The Polar Express 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 83
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
The Polar Express' 4K release enchants with stunning visuals and sound, despite mixed feelings about the film.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
DTS-HD MA
Video: 90
The Polar Express' HDR10-enhanced 4K transfer enhances its unique visual atmosphere and mood, improving depth, color richness, and detail, making it the best home video presentation yet.
Audio: 90
The Blu-ray offers a DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio, surpassing the common lossy format with richer, dynamic soundscapes and detailed ambient effects. It includes a wide range of subtitles, ensuring an immersive experience.
Extra: 68
The Polar Express 2-disc release features attractive packaging, a digital code, and ~56 minutes of legacy bonus content on Blu-ray, including behind-the-scenes footage and a mix of HD and SD extras.
Movie: 66
Despite mixed reviews, 'The Polar Express,' reuniting Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis, offers a nostalgic, CGI-heavy holiday adventure that captivates its target audience with enduring festive charm.
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Video: 90
Warner Bros. has outdone itself with a masterful 2160p UHD 4K transfer of "The Polar Express," enhancing the unique visual feast this film has always been, now with HDR10 capability that elevates its atmospheric qualities to new heights. The HDR usage is particularly effective, spotlighting the brilliance of sparks and deep blacks across various scenes, from the coal bin and Caribou crossing to the Glacier Gulch descent, showcasing a superior dynamic range that enriches every frame. Despite the film’s digital roots potentially limiting the upscale in resolution, the higher bit rate and efficient encoding of this transfer significantly improve visual clarity. Noteworthy is the visual detail improvement, which, while subtle, contributes to a more tangible cinematic experience, supported by the HDR enhancement that brings an immediate and striking difference in the portrayal of the film's unique color palette.
The color grading adjustment towards a slightly pinker skin tone against a predominantly dark, almost haunting palette of blues, greys, and silvers starkly contrasts with the vivid sparks of yellow, amber, and gold, offering a visual representation that beautifully complements the story's darker tone. The intricate play between light and shadow, accompanied by inky black levels with a tint of dark blue, accentuates the depth and texture throughout the movie, making every scene more immersive. The meticulously balanced colors, along with the absence of any disturbing video artifacts, underscore the film's enhanced visual depth and realism, presenting "The Polar Express" in its best-ever home video rendition.
Beyond its impressive technical specifications —HEVC / H.265 encoding on a BD-66 layer with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio— this Blu-ray release shines through its sharpness, depth of field improvements that grant a more pronounced 3D look, and notably better-textured animation that remains faithful to its original artistry. The boldness of colors, underpinned by high-contrast visual delivery through HDR, ensures that both the lighting and Christmas decorations pop more vibrantly than before. The warmth of the depicted scenes, especially inside the train car with its cozy spectrum of reds and oranges and Santa’s deep red suit against the night sky, is visually striking. This release clinches "The Polar Express" as a hallmark example of how technological advancements in home video can breathe new life into classic films.
Audio: 90
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Polar Express" brings a significant auditory upgrade to the table with its lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, which vividly outshines its predecessor that was confined to a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundscape. This current audio experience presents a dynamic and engaging listening journey, where each sound, from the thunderous roar of the train to the subtle jingles of sleigh bells, is rendered with a remarkable clarity and depth. The low-end bass rumbles with a controlled power that adds a tangible weight to the train's movement without ever muddying the overall sound quality. Ambient sounds, including the bustling activity of Santa's workshop and the muffled chatter of excited children, are beautifully balanced, creating a truly immersive soundscape that complements the visual splendor of the film.
Furthermore, the audio mix is meticulously crafted to ensure that sound effects are impactful without overshadowing the dialogue or the majestic score of the movie. The dialogue remains crisp, allowing every word to be easily discernible, which is crucial for following the film's narrative seamlessly. The musical score is given ample room to breathe, swelling to grand crescendos that enhance the magical atmosphere of the journey to the North Pole, thereby elevating the emotional impact of key scenes.
In terms of technical specifics, aside from the primary English 5.1 DTS-HD MA track, this release caters to a diverse audience by including an array of language options and subtitles. The surround sound presentation excels in crafting an enveloping field of audio that fully utilizes the rear channels, providing an added layer of depth to off-screen actions and ambient noises, resulting in a more lifelike and engaging experience. Overall, this audio presentation significantly enhances the viewing experience, making it a must-have for both audiophiles and fans of this beloved holiday classic.
