I haven't seen a film this good in years

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2004)

I absolutely adored The Polar Express. It's been over a decade since i described a film as "magical" but any other word seems to fall short of capturing the essence of the film. The film was so beautifully designed that every shot looked like a scenic photograph. I am I have to say a large Zemeckis fan and this is easily one of his best. It's beautifully shot, the script is enchanting and calmly knowing (in the way that A.A. Milne's 'Whinnie The Pooh' novels were). I thought Tom Hanks gave six magnificent performances and managed to make some very difficult lines potent and easy. (He was also rather good at doing multiple voices).
The score from Silvestri was delightful and catchy but soft and sentimental at the same time. The songs were also lovely and they matched the mood of the film well. But the loudest applause must go to Zemeckis himself. Ranging from roller-coaster sequences, to creepy ghost monologues, to action sequencing the film embraces that which is entertaining and fun only. And what's this? Child performances of a professional callibre? (Although Hanks steals the show in every sense).
What I really liked about this film is that there was absolutely nothing sinister about it. If you watch any child's film, there's usually a dark, crisp adult edge to it, most Disney films have wit aimed at the adults, but this film does not have this cynical undertone. It certainly has some moments for the adult audience but only in a soft and calm way, in a sense I suppose I valued the film's nostalgic quality; it has been far too long since I've seen a film that is just about childish fantasy. Some may criticise the film for being too sentimental but I don't think it was too sentimental at all, it was designed as a sweet Christmas movie and is just that.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not a soft-hearted fan of children's nonsense, my favourite films include Apocalypse Now, The Exorcist, Aliens, Naked Lunch, Citizen Kane, Brazil & The Piano, none of which are renowned for charm, but I just felt with this film that it touched a part of my viewing mind that has not been touched in a long long time. I think it is a great shame that this film has not received more acclaim.
Thank you Robert Zemeckis.