The Polar Express (2004)

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers (WGA):

Chris Van Allsburg (book)
Robert Zemeckis (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Journey Beyond Your Imagination

Plot:

On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home.

Plot Keywords:

3 Dimensional | Toy Train | Disbelief | Airplane | Train Wreck

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Hero Boy / Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus
Leslie Zemeckis	...	Sister Sarah / Mother
Eddie Deezen	...	Know-It-All
Nona Gaye	...	Hero Girl
Peter Scolari	...	Lonely Boy
Brendan King	...	Pastry Chef
Andy Pellick	...	Pastry Chef
Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak	...	Know-It-All
Josh Eli	...	Waiter
Mark Mendonca	...	Waiter
Rolandas Hendricks	...	Waiter
Mark Goodman	...	Waiter
Jon Scott	...	Waiter
Gregory Gast	...	Waiter
Sean Scott	...	Waiter

Also Known As:

The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

IMAX 6-Track | DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:G | USA:PG (Special Edition DVD) | Iceland:L | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Portugal:M/4 | USA:G (certificate #41220) | Indonesia:SU | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:U | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Ireland:G | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:G | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:8 (canton of Zurich) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Michael Jeter's last movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the elves are first seen, there is an elf that is moving (translating) left to right in front of the train with all the others, but the elf's body is rigid and lifeless, like a toy being slid across the floor. Possibly the computer animation for moving the elf from left to right was correct, but the algorithm for animating the body motion (walking, swinging arms, etc.) was stopped.

Quotes:

The Conductor: Well, ya comin'?
The Boy: Where?