Not my first choice for a memorable Christmas movie, but still good

Rating: 7/10 (6 February 2011)

When it comes to Christmas movies, some will always go down in history (i.e. Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas...). The Polar Express, being a memorable Christmas book, has brought delight and holiday spirit to countless families across America, and maybe even the world. That being said, the movie isn't as memorable. Don't get me wrong, it's still great, but it's just not memorable enough. The special effects and animation are definitely top notch. Robert Zemeckis always astounds me in this field. The scenery will stun you. You will almost feel like you are at the North Pole. The music and songs are amazing as well. The song, which is however very memorable, "Believe" is always and will always be a treasure. And even some of the characters, mainly the ones Tom Hanks plays, are entertaining, and for a movie that talks about going to the North Pole, even believable. Now onto the flaws. Some of the characters are either quite annoying, like the kid with the big glasses (although that is of course on purpose, so I can't really be upset at that), or quite forgettable (like Billy or even the nameless main character himself). Perhaps if some were given names and more development, they would have been a bit more appealing. And then you have the story. It's not a bad one, as it manages to always get me in the Christmas cheer, but it is rather clichéd. The kids get on the train, and the main character doesn't believe in Santa. They get to the North Pole, and he decides he does believe, and he is chosen to get a gift of his choice. This story has been done numerous times (however, maybe they were based off the book's?). Whatever the reason, it does seem to be very clichéd and maybe even a bit lagging at times. But again, that doesn't make this a bad movie. It's a great movie, and everyone should see it at least once. It's just not the kind of movie I think one should buy because it's not as memorable as a lot of other Christmas movies. It is one you should rent though. But whenever you watch it, as an adult, as a kid, in the middle of July, it will always manage to get you in the Christmas spirit!