The Polar Express, the 2004 Christmas movie starring Tom Hanks, opened in U.S. theaters on Nov. 10, 2004, 22 years ago Tuesday. One of its harshest early reviews came from Slant Magazine.

Slant’s Ed Gonzalez called the film “a hollow CGI extravaganza” in a review published Nov. 6, 2004. He wrote that its “live action with ‘live’ action” CGI effects “are more frightening than endearing.”

What Slant Magazine Said About The Polar Express

Gonzalez gave director Robert Zemeckis credit for “a few lovely moments,” including a scene where the wind makes a snowman seem to wave goodbye to the boy at the center of the story.

He still argued that “subtlety and grace are scarcely on the director’s agenda.” He compared the train ride to “an Olympic-style luge event” and a trip through “an especially crowded FAO Schwartz.”

His main complaint was the look of the characters.…