In my DVD review of The Polar Express, I mentioned the fact that the movie is easy to be drawn into. The visuals are stunning. Even if you are a little put-off by the realism exhibited by the animated humans, the depiction of the North Pole toy factory is a visual wonder all by itself!

The story line of a child who is losing his confidence in the existence of Santa, the visuals, and the tour de force performances by Tom Hanks in multiple roles create a combination that is enjoyable for young and old to watch.

If you want to make a better experience for your children, I recommend reading the book to them before watching the movie. It's a short read, so the movie had to expand the story to get to feature length. Doing both is a nice way for kids to appreciate a story told in the written word and in a motion picture. 

There is some question as to whether The Polar Express can become a holiday classic. Given the lack of good contemporary movies in that segment, I would say that you have to go pretty far back in time to find a better candidate.

This is one movie that's worth owning so that you can watch it whenever the mood strikes!