The Polar Express (2004)
56 %
Reviews Counted: 183 Fresh: 103 Rotten:80 Average Rating: 6.4/10
Consensus:
Though the movie is visually stunning overall, the animation for the human characters isn't lifelike enough, and the story is padded.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Theatrical Release: Nov 10, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $2,474,688
Synopsis: Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling... [More]
Genre: Childrens
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Peter Scolari, Nona Gaye, Eddie Deezen
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriter: William Broyles, Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey, Gary Goetzman, William Teitler, Robert Zemeckis
Composer: Alan Silvestri
Screenwriter: William Broyles, Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey, Gary Goetzman, William Teitler, Robert Zemeckis
Composer: Alan Silvestri
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Nearly as much a movie advocating a belief in Santa Claus as a belief in the real existence of CGI animated characters, the film is at once mystifying and uninvolving.
Comment
03/23/07
Cynics will sneeze in shock; children, young and old, will cuddle up and dream along.
04/01/06
As a complete package, Zemeckis’ surreal, hallucinogenic adventure is pretty inconsequential.
02/09/06
The animation looks like an oil painting come to life and the overall viewing experience is awe inspiring.
12/02/05
...might better be called The Bipolar Express, with so much that is sweet and light on the one hand and so much that is tiring and humdrum on the other.
11/08/05
Unfortunately, Zemeckis has allowed his technical-savvy, circus-like movie to lose touch with its human charcaters, resulting in a cold and distanced animation.
08/14/05
How many kids do you know who would find comfort in a homeless ghost who drinks his own sock juice?
07/25/05
...the IMAX Corporation would do well to have this available every year in 3D. They have finally come upon their staple film.
04/01/05
The Polar Express seems overly concerned with aping real life instead of creating its own universe.
03/05/05
People will be polarized by this well-oiled machine of a family holiday vehicle.
01/29/05
Strap yourself in and try not to vomit, because this is more of a theme-park event than a movie -- Pirates of the Caribbean in reverse, a wild ride stripped of its story, down to a rattling series of obvious, underwhelming effects.
01/16/05
Top Critic
Despite some technical pizzazz, this flick ends up leaving viewers as cold as the North Pole itself.
01/01/05
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12/19/04
Sure, it's overly saccharine and desperately overblown, and the film loses momentum well before the end, but it's hard not to get into the spirit and enjoy it.
12/12/04
Top Critic
To help the viewer accept the creepily lifelike quality of the animated characters, the filmmakers fill in the background with beautifully illustrated vistas, dark and mysterious, greatly resembling the original paintings Van Allsburg did for his book.
12/08/04
Besides its dead-eyed cast, this 'animated' escapade is thrown off the tracks by pointless detours seemingly intended just to stretch the journey time.
12/07/04
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