Review: Polar Express - The Imax Experience (U) *****

Nov 27 2009 by Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

ENTHUSED by recent release A Christmas Carol, I went back to the IMAX Cinema at Millennium Point last weekend to see the year’s first reappearance of this earlier ‘motion capture’ animation by director Robert Zemeckis.

It’s the first time I’ve seen this classic 2004 film about the magic of Christmas for three years.

My wife had never seen it and neither had our youngest, who is now six.

We all had a very enjoyable time because this is a fabulous Tom Hanks’ film aimed at the whole family.

It was also really pleasing to see plenty of grandmas and grandads there, too, as well as lots of disabled people having a marvellous treat by being able to sit right at the back in the best position!

Polar Express is a bit daft in places, but it has a very warm, seasonal heart and some truly fabulous moments for the young-at-heart of all ages.

Thanks to those incredible IMAX speakers, there are also some tremendous sound effects... when the train comes it really feels like the whole building is being shaken.

Because of competition from A Christmas Carol and, from December 16, James Cameron’s new three-hour blockbuster Avatar, Polar Express won’t have too many screenings even in December.

Polar Express is on again at 5.30pm tomorrow night and Sunday and again at the same time on December 5/6, 12/13.

Other screenings include 6.30pm on Wednesday 16, 10.30am on Thursday 17.

Closer to Christmas it’s back on again at 2pm on Tuesday 22 and Thursday 24, 10.45am on Saturday 26 (Boxing Day) and at 2pm on Tuesday 29 and Thursday 31.

So the advice really has to be: book your tickets now – and enjoy the ride!

Details: www.imax.ac or 0121 202 2222.