Fun ride in IMAX - wouldn't necessarily want to see it again though

Rating: 6/10 (27 December 2004)

"The Polar Express" is an odd little hybrid of computer animation and live action - professional cast was assorted (including Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter and Steven Tyler), they acted out their parts with motion sensor captures recording their movements, and then did voice-overs. Hanks plays about four different characters, both visually and vocal - The Conducter, Father, The Bum, Santa Claus and five if you count the adult Hero Boy.
Director Robert Zemeckis has always liked to fool around with the expansion of cinema (check out his other famous animation hybrid, the great "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"), here he probably goes a bit too far but it's nevertheless a fun ride. As a piece of experimental cinema "The Polar Express" is breathtaking, as a standard Christmas animation film it's so-so - the story is very entertaining for the first 60 minutes but once they get off the train it goes on a bit too long. Animation is excellent at times, but then sometimes (particularly on the Hero Girl character) it's quite poor and unrealistic.
But for the most part it is a very interesting film and a must-see if you're a daring viewer - it's different, in a good way. It's not a great movie because it has a lot of flaws but I saw it at London BFI IMAX theater and the trip was loads of fun, and a unique experience I'll remember for a long, long time.
Overall, not something particularly memorable as a stand-alone film but if you're planning on seeing it, make sure you go to an IMAX - otherwise it's just an odd little film that'll entertain the kids and probably hold your interest on first viewing.
3.5/5