One of the best movies ever made

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 2005)

The Polar Express is an incredible movie and is, in my opinion, one of the best ever made. The visuals are fantastic. The movie takes place at five minutes to midnight, so the sky is dark, but everything is shiny, glowing, and beautiful. The landscapes are gorgeous, as is the city of the North Pole.
There are plenty of adventures in the movie which will entertain viewers of all ages, but will not scare most children. The pacing works well; the movie does not drag, nor is it choppy.
The characters are unique and likable: the initially skeptical Hero Boy, courageous Hero Girl, annoying but funny Know-it-all, and lonely Billy. The animation is excellent, and the children are beautiful and innocent. Their mannerisms are charming and realistic: they sing, run around, and bounce in their seats on the train. The characters speak in short, simple sentences, which is appealing and realistic, since many of them are children. Their outfits (pajamas) are cute, simple, and childlike. The adult characters, such as Santa and the Conductor, are similarly quirky and innocent.
The music in this movie is excellent. The score by Alan Silvestri is magical, and the old Christmas carols contribute to the holiday atmosphere. One of the most beautiful scenes in the movie is the duet by Hero Girl and Billy.
The best aspect of The Polar Express, however, is the film's message that one should believe in Santa Claus forever. With so many movies that celebrate change, sexuality, and growing up, The Polar Express is extremely refreshing because it glorifies innocence. The moral of the story is that the best people are those who remain childlike and innocent and never give up their belief in magic and goodness. For some reason, this movie reminds me of the first two Harry Potter movies. These films all have warm, glowing visuals, glorious music, fun adventures, and beautiful, innocent child characters as well as unique and similarly innocent adults. The Polar Express embodies the qualities of childhood and innocence and is recommended without hesitation to anyone.