The Movie That Jump Started My Christmas Season

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2005)

This is another underrated movie that too many people just didn't get. I haven't read the book (I just ordered it from Amazon.com), so maybe that's a good thing, so I can't compare the film unfavorably.
THE POLAR EXPRESS is a simple but magical tale about faith. The script managed to get some mileage out of it, and you gotta love a movie in which Santa Claus is such a gentle giant, we see thousands of elves all the way to the horizon, one of them is Steve Tyler, and everything else in the movie, including the score, is grand! Why it wasn't Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature Film is beyond me, even if THE INCREDIBLES won because it was marginally better. The score should have at least been nominated (at least 'Believe' by Josh Groban was nominated). The title song is a fun arrangement, 'Spirit of the Season' gives me Christmas goosebumps even now that it's the month of May, and the instrumental music conveys the dreamlike quality of going to the North Pole. And how about the 'Hot Chocolate' number, though the song has very repetitive lyrics! The film has many wonderful moments, such as when Hero Boy first comes face to face with St. Nick. Isn't that a kid's Christmas dream?! At the age of 39, I can still appreciate that. That train almost becomes a roller-coaster as it presses on through rough terrain to meet its deadline. Even Tom Hanks' somewhat obnoxious train conductor is ultimately likable.
I can't wait till THE POLAR EXPRESS comes out on DVD. I can understand if it doesn't come out tillChristmas, but whenever it comes out, I'm there! I wish I could see the IMAX version. And remember everyone, 'you have everything you need/If you just believe.'