there's no greater gift than friendship...

Rating: 7/10 (14 December 2011)

I put this one off for a long time because of mixed reviews and happenstance.
I just finished it on HD ON-Demand and I was very impressed.
I had read some reviews and such that talked about "a shallow story", "poor animation", and other "issues".
Great Christmas fare here! "The Polar Express" is an immensely exciting entry into the genre. I watched the film in 2D/HD and it was a true visual spectacle. The action sequences and train shots stood out as some of the best visual animation I've seen to date.
It's going to be hard for many purists to take what I'm about to say. It won't help the "who found this helpful" percentage, but frankly I don't care - it's calling it how I see it.
I watched Hugo a couple of weeks ago at the theater, and I truly believe that the Polar Express is as good or better. Where Hugo lacks in charm and adventure - The Polar Express excels. Where Hugo over-stays its' welcome - TPE tells a quick, basic fantasy storyline with no hidden agendas and no bows to anyone EXCEPT the audience.
This film wasn't made for critics - it was tailor-made for someone like me - someone looking for a new Christmas classic to watch during the Holiday season. The first in a long-time, to line-up and put next to "Miracle on 34th St.", "A Christmas Story", "Rudolph The Red-nose Reindeer", and others.
The visual details during certain train sequences are jaw-dropping. Some people have talked about the "eyes" of the characters. It's not perfect, but it is the most realistic attempt at a human face that I've seen in animation. For that reason, it is going to be criticized. You can compare it say to any Pixar film, and the pixar films(like all animated films save this one) still show the old-fashioned human animated face-shapes, that succumb to conventionality instead of innovation. The Polar Express may have bitten off more than it could chew in this aspect, but I don't think it took anything away from the movie. Besides, the rest of the film is as visually spectacular as ANYTHING FROM PIXAR or any other production company - that includes modern marvels like Tekkon Kinkreet, to timeless classics like Fantasia and Snow White. Visually, this animation doesn't take a back-seat to anything.
So the story had to fall short, right? Maybe a little. It's a Christmas fantasy. The storyline isn't anymore complex than any other film in this genre. It's about the heart of Christmas, and all the joys of the holiday. Every Christmas storyline(save Christmas Story) falls short. I wasn't looking for a deep storyline when I hit play. I was looking for something that embodied the spirit of Christmas. I got that and more.
Catch this if you've put it off like me.
80/100 I never like to say to people that they didn't "Get" a movie, or "understand" a movie. People take offense. But, this film does have some neat little concepts and nuances that could be over-looked by some. THose that put those little pieces together, and feel the magic of those moments, will take more away from this film.
You'll like this if you Liked: Toy Story 2, Hugo, and Monster House.