THIS FILM IS REVIVED ANNUALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
[Screened @ the Loews Lincoln Square IMAX (NYC)/01-26-05: 4pm]
POLAR EXPRESS (IMAX-3D)
Family audiences should pack up the kids and head for the local IMAX - as long as the kiddies still 'Believe' (non-believers won't be converted)!
2-1/2 stars/3 stars for 'Santa believers' (out of 4 stars) [(2004)USA/Animated] - (1 hr. 32 min.)
Co-written & directed by Robert Zemeckis
Co-writer: William Broyles, Jr.
Source: based on the 29 page book by Chris Van Allsburg
Characters/Voice Cast
Hero Boy/Father/Conductor/Hobo/Scrooge/Santa Claus - Tom Hanks
Review:
While some may see 'motion-capture' animation as an insidious plot to keep unnamed actors locked in studios covered with electrodes planted on their blue-suited bodies, only to have their anonymity further deepened as superstar voice actors provide dialogue and emotion from the comfort of a sound booth ... others recognize this seemingly demonic process sometimes works.
Forget past motion-capture animation attempts, like "Final Fantasy" which had all the emotion of a video game (none), as director Steve Zemeckis ("Back to the Future") along with actor Tom Hanks have made the most substantial attempt yet to personalize this latest animation medium.
Still not 100% successful, but this visual aspects certainly benefit greatly from the IMAX-3D treatment with several jaw-dropping setpieces. Now they need to figure out how to keep the less-animation friendly sequences just as interesting and somehow prove that this method is better than the normal conceit of combining LIVE-ACTION WITH animation (which usually bastardizes both mediums (the 'toon masterpiece "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" excepted).
As for the plotline of a doubting boy who lives out a dreamlike trip to the North Pole and a face-to-face with Santa Claus in person ... well, let's just say that I couldn't hear the sleigh bells but I could hear myself yawn (several times).
Leave this one to the 'small fry' (under 10 crowd) and their parents, as well as any adults out there with a vain hope of meeting the REAL Santa Claus. If any of you need a cure for that "Bad Santa" hangover from last Xmas, then this may be its somewhat sacchriney antidote, but don't even think about doing these two as double-feature (YIKES).
MOVIE website-http://polarexpressmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/index.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[Screened @ the Loews Lincoln Square IMAX (NYC)/01-26-05: 4pm]
POLAR EXPRESS (IMAX-3D)
Family audiences should pack up the kids and head for the local IMAX - as long as the kiddies still 'Believe' (non-believers won't be converted)!
2-1/2 stars/3 stars for 'Santa believers' (out of 4 stars) [(2004)USA/Animated] - (1 hr. 32 min.)
Co-written & directed by Robert Zemeckis
Co-writer: William Broyles, Jr.
Source: based on the 29 page book by Chris Van Allsburg
Characters/Voice Cast
Hero Boy/Father/Conductor/Hobo/Scrooge/Santa Claus - Tom Hanks
Review:
While some may see 'motion-capture' animation as an insidious plot to keep unnamed actors locked in studios covered with electrodes planted on their blue-suited bodies, only to have their anonymity further deepened as superstar voice actors provide dialogue and emotion from the comfort of a sound booth ... others recognize this seemingly demonic process sometimes works.
Forget past motion-capture animation attempts, like "Final Fantasy" which had all the emotion of a video game (none), as director Steve Zemeckis ("Back to the Future") along with actor Tom Hanks have made the most substantial attempt yet to personalize this latest animation medium.
Still not 100% successful, but this visual aspects certainly benefit greatly from the IMAX-3D treatment with several jaw-dropping setpieces. Now they need to figure out how to keep the less-animation friendly sequences just as interesting and somehow prove that this method is better than the normal conceit of combining LIVE-ACTION WITH animation (which usually bastardizes both mediums (the 'toon masterpiece "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" excepted).
As for the plotline of a doubting boy who lives out a dreamlike trip to the North Pole and a face-to-face with Santa Claus in person ... well, let's just say that I couldn't hear the sleigh bells but I could hear myself yawn (several times).
Leave this one to the 'small fry' (under 10 crowd) and their parents, as well as any adults out there with a vain hope of meeting the REAL Santa Claus. If any of you need a cure for that "Bad Santa" hangover from last Xmas, then this may be its somewhat sacchriney antidote, but don't even think about doing these two as double-feature (YIKES).
MOVIE website-http://polarexpressmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/index.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++