Customer Reviews

The Polar Express(wide-screen Edition)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had heard this move was a little dark and even though I might agree, my son who is afraid of everything LOVES this movie. He will watch it over and over again all year long. I think the best part for the kids is the train - all little boys love trains! And the cool part for the adults is trying to figure out how many charater's voices are done by Tom Hanks! Really great movie and the animation is phenomenal.

This is one of my favorite christmas movies. I love Tom Hanks and he does an incredible job in this film. The songs are beautiful and it makes you wish you were a kid again so that you could feel that way about christmas again. We have several movies that we have to watch at christmas time and this is one of them.
Clean,beautifully made!

The Polar Express is a wondrous piece of movie making, destined to join the ranks of must-see Christmas classics, for children of all ages. I have read numerous reviews. Some say this film is too dark. Really? No darker than the original illustrations that accompany the author's masterpiece book. I would call it very atmospheric. Other reviewers don't like some of the animation effects. Well, overall I think the producers did an excellent job using animation to create and sustain the larger-than-life feel of the story. If it has been shot in regular film, I believe it would have lost a lot of its flavor and impact. Just like a good watercolor or acrylic piece of art has much more evocative power than a photograph.

The bottom line is that Polar Express is a great story, and the essence of Van Allsburg's classic has been very faithfully rendered in this movie, and in so doing, the people who labored to do so should get a lot of credit (especially considering the garbage that passes for holiday movies these days). This is about the innocence, faith and wonder of childhood and how it is stoked (and sustained) by the magic of the Christmas Season. I defy anyone with a heart to sit and watch this movie with some young children and not get choked up during the last 10 minutes or so of the film, after Santa makes his entrance. I guess those who aren't moved by this film have long stopped hearing the beautiful ringing tone of the bell. But I'd bet anything that your great-grandchildren will be watching this movie with their kids at Christmastime, along with It's A Wonderful Life, Christmas Carol, White Christmas, Rudolph, and a few others.

First and foremost, the character animation in this film is just plain weird. Unfortunately, what would have been a really solid Christmas story has been transformed into something eerie and creepy. The child-like images are strange as are all the other characters. Also, using Tom Hanks voice for half a dozen characters in this film is overkill and nauseating. In particular, his high-pitched screechy voice for the train ghost and conductor is like nails on a chalkboard.
Some of the music is very good, but the classic renditions like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" sung by the elves... Again, very strange. If you like eerie, dark animated content to tell a good Christmas story, you'll be drawn to this one. If you're buying this movie for young children, make sure you have the DVD remote in hand to skip ahead from the more bizarre scenes.

I ordered this movie a year ago right after the Holidays. I don't buy a lot of movies but, this one is a great movie to watch over and over at Christmas. I love it and the message it has. It's a classic.

Enchanting. Innocent. Adorable. Instills Hope. Charming. Lovely. Interesting. Lulling. A Rarity. Christmastime. Expanding. Adventure. Like-able. Tempting. Engulfing. Young-at-heart. Snow is everywhere. <3.

4.2 stars.