Perhaps I'll rethink the idea of taking the girls to see "The Polar Express". From today's Wall Street Journal comes this scathing review:
"The Polar Express," an animated feature starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a train wreck of mind-numbing proportions. This big-and-bigger-screen version of the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg (it's also being released in IMAX) is emotionally inert, visually unsettling when it isn't flat-out creepy, and dramatically -- well, there is no dramatically, because there's essentially no story or character development, notwithstanding frenzied musical numbers, manufactured crises, multiple roller-coaster rides (OK, that's the video game, but where's the movie?) and several would-be-smash endings that rise to Christmas-crushing levels of false jubilation. The only thing to be said in the film's favor is that it functions, at least for grownups, as a sort of life-extension program, making 97 minutes feel like three hours.
Ouch! Please... don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.
I'll have to look around and see if anyone else found it to have any redeeming value. On the flip side I've heard from some reviews that "The Incredibles" is very good.
Decent Films gave a milder review of Polar Express, but even so, he wasn't that impressed. The Incredibles is very good though and I would definitely recomend it. I'm sure Claire would love it, though one warning, it is almopst two hours long, so it might drag a bit for Abby. Great story, action, humor and character plots though.
Posted by: will at November 15, 2004 12:12 AMHey Scott-
I'd post you a webnote, but my comp wont do it! oh well...anyways, i wanted you to pass a message to michelle for me- there is a new gwen steffani song out called "what are you waiting for"- she might like it, i know she loved that kylie minogue song- this one sounds kind of like that- and i absolutely love it! talk to you later, bro!
Hi Suzy,
I'm not sure why you couldn't webnote. I don't have enough info. It should work with recent versions of Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox and Apple's Safari web browser. Unlike much of the rest of the site, it is prone to the occasional timeout if the database it fetches from "on the fly" gets swamped with requests.
I sampled the iTunes Music Store version of the Gwen Stefani song for Michelle.
Anytime you want to write up your account of the engagement weekend, feel free to write a post. Your author account is still active.
We've decided that we'll see The Incredibles on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at a matinee showing. We probably won't see the Polar Express until the Christmas holiday, if at all. I'm trying to rent Elf for the upcoming week.
Posted by: Scott at November 20, 2004 09:52 PM