The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
|
List Price: Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Great movie but horrible 3-D
Summary: 1 Stars
The first time that I ever saw The Polar Express it was in the IMAX 3-D format and we found it absolutely enthralling. I eagerly purchased the DVD when it was released, and we still loved it even though it was not in 3-D. When I learned that it was being re-released on DVD in a 3-D version I automatically ordered a copy even though I already owned it on DVD. I was very disappointed. The 3-D technology on the home version is not nearly as compelling as the process used in the theatrical version. I don't know all of the ins and outs of theatrical 3-D effects, but I remember it being far superior than what I just started to watch tonight. I saved the glasses from the IMAX 3-D presentation of this film, and both lenses are a light grey tint, while the home 3-D version uses the old red & blue lens technology resulting in a blurry double image. If you already own this movie don't waste your money expecting a true 3-D experience- you won't get it here.Movie Review: Movie is Fabulous, 3-D is HORRIBLE!!
Summary: 1 Stars
Do not bother purchasing this in 3D version, the quality is horrible. We were so excited about the possibility of this movie being in 3D because we absolutely LOVE this movie. But the picture was just as bad with the glasses on as they are without the glasses. Just very poorly done and EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. . . But please purchase this in 2D version! The story is wonderful and it makes you feel like you're on this magical journey through christmas, mesmerizing and fantastical!Movie Review: Sound A+ 3D F-------
Summary: 4 Stars
A quick review don't get this for the 3D. After about 5 minutes I had to turn it off it was giving me a headache. This is the cheap red and blue glasses. I have a high end home theater with a 73 inch 1080p TV and it doesnt make it any better. Journey to the Center of the Earth has a purple and green lens and it is very good but this 3d is a waste of time, dont know why Warner even tried, they should be ashamed of themselves.
Soundwise in TrueHD this is why you get this. Crank it up it is so clear and quiet yet when the train takes off it rattles your seat but in a way that is loud but so clean. 2D looks great on bluray just dont get this for 3d you will be disapointed.
Movie Review: POLAR EXPRESS COULD HAVE BEEN WARMER
Summary: 3 Stars
I had read that this movie cost 160 million to make, and the special effects are amazing at times, but I really could not get into the weird digital animation, it was like the characters were alien, I could not really connect with any of the leads, especially the main character, he seemed so void of emotion and otherworldly, I mean could they have at least made their eyes not so dead? On some level the film is quite beautiful, and I appreciate the enormous amount of work it took to get this film to look this way..I realize Zemikis was trying to give the movie the look of the books amazing illustrations and again on one level it works, but it sort of takes all the feeling out of the movie, I never really felt vested in the outcome of this kids trip, and the beginning of the movie, with the hobo on the top of the train was not only bizarre but more than a little spooky and i never really got his revelevance, he was never properly explained. Hanks voices several character and he is alright i guess, but frankly they could have saved the money on his salary and gotten some unknown, I mean who really cared if Hanks was the voice? I hope he at least did this thing for scale, but im doubting it. I did like how the setting was the 50's, it added to the nastalgia and the CGI North Pole was fantastic, but the story waxed and wained and took a long time to get going, all and all hardly "A Christmas Story".Movie Review: I don't know what all the criticism is about...
Summary: 4 Stars
...I played this on my laptop (media player wouldn't play it due to some licensing issue--had to use my other DVD software) and the 3D worked very well for me. But that is always a rule of thumb for anaglyph (red/blue or red/green) 3D: The better the screen is at holding true colors, the better the 3D effect will be. My older tube-type television never pulled off 3D very well, so I haven't even bothered trying it there, but I was surprised to see so many with hi-def TVs complaining about the 3D effect as well.
The box contains an insert that tells you to watch in a darkened room. This is good advice, because it is difficult for some people to let their mind go as far as 3D when there are objects (i.e. the TV itself!) that will make them forget they are seeing 3D...with no point of reference around the screen, the 3D tends to work better. The insert also tells you to make sure there is no glare on the TV screen--more good advice because that glare always tells you exactly where the screen is spatially and will ruin the 3D effect.
Finally, the insert tells you to up the brightness on your TV. I am not sure if this ever helps. Personally, when trying to adjust a TV for 3D viewing, I try to pick a scene with wide separation between the red/blue image (i.e., when something is up close/off the screen) and adjust the tint, brightness, and contrast so that I minimize the double image when viewing with only one eye open through either the red or blue lenses...when looking through only one lens, you should only see one image...the trick is to find a compromise that reduces as much as possible the ghosting seen in each eye.
As for people complaining about this release not using the gray lenses....as someone else already explained, it isn't possible to use that format on home television screens. Anaglyph is the only mainstream home theater method for separating the two viewpoints needed for 3D to work.
If you tried this unsuccessfully on your TV, try it on a computer monitor to see if the 3d works better there.
Anyway, that's my 2-cents...I hate to see the complaints about 3D presentations, as it tends to discourage the studios from releasing 3D DVDS and they DO WORK for me. I only gave this 4 stars, as I would have rated it a 5 had they included or made available separately a field-sequential 3D version, which is far superior to the red/blue anaglyph format for pure off-the-screen effects in home theater.