Extras: 68
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Polar Express" provides an invigorating home viewing experience with its visually appealing package, which includes a dual-hubbed keepcase and a matching slipcover, alongside a digital copy redemption code. While the main attraction of this release is undoubtedly the enhanced visual quality of the film itself, the bonus features, though not new, offer substantial value, adding approximately 56 minutes of complementary content. These features are neatly compiled on the Blu-ray disc within the set, utilizing a newer menu interface for easier navigation. Unfortunately, the extras are presented in standard definition, which may contrast with the high expectations set by the film's 4K presentation. Nonetheless, they provide an insightful dive into the making of this beloved holiday classic, covering everything from motion capture technology to personal anecdotes from the cast and crew, despite some reading issues reported with the standard Blu-ray disc.
Extras included in this disc:
- You Look Familiar: Motion capture footage showcasing Tom Hanks in his various roles.
- A Genuine Ticket to Ride: Five-part behind-the-scenes featurette on the film’s production.
- True Inspirations: An Author's Adventure: Chris Van Allsburg discusses his book that inspired the film.
- Believe: Behind the Scenes: Featuring Josh Groban's insights.
- Flurry of Effects: Focuses on the film’s motion capture technology.
- Smokey and Steamer: Deleted song featuring Michael Jeter.
- Josh Groban at the Greek: Josh Groban performs live.
- Meet the Snow Angels: Cast and crew share Christmas memories.
- Theatrical Trailer: Preview of the film.
Movie: 66
The Polar Express," directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, remains a distinctive entry in the holiday movie canon, especially as it approaches its 20th anniversary. Originally grounded in the cherished 1985 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, the film presents an enchanting adventure of a skeptical boy venturing to the North Pole. Its adherence to the source material, however, posed challenges, extending a brief story into a 100-minute film packed with a CGI aesthetic that has elicited mixed reactions over time. Though criticized for its pacing, perceived lackluster acting, and the eerie uncanniness of its motion-capture technology, the movie's visual ambition and holiday spirit still manage to capture the hearts of its audience, particularly the younger demographic for whom its magical realism was intended.
Warner Bros.' transition of "The Polar Express" to 4K UHD Blu-ray does not extract significantly more detail given its original sub-2K digital production but offers appreciable enhancements through HDR10, paving the way for an enriched viewing experience. The transfer’s attempt to refresh the movie's visual appeal underscores the film's original ambition to push the boundaries of early 2000s CGI technology. Despite inherent limitations, the improved disc encoding and high dynamic range bring new life to its visuals, contributing positively to its atmospheric charm.
Critics and fans alike note that while "The Polar Express" may tread awkwardly at moments—questionably extending its narrative and interspersing moments of peculiar momentum—it still delivers a potent dose of holiday wonder. This is somewhat attributed to the nostalgic charm that overshadows its imperfections, earning it a spot among festive seasonal viewings. Coupled with IMAX and 3D re-releases that underscore its visual spectacle, "The Polar Express" endures as a worthwhile holiday tradition. Its journey in 4K UHD underscores an ongoing appreciation for Zemeckis and Hanks’ adventurous spirit in filmmaking, aiming to immortalize the childlike wonder of Christmas through its ambitious yet polarizing execution.
Total: 83
The release of "The Polar Express" on 4K UHD Blu-ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has sparked a wide range of sentiments among fans and critics alike. Regardless of one's feelings about the film—whether it's seen as a charming, holiday classic or as an overextended CGI adventure lacking the depth of traditional Christmas stories—the technical merits of this release are undeniably exceptional. The Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray/Digital combo pack delivers a video quality that significantly surpasses previous editions, presenting a visual treat that breathes new life into this early CGI motion capture endeavor. While the lack of an immersive audio mix is noted by some, the inclusion of a new DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix enhances the auditory experience, albeit without reaching the heights that an Atmos mix might have provided.
This package aims to cater to both long-time aficionados of the film and newcomers drawn by the allure of heightened nostalgia during the holiday season. The improvements in picture quality with HDR are remarkable, offering stunning clarity and vibrancy that captures the magical essence of the journey to the North Pole like never before. Additionally, while the extras included are primarily carried over from previous releases, they still offer enjoyable insights into the making of this holiday tale, despite some feeling that they don't delve deeply enough into the specifics of the film's production.
