The Polar Express is now available in 3D for both Blu-ray and standard DVD. I decided to pick up the DVD version and give it a try, since it is a household favorite. While I greatly enjoyed the movie (I had seen it several times before), I have to say that the 3D effects failed to live up to my expectations.
I think a lot of the problems that I noticed or experienced were due to the poor quality of the 3D glasses included with the DVD, which were cardboard with red and blue plastic over the eye-holes. Unfortunately, these are just plain cheap.
I followed up with a second “test-viewing” (not the whole film again though) with some marginally better 3D glasses and noticed a bit of an improvement in the 3D effects. I will note, however, that my wife and 6-year-old didn’t have the same complaints in the first viewing. Perhaps I am just too picky – or maybe because I’ve seen where the tech is going and expect so much more out of a 3D experience?
If you’ve got kids, I’d say that they would enjoy this movie and it’s probably worth the $15 I paid for it for that reason alone. Just don’t expect to be impressed by the 3D effects.
The Musion Eyeliner Holographic Projection technology (sometimes also called holograms) is an amazing spectacle to behold. This tech offers entertainment and communication potential previously only found in sci-fi movies. With holographic projection, you get the sense that a person or object is actually present through a three dimensional display that doesn’t necessarily project “out” at you like a tradition 3D movie. Rather, a holograph appears to occupy space and contain actual volume.
Musion Eyeliner System incorporates some very simple video principles and all equipment used is readily available in both the American and European rental markets.
The primary components of a Eyeliner set up are:
A video projector, preferably DLP with an HD card/minimum native resolution of 1280 x 1024 and brightness of 5000+ lumens.
For smaller cabinet installations, a high quality TFT Plasma or LCD screen can also be used.
A hard-disc player with 1920 x 1080i HD graphics card, Apple or PC video server, DVD player.
Musion Eyeliner Foil + 3D set/drapes enclosing 3 sides
Lighting and audio as required
Show controller (on site or remote)
Subjects are filmed in HDTV and broadcast on to the foil through HDTV projection systems, driven by HD Mpeg2 digital hard disc players, or uncompressed full HDTV video/Beta-Cam players.
