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The Polar Express 3D (2004) [Blu-ray 3D]
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Rated: |
G |
Starring: |
Tom Hanks. |
Director: |
Robert Zemeckis, Authors:, Chris Van Allsburg |
Genre: |
Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy |
DVD Release Date: 11/16/2010 |
***PLEASE NOTE: A Blu-ray 3D disc is only compatible with 3D Blu-ray players.***
Tagline: Journey Beyond Your Imagination
All the enchantment, all the adventure, all the joy of The Polar Express - all in astonishing true Blu-ray 3D! This instant holiday classic filmed in performance-capture animation by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks now delivers a whole new
cargoload of immersive Blu-ray magic. Reach out and grab your ticket as the exciting next dimension in home entertainment transports you to the North Pole in amazing fashion!
It's Christmas Eve, and you're about to roller-coaster up and down mountains, slip-slide over ice fields, teeter across mile-high bridges and be served hot chocolate by singing waiters more astonishing than any you can imagine. You're on The Polar
Express!
Tom Hanks stars in and Robert Zemeckis directs this instant holiday classic filmed in dazzling performance-capture animation that makes every moment magical.
Storyline: This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. What unfolds is an an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an
extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Written by Anthony Pereyra
{hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
Cast Notes: Tom Hanks (Hero Boy / Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus), Leslie Zemeckis (Sister Sarah / Mother), Eddie Deezen (Know-It-All), Nona Gaye (Hero Girl), Peter Scolari (Lonely Boy), Andy Pellick (Pastry Chef), Josh Eli
(Waiter), Mark Mendonca (Waiter), Rolandas Hendricks (Waiter), Mark Goodman (Waiter), Jon Scott (Waiter), Gregory Gast (Waiter), Sean Scott (Waiter), Gordon Hart (Waiter), Michael Jeter (Smokey / Steamer).
User Comment: jaqued from Washington DC, 29 November 2004 • Clearly the reviewers who panned this wonderful film can no longer hear the ringing of the silver bell. I am reminded of the know it all kid in the film when I read these
reviews. Some said it was too dark. Too dark? It was set at 5 minuets to midnight.....As I recall its dark then. Another called it ghostly; a condition true of a Christmas Carol, the film is in good company there. While I will admit that the computer
motion capture in facial expressions is not as strong as it could be it did not detract from the story. Some reviewers did not like the roller-coaster effects. One even pointed out that trains can not do what this one does.....It's a dream...physics don't
count. It is a sad commentary that the meaning of Christmas and belief in it's historically documented magic is so lost on those with access to the press. My review...it's good and it is best if you make up your own mind. I could hear the bell ring and I
hope you can too.
Summary: For Goodness Sake.
User Comment: madpenguin41 from Columbus, OH, 18 December 2004 • So it was with much trepidation and even utter fear in my heart that I went to see this movie. After all, the last time I went to see a full-length adaptation of a
favorite Christmas story, what I got was Ron Howard's absolutely God-awful "The Grinch". Having grown up with the book "The Polar Express" (according to my mom, I cited it as my favorite Christmas present when I was seven), I did not want to see this
story bastardized in any way. Honestly, I was prepared for "Polar Express" to be a complete wreck. But instead…
It soared. Completely. What makes the film such a success is not so much even the story itself, but an execution which somehow manages to inject every frame of the film with a feeling of childlike wonder and exuberance. In addition, there are so many
clever touches and details added throughout that a feeling of mystery and excitement just fills the viewer. Among these are the waiters dancing and singing while serving hot chocolate to the kids on the train (a very funny scene, as well), the factory
where the presents are prepared, and a ghost-like hobo who is never really explained, but is incredibly crucial to the feel of the film. At one point, three of the children wander lost through the empty streets of Santa's North Pole town. As they wander,
various old Christmas recordings are heard playing on phonographs throughout the town. The music provides a pleasant and nostalgic ambiance to the scene. It's touches like this that absolutely make the film.
I'll never understand why films seem to be required to be at least 90 minutes long. I would pay money to see a 40-minute film, as long as it were good. And even if it sucked, I would have at least wasted less time. What I'm getting at is I have no idea
why a 32-page picture book needed to be a 99-minute movie. What this means is that the original story is VASTLY expanded upon. However, what is added in actually fits quite well with the essence and spirit of the book. Some of it is just sheer
entertainment; the train track is like a roller coaster, characters ski on top of the cars, danger lurks around every step of the journey to the North Pole (but admittedly fun danger). Other aspects further illuminate and expand upon the book's basic
theme of the virtue of belief in the implausible. So I have no idea why this was made into a full-length, but in the end, I'm glad it was. It didn't even feel too long (and I think everything is too long).
Much criticism has fallen on the look of the characters in the movie. I can agree to a point. While there is incredible visual detail in the faces, they usually seem void of expression. In general, a lot of the motion seems rather wooden, as well. The
scenery, on the other hand, is gorgeous. Overall, the minor problems in animation (which really boil down to a matter of taste anyway) are certainly not enough to diminish what is an overwhelmingly successful movie.
Summary: wonderful holiday film.
IMDb Rating (11/25/11): 6.6/10 from 38,235 users
Additional information |
Copyright: |
2004, Warner Bros. |
Features: |
None of the extras are in high defintion or 3D.
• 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 rolesin 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), (Song Not Seen in Theatres) 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.
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Subtitles: |
English, Spanish, French |
Video: |
Widescreen 2.40:1 Color Screen Resolution: 1080p |
Audio: |
ENGLISH: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
SPANISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1
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Time: |
1:40 |
DVD: |
# Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1 |
UPC: |
883929144778 |
Coding: |
[V3.5-A4.0] MPEG-4 AVC |
D-Box: |
Yes |
3-D: |
3-D 5/10 -- Even poor 3D really enhances this movie and along with the excellent motion saves this otherwise mediocre movie. |
Other: |
Producers: Robert Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, Steve Starkey, William Teitler; Directors: Robert Zemeckis, Authors:, Chris Van Allsburg; Writers: Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles, Jr; running time of 100 minutes; Packaging: HD
Case.
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