The Polar Express

Voices of: Tom Hanks, Leslie Harter Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gayle, Brendan King
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Rating: G
Genre: Family, Animated, Fantasy
2004

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A young boy does not believe in Santa, until the polar express pulls up to his house on Christmas Eve and sweeps him up in an adventure to reach the North Pole and discover the importance of Christmas.

Review:

Tim: This is an excellent Christmas movie for kids. I can see this becoming a Holiday tradition for many families, seeing this together each holiday season. It is an excellent story for children (who will just love the movie) and it is entertaining enough for adults to not be bored as they watch it.

The real star of the movie is the mind boggling computer animation. Technology and its recent advancements is on display here in all its glory. The human characters look amazing and startlingly realistic. Even more beautiful are the lush surroundings our characters navigate through. There are a few scenes that will cause your jaw to drop. The train sliding on the ice is superb.

Tom Hanks does an outstanding job voicing a handful of different characters. His signature voice gets the job done and is just fun to listen to. His conductor and his railroad bum are particularly great characters (his Santa isn't too bad, either). I love how Hanks, who is such a cornerstone in Hollywood, manages to be a part of this contemporary Christmas classic.

The most impressive thing about The Polar Express is how quickly it cemented itself as a Christmas staple. It is an "instant classic" if you will. If you are looking for something new to watch around the holidays, and specifically something with action, adventure, and more Christmas spirit than you can shake a stick at, then this is the movie for you. One of the best aspects of the film is that it addresses the issue of children and believing in Santa Claus. It seems that today, too few children hold on to that innocent belief. This movie, with all its charm and magic, just might make you believe again.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story