For those of you who have kids between the ages of 6 and 12, I heartily recommend that you take a trip on THE POLAR EXPRESS! I can't remember when I've observed kids so transfixed to the screen, enchanted and thrilled. Forget some of the coldhearted reviews that this movie has gotten ( Ebert & Roepert gave it two thumbs WAY up, however) and go with your kids to this delightful movie. What a great way to get into the holiday spirit!

ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS!

That's great I loved the book and the artwork, Chris Van Alsberg is so talented! I was worried they would not do justice to his work.

For anyone in the Detroit area, it is shown in IMAX 3D format at the Henry Ford Musuem in Dearborn. Follow up the film with a walk round Greenfield Village, all dressed up for Christmas, complete with ice skating and fireworks. Wish my grandson were old enough (he's one month old today).

But DH and I are going anyway to get in the Christmas spirit.

http://www.hfmgv.org/imax/default.asp

http://www.hfmgv.org/calendar/holida...day_nights.asp

Cheers! Maggi

We saw the movie a couple of nights ago. Excellent entertainment for all ages. ***kim***

I wasn't sure that I liked this movie, something about it just wasn't flowing very smoothly...then I looked to my right and to my left and saw two of my children with their eyes glued to the screen and their mouths wide open. I imagine it's the same thing my mother saw the first time I watched The Wizard of Oz.

Every year we dread the hustle and bustle that is about to take over and send us all into a frenzy, but this charming film reminds you what a magical time of year this can be for children.

Quick, I have to go find a little kid!

And what about the Incredibles?

Scarlett - the Incredibles was great - and I went without any little kids!

Karen

Maggi, thanks for the tip, didn't know it was showing at the HF Musuem, must do along with a walk around Greenfield Villiage. Always looking for holiday happenings!

The Incredibles : We saw it last night. I will be buying this DVD when available! Excellent movie. They showed two other short cartoons by Pixar before The Incredibles.
ALSO: Look for a sequel to follow...

I will drag the Yankee to the movies tonight. Thanks

We'll be seeing the Incredibles on the Oregon Coast next weekend! I also want to see Surviving Christams. I read the John Grisham book, Skipping Christmas a couple of years ago when on a trip to Carmel. Very different writing for Grisham but very enjoyable reading. ***kim***

I like Chris Van Allsburg, but I didn't care all that much for this particular book. I can't imagine how they stretched it into movie length...

Kim, Surviving Christmas isn't the movie which is based on Skipping Christmas. That movie, which is opening soon, has "The Kranks" in the title, and stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. It sounds like it might be fun!

Lee Ann

Yes, "Skipping Christmas" was an enjoyable little book

Bravo to the film companies...lots of family stuff in the theatres right now, and "Finding Neverland" right around the corner. When it rains it pours. I hope that "Polar Express" doesn't get lost in the shuffle. This one really deserves to be seen on the big screen...I think I am going to try to find an Imax and see it again.

ALL ABOARD the POLAR EXPRESS!

My daughter says that POLAR EXPRESS is the only movie that her one little guy has ever sat all the way through. He just loved it. He's just 4, and was terribly relieved that the kids in the movie got home. He told me about that several times on Sunday, so it made quite an impression on him. I haven't see it yet.

"Though "Christmas With the Kranks" was number 2 in weekend boxoffice Dec 3-4-5, hefty weekday numbers have catapulted "THE POLAR EXPRESS" into a solid 2nd-place finish for the full week ending December 9. "Kranks" finished the full 7 day frame at 13.4 million, with Polar leaving it in the dust at just short of 15 million for the sked.

Solid weekday grosses for a family feature - a rarity in the film biz - are always all-the-more impressive considering kid tix prices run about 30% under adult tabs.

Online word-of-mouth about the pic has apparently been building, creating a buzz that "Polar" may be critic-proof, and may become known as "this year's Big Fat Greek Wedding"- in other words a picture that picks up steam from week to week to week."


Hooray!
Keep on Choo-Choo-Chooing! All Aboard the Polar Express!

Trying to decided between Oceans 12 and Christmas with the Kranks for a movie tonight after we have a celebration anniversary dinner at a local Viatnamese place we love. (It's called Kim's, LOL!) I'm sure either movie would be very good.

Caught Sideways in Santa Barbara last weekend. The Riviera Theater it was playing in was gorgeous! ***kim***

Heard two good comments for Oceans 12. Kranks has gotten nothing but thumbs downs. "Closer" is showing up on all the ten-best lists, and "Spanglish" is supposedly in the running for Best Picture. Loved Sideways and Finding Neverland. And Polar Express!

Kim, that's one more great thing about California, you can still find those good old-fashioned single screen movie palaces like the Arlington in Santa Barbara and a group of them in Westwood and Hollywood.