The Polar Express

The Polar Express is a 2004 computer-animated adventure film co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, who also served as one of the executive producers.

Plot
This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. What unfolds is an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Why It's Great

 * 1) It follows the source material very faithfully and never took any liberties.
 * 2) The story about a boy trying to find out if Santa is real is really creative.
 * 3) Very beautiful motion capture animation.
 * 4) The film takes a unique look at believing in Santa, treating it as a challenge of faith.
 * 5) Likable characters including the Hero boy, Conductor, Hero Girl, and Billy.
 * 6) What helps this film's characters stand out from the others is that very few characters are given names, as Zemeckis thought it would be unnecessary if none of them were going to be addressed.
 * 7) Director Robert Zemeckis did a fairly amazing job following the book and he stays the spirit to the book.
 * 8) Some scenes have a very fast, roller coaster-Esque pace in order to make them feel like a proper wild ride.
 * 9) * On the subject, this is why the film is the rare case where the 3D helps improve the experience.
 * 10) There is a complete tone of whimsy within every scene, in order to make the experience truly magical.
 * 11) Catchy and unforgettable musical numbers like Hot Chocolate, When Christmas Comes To Town and Believe.
 * 12) Tom Hanks played multiple roles in one film, proving that he has a terrific vocal range.
 * 13) The "Who in the blazes applied that emergency brake?!" quote is pretty hilarious.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Sometimes, the character animation gets creepy.
 * 2) The story can be a bit awkward at times.

Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 56% based on 208 reviews and an average score of 6.42/10.

Box Office
The Polar Express grossed $286 million worldwide during its initial run, and $314 million with subsequent re-releases.