Based on the negative reviews of Polar Express I wasn't looking forward to seeing this movie. It wasn't my idea of a must see movie for date night. I was not expecting much from this movie going experience.
[I'll put the rest in the extended part of the post, so you can stop reading now if you don't want to read anything potentially spoiling.]
My wife, suggested we see Polar Express at the Minnesota Zoo, which has an IMAX theater. The version of the movie at the IMAX was playing in 3D. 3D movies at the IMAX are generally pretty good, in my opinion, as far as the effects part of the show is concerned. The movies I have seen in the past which are presented in this format have pretty much been members of the documentary or edutainment genre.
In spite of the sentimental and maudlin nature of this rather predictable movie, I really enjoyed it. I liked it a lot.
The theme of the story was exactly what I am primed to enjoy. The main character is a child old enough to stop believing in Santa Claus, or at the very least to begin to embrace an agnostic view of Mr. Claus. Through a series of preposterous adventures his faith is restored in the jolly old elf.
This boy's journey and thoughts reminded me of my own life. I often wish I could recapture the thrill that used to accompany Christmases of childhood. This is true of many aspects of life; the thrill of the first big job after college, the thrill of falling in love, what it was like to play in the ocean for the first time, how free it felt to drive somewhere on my own. Over time all those thrills fade, and it's harder to access the same feelings. Are they locked in my heart some where that can be accessed or have they simply gone sour like milk kept far past its shelf life.
The animation was a little strange. The eyes of the characters were very peculiar. Reviews I had read called them creepy and sleepy. I'm not really sure how I would decribe them except to say they were off somehow.
I have a hard time recommending a movie of this nature. It's predictable and a little sappy. Holiday's are supposed to be a little predictable and sappy, so this movie makes sense for the Holidays. If you see it, at least try and see it in 3D.
