging Dolby
TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. All of the supplements found in the
previous Blu-ray release are included for good measure. The Polar Express presented in
3-D comes highly
recommended!
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