Toon Talk - From the Other Side: The Polar Express - An IMAX 3-D Experience
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(c) Warner Bros
Capitalizing on the film’s Christmas theme, The Polar Express is being reissued in IMAX 3-D theaters today (the two-disc special edition DVD was released yesterday as well). Giving credit where credit is due, the film does look amazing in the large format, and the 3-D effects are impressive (notably the simplest of them: the constant snowfall). However, there is a big drawback to this particular “experience�?: 99 minutes is a long time for all this sensory overload. If you plan on going to see this Express at an IMAX near you, be sure to ask Santa for a little something extra in your stocking this Christmas Eve: Dramamine.
Toon Talk Rating: C-
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In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I’ll briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. Cinematic Seasonal Salutations If you are looking for some classic holiday cheer from Hollywood’s golden age, but have had your fill of George, Clarence and Zuzu, then open up the delight-filled Christmas card that is White Christmas (1954, Paramount). A follow up of sorts to 1942’s Holiday Inn, this film takes the best of that film (Bing Crosby, Irving Berlin) and adds color, Danny Kaye and the wonderful Rosemary Clooney, in one of her all-to-few screen appearances. In addition to joining Bing on his signature song (the Oscar-winning title tune), Rosemary belts out such future staples of her repertoire as “Sisters�? (with Vera Ellen) and the sultry “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me�?, plus another duet with Bing on the romantic lullaby (and Oscar nominee) “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)�?. |
Coming Soon in Toon Talk:
- December 6th brings wave 5 of the Walt Disney Treasures series, with Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts, Legendary Heroes: Elfego Baca and Swamp Fox, The Adventures of Spin and Marty and The Chronological Donald, Volume 2.
- C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy classic finally comes to the big screen with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (December 9th).
- That lovable lunk-headed scene-stealer from The Emperor’s New Groove returns in the video premiere Kronk’s New Groove (December 13th).
And Coming Soon from Buena Vista Home Video:
- More TV series sets become available November 22nd, with the third seasons of The Golden Girls and Home Improvement, plus the best of season one of Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition.
- Celebrate Kermit the Frog’s 50th anniversary with four of his films: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island (November 29th).
- Sky High flies onto DVD November 29th, along with several television titles including the complete mini-series Empire, the first season of Project Runway and Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry in her Emmy-nominated role.
- Two Disney Channel favorites are coming to DVD on December 6th: The Proud Family Movie and That’s So Raven: Raven’s House Party. Plus: volume one of season two of the animated cult hit, Gargoyles and volumes four and five of Power Rangers S.P.D.
- Only four months after its first DVD release, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’ Sin City is back again, this time “Re-cut, Reedited and Uncensored�?; Mark Wahlberg leads an all-star cast in another director’s cut re-release, The Yards; Heath Ledger stars in the crime thriller Two Hands; the ESPN original movie Four Minutes, based on the true story of Roger Bannister (Jamie MacLachlan), the first man to break the four-minute mile; Vanguard Animation’s Valiant comes home to perch; and four Roger Corman “classics�? - Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Death Race 2000, Dinoroc and Big Bad Momma - get the special edition treatment (December 13th).
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-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logo by William C Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted November 23, 2005