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.