In conclusion, "The Polar Express" 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray stands as a solid upgrade from earlier versions, making it a worthy addition to any holiday movie collection. It represents a significant step forward in video and audio presentation, even if it leaves room for improvement in special features and immersive audio options. Its blend of sparkling video enhancements and a decent audio upgrade, along with the timeless appeal of the story, ensure that it remains a festive favorite that can be recommended for fans and newcomers alike. Whether you're revisiting this polar journey or embarking for the first time, this release promises an enchanting experience that captures the heart of the holiday season.
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
HDR enhancement naturally makes more of an immediately eye-popping difference within the broader boundaries of color-driven films, animated or otherwise, and especially those with a heightened visual atmosphere......
Audio: 100
Although the more common 2008 Blu-ray was limited to lossy Dolby Digital 5.1, WB's 3D Blu-ray served up a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix and that's also what we get here....
Extras: 90
Flurry of Effects (8:48) - Another short five-part featurette, this time about motion capture....
Movie: 70
In my opinion, it's more a guilty pleasure not far above the likes of Jingle All the Way than a certified classic... but The Polar Express is still an enjoyable film in the right mood, and one that its...
Total: 60
New extras and an Atmos mix would've put this one all the way over the top, but as it stands this is still a very solid 4K upgrade well worth adding to your list....
High-Def Digest review by Bryan KlugerRead review here
Video: 90
Inside the train car allows for the very warm color spectrum of reds, oranges, and even more holiday-like colors of green, purple, and other bright primary colors....
Audio: 80
Reindeer feet, train car noises, and elves working at the North Pole all sound wonderful here with a well-balanced and dynamic tone....
Extras: 50
- A five-part behind-the-scenes featurette is included here, covering all the main elements of shooting the film....
Movie: 70
At some point, Zemeckis wanted to hop on the CGI wagon with Hanks and make a Christmas movie, which actually happened in 2004 with The Polar Express....
Total: 70
But some years later, there is a haunting nostalgic factor that works well, delivering the spirit of the holidays and a shot of early CGI motion capture before it was perfected in later features and video...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 96
The use of HDR is spot on, empowering the brilliance of sparks, flashes of light, and emboldening interstitial blacks, and depth of field in low lighting, you will get a taste of this during the scene...
Audio: 96
Extras: 80
Disc 1: The Polar Express Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc 2: The Polar Express Blu-ray Legacy Bonus Features Digital Code...
Movie: 60
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....
Total: 83
While the absence of an immersive listening track is duly noted, this one still comes highly recommended for those that want to experience its sparkling video quality....
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 90
The depth of field improves here with an even more present 3 dimensional look with nice separation of characters and environments....
Audio: 100
Audio Format(s): English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, French (Canada) 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Dutch 5.1 Dolby Digital,...
Extras: 60
You Look Familiar (SD, 4:11)A Genuine Ticket To Ride (SD, 13:32)True Inspirations: An Author’s Adventure (SD, 5:28)Behind the Scenes of “Believe” (SD, 4:24)Flurry of Effects (SD, 8:48)Smokey and Steamer...
Movie: 70
There’s a child’s wonder and magic at hand here in the film and this is able to translate that in the film and make for a fun, fantasy adventure to almost make an adult feel that little bit of Christmas...
Total: 80
Despite mixed reviews upon release, The Polar Express has continually awed audiences every holiday season and its not hard to see why....
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter
PlotOn Christmas Eve, a young boy who is starting to doubt the existence of Santa Claus lies awake in his bed, eagerly listening for the sound of sleigh bells. Suddenly, his house trembles as a mysterious train appears outside his window. The train's conductor invites him aboard what he calls the Polar Express, a magical train bound for the North Pole. Intrigued by the prospect of meeting Santa Claus, the boy boards the train, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and wonder. Aboard the train, he meets other children, each with their own beliefs and stories, including a spirited girl who believes strongly in the spirit of Christmas, a know-it-all boy who flaunts his knowledge, and a shy boy from a poor background who longs to believe in something greater.
Throughout their adventure to the North Pole, the children encounter a series of astonishing and mystical experiences. The Polar Express races through treacherous territories, including steep mountains and ice-covered tracks. The boy and his newfound friends face various challenges that test their courage, trust, and perceptions of reality. Their camaraderie grows as they share hot chocolate, sing carols, and navigate their way through the picturesque yet perilous landscapes. These shared experiences bond the children as they learn important lessons about belief, friendship, and the enduring magic of Christmas, all while they draw ever closer to their ultimate destination where they are promised a meeting with Santa Claus himself.
Writers: Chris Van Allsburg, Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.
Release Date: 10 Nov 2004
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: G
Country: United States, Australia
Language: English