What can I say? I love 3D! From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content. I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite. That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT. I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky. However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation. These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves. I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum. My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released. As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.
The Polar Express 3D
Studio: Warner Bros.
Product Release: November 16, 2010
Ratio: 2.4:1
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Rating: G
ON A SCALE 0-5
Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 3
3D Separation: 5
3D In Yo' Face Factor: 1
Oh, if only for ghosting.....
It pains me to sit here knowing what I am about to write.
Warner Bros. was extremely gracious to send me a handful
of screeners to review knowing that I would be promoting
the good word of 3D on this forum. However, when there
seems to be a problem with their initial batch of Blu-ray
releases I can't morally sit here and praise them to the
membership.
Their Imax release of Under The Sea looks terrific.
However, their Imax release of Space Station 3D is
lacking 3D in the first 3 minutes. Now, The Polar Express
is exhibiting its own set of problems. I sort of wonder
if anyone is doing some quality control here.
I'll get into all this in a moment....
I had to chuckle when I decided I was going to review
this title. It took me back a few years to our last Home
Theater Forum meet. The studio sent us an advance copy
of their initial 3D DVD release of The Polar Express and we
were showing it off in our demo room at the hotel. Here
we were, a ragtag group of enthusiasts with cardboard
glasses on our faces admiring the cheesy 3D.
Boy, we have come a long way in a few short years.
Potentially, The Polar Express could have been a
flagship animated feature release for the studio on
the 3D format. Originally filmed for Imax with
motion capture technology, The Polar Express
translates beautifully to Blu-ray. This was my
very first time watching the movie ever and I
was completely mesmerized by the film's charming
story and utterly stunning, realistic animation.
Transfer quality is as good as it gets. I love
the film's warm, natural color palette consisting
primarily of blue and gold. Everything looks
perfect here.
The quality of the 3D separation is quite good
and very effective. I have three favorite scenes
where I found the 3D effect to be most effective.
The first involves a floating train ticket. Then
there's an exciting train descent into Glacier Gulch.
Finally, the entire Christmas Town square sequence
looks outstanding with all its brightly lit colors and
3D dimensionality.
There really aren't any "In Yo' Face" 3D moments.
Most of the material stays within the confines of
the screen with the exception of some minor screen
protruding from the fender of the train or the cap
of the train's hobo.
So here we have this immaculate, gorgeous holiday
eye-fest that would have looked perfect on 3D if not
for the fact that it is marred with ghosting problems.
It doesn't take long to notice the problem. The first
scene where the young boy is lying in bed you see
double imaging within his face. When this same boy
steps onto the Polar Express, takes his seat and meets
the black girl, you can see double imaging going on
within her facial features. Some behind-the-head shots
reveal ghosting in the ears and along the hairline.
Watch the scene where the kids are being pulled up
inside Santa's sack and see how the ropes are
double-imaged. In fact, there are moments that
I actually experienced eye strain from the amount
of ghosting and occasional blurriness.
The DTS-HD audio lovingly conveys Alan Silvestri's
score which is mostly prominent in the front channels.
This is a very bass-heavy audio track. The oncoming
sound of The Polar Express literally shook my floor.
Like all of Warner's new 3D releases, The Polar
Express arrives in beautiful lenticular packaging.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, I am disappointed. This is such a beautiful
film and as much as the 3D enhanced my initial experience
with it, the ghosting issues became a big distraction.
I am sitting here hoping that someone can prove me
wrong on all the ghosting problems I see with this title.
The last thing I want to do is slam the studio for a title
like this. However, up until now I have been seeing some
great 3D content with none of these problems. I even
switched out my glasses for another pair just in case it
was a hardware issue.
If other reviews appear that show my equipment is at
fault I will certainly amend this review.
Equipment
LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display
LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player
Denon 3808CI Receiver
Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers
SV Sound Subwoofer
