The Polar Express (2004)

Robert Zemeckis has now used motion capture technology for a host of his films (including his version of another Christmas film, A Christmas Carol in 2009) but this was his foray into the technology. And for the most part it’s very successful; Tom Hanks voices six characters (very well as you might imagine) including the conductor of the ‘Polar Express’, a train, which makes the journey to the North Pole, picking up various children en route. Our hero, an unnamed boy, climbs aboard the train in Michigan after previously expressing doubt in the existence of Father Christmas. The film at times feels like a fairground ride, not least in the thrilling sequences of the train having to navigate lakes frozen over with ice or a roller-coaster like sequence of track; the animation also works especially well in an excellent musical sequence involving waiters serving the children on the train some hot chocolates. Although the film is perhaps too long, the thrills and excitement it offers up throughout as well as its unoriginal yet positive messages make for a festive feast of enjoyment for children, as well as plenty to enjoy for the grown ups, reminding people of the magic of Christmas you once had has a child. 7.0/10