The Polar Express at the CN IMAX Theatre

Watching a Christmas classic like Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express in a theatre is okay. Watching it in 3-D on a screen eight storeys high with 12,000 watts of digital surround sound is awesome!

It was the last day of the movie's limited holiday screening when the family watched this Tom Hanks-voiced film at the CN IMAX Theatre in Canada Place. They almost missed the 4 p.m screening if not for their neighbours who bought advanced tickets for them. Otherwise, they could have ended up waiting for the next screening, which was at 7 p.m.

The bus ride to Canada Place normally took them a half hour. But it was the last Sunday before Christmas and thousands of people were out doing their shopping. Plus, embarking passengers with baby strollers and in wheelchairs and tourists looking for directions prolonged the trip.

There was already a long lineup at the box office when the three got there. On the P.A., someone was announcing that the 4 p.m. showing was already sold out. The family was really thankful that they already have reserved tickets on hand. Unfortunately, they didn't get the best seats in the house as they were seated at the far-left side of the screen. But with the gigantic screen, they didn't mind it and enjoyed the first full-length movie ever converted into IMAX 3D.

The 96-minute-long feature was about a skeptical boy who takes an amazing train ride to the North Pole and to eventual self-discovery, revealing to him that the magic of Christmas never fails for those who continue to believe. For Roger Ebert of the Ebert & Roeper fame, "... the best 3-D viewing experience I've ever had. If there's a choice, try the IMAX version. Or go twice. This is a movie that doesn't wear out."

Or just buy the DVD, which Lyn is planning to next Christmas. •