I wrote a review for the IMAX version of "Fantasia 2000," and then I wrote a review for the standard version of "Fantasia 2000." Two separate reviews for one movie. I decided not to do that for "The Polar Express." It's more convenient for you (the reader) and me (the reviewer) if I just had one review where I could compare both versions. I went and saw "The Polar Express" in a regular theater, and then I saw the IMAX 3D version. In this single review, I'll compare the two versions of the film, as well as getting into what I thought of the movie itself. Got it? Good.
To be honest with you, I wasn't very interested in seeing this movie. The story didn't interest me, and the trailers did nothing for me. As much as I like Robert Zemeckis as a director and Tom Hanks as an actor (and I love their two previous collaborations, "Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away"), nothing about this movie sparked my interest. In addition, I'm still unconvinced about computer-generated actors. They look creepy to me. It's hard to explain, the best I can say is that the eyes look dead, so there seems to be no real life in the faces, ya know? I got that feeling in the trailer, and I got that feeling when I watched the film. I did get used to it, but I don't think I should have to. Despite all that, "The Polar Express" is a MAJOR achievement in CGI, as well as motion capture. This film utilized a new, more meticulous kind of motion capture called performance capture, where details in an actor's facial expressions are added to the animated version. Is it perfect? No, but it's still pretty damn amazing. Motion capture and CGI are relatively new, but over the last couple of years, it's gotten exponentially better.
Okay, enough of the technobabble, how's the story? Is the movie any good? The short answer is yes. "The Polar Express" is a little slow at times, and it comes close to pandering to the audience, but it's still a very entertaining movie with a whole lotta cool things to look at. There's a scene where we follow a train ticket that flew out of the train, and as simple as it is, its one of the most satisfying things in the movie. "The Polar Express" is very cool, but it's the small things that I really enjoyed, and the scene with the train ticket is a perfect example.
The reviews for this film have been pretty mixed, but one review I read mentioned that seeing the movie in IMAX 3D was an absolute necessity, and that it was the best 3D effects he'd ever seen. That interested me, because I've always been intrigued by 3D movies. Yes, I think it's a novelty, and I don't think it should be used in all mainstream films, but I've always been fascinated by the potential. The first time I saw "The Polar Express" was in a regular movie theater, and I must admit, I spent a lotta time thinking how cool certain parts would look in 3D, IMAX 3D, no less. Well, I'll tell you right now, if you have the option, I definitely recommend seeing the film in IMAX 3D. It's astonishing how well the movie lends itself to it. Much of the film takes place on a train, and director Robert Zemeckis makes it clear that it's a huge, powerful train, perfect for IMAX. Then when they reach the North Pole... it's gargantuan. It's a vast place with millions of elves living there, and the places where they make the toys, wrap them, pile them out... just huge. It's perfect for IMAX, and it's perfect for 3D. "The Polar Express" is a good movie, but seeing it in IMAX 3D, it's even better.
The movie is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and although I can't say I've read the book, I have flipped through it. The screenplay added a lot that wasn't in the book, but definitely seems to be in the same spirit. Robert Zemeckis wrote the screenplay with William Broyles Jr. (who wrote "Cast Away"), and I think they did a really good job of taking a very short book for kids and expanding it. Like I said, it does get slow at times, but all in all, it's a hell of an adaptation. As for the directing, Robert Zemeckis does it again. It's not up there with his great ones, like "Forrest Gump," "Contact," or "Back to the Future," but it's still really good. Then there's Tom Hanks. He plays a number of roles in the film, and he's awesome as usual. He won't get any Oscar nominations for this type of film, but it's another impressive addition to his filmography.
"The Polar Express" is a movie that's not without its faults, but it's very creative, and it's very entertaining. That being said, I strongly suggest that you see the film in IMAX 3D. Unfortunately, not everyone lives near an IMAX 3D theater, but if you do, that's the format to see it in.
Scale of
1-10 (standard version): 8
Scale of 1-10 (IMAX 3D version): 9