Why So Blu?

The Polar Express (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

This holiday season, Warner Bros Home Entertainment is upgrading four of their most treasured Christmas classics to the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. All of them coming with digital copy codes and the previous extras. The lineup includes National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, The Polar Express and Elf. Each of them was released on November 1st. You can order them by using the paid Amazon Associates links that follow at the bottom of their respective reviews. This particular review is covering Robert Zemeckis’ minted animated viewing tradition, The Polar Express.

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Film

Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”; “Cast Away”) reunite for “Polar Express,” an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. 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.

Robert Zemeckis has long been one to experiment with the visual magic of film. Even in his most basic looking films, he still manages to test out some things and push boundaries. Starting in 2004, with our film The Polar Express, Zemeckis made three animated films using motion capture-esque technology to try a whole new hand at how these things are made (or could be incorporated into live action movies). After this one he would follow up with the under appreciated Beowulf and another take on a holiday staple with A Christmas Carol.

Teaming up once again with Tom Hanks, The Polar Express adapts a popular book of the same name. With a little bit of fluff and expansion, it manages to keep it in the spirit of that book and even improve in some levels. 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 joy once more.

The Polar Express may not have been immediately embraced upon reception, but it has endured, making its way as a holiday staple. It continually see’s IMAX and 3D rereleases every year around the holidays. And when it comes to upgrades of holiday classics on new video formats for collecting, its usually of the first one called up. This may not be in my personal rotation year in and year out, but every time I revisit, I enjoy it more and try to remind myself it should be.

Video

Disclaimer: Screen captures used in the review from the standard Blu-ray included with this release, not the 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Layers: BD-66

Clarity/Detail: The Polar Express debuts on 4K Ulta-HD Blu-ray with a pretty terrific transfer here. The animation is much sharper and even more detailed to impress you on just how well textured it was back in 2004. No, it doesn’t show any cracks or weaken the animation at all with a higher resolution.

Depth: The depth of field improves here with an even more present 3 dimensional look with nice separation of characters and environments. Movements are smooth and fluid with confident camera swings and such. No distortions present from rapid actions or motion.

Black Levels: Blacks are natural and really resonate a lot better here than ever before. There’s some great contrast they provide to help bring out more texture, detail and color. No crushing witnessed.

Color Reproduction: Colors are quite good and bold with a natural looking appeal. The contrast really helps thing look more striking and many of the lights and Christmas lighting pop with use of the HDR.

Flesh Tones: N/A

Noise/Artifacts: Clean.

Audio

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, Mandarin 5.1 Dolby Digital, Cantonese 5.1 Dolby Digital, Korean 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Czech 5.1 Dolby Digital, Danish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Finnish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Flemish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Romanian 2.0 Dolby Digital, Hungarian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Norwegian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Swedish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Dutch, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hungarian, Norwegian, Romanian, Swedish

Dynamics: Rejoice – The Polar Express can finally breathe on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. We have the same 5.1 track, but now presented in lossless format. This track has much more audible depth and layers to go with a crisper, louder and cleaner presentation. You can feel the girth of it now and its a much more fulfilling experience.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension:  The subwoofer is quite powerful here with the train’s chugging along as well as doors closing, things crashing, helping boost the score and more.

Surround Sound Presentation: This mix swirls around the room quite well and isn’t front heavy. There’s good, powerful motion around with some nice ambiance and attention to details offscreen from the rear channels.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Vocals are crisp and clean.

Extras

The Polar Express comes with the standard Blu-ray edition and a redeemable digital code. All extras are found on the standard Blu-ray disc. Disclaimer here, the standard Blu-ray disc for one reason or another, would not read in my player. It did read on my portable drive.

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 (SD, 7:04)

Josh Groban at the Greek (SD, 4:33)

Meet The Snow Angels (SD, 2:44)

Theatrical Trailer

THQ Game Demo

Summary

Despite mixed reviews upon release, The Polar Express has continually awed audiences every holiday season and its not hard to see why. Its 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release looks wonderful but it also finally fixes the biggest mistake of the standard Blu-ray release – the lossless audio. Its here, as well as all the extras to make for an easy upgrade this year for the holiday viewing.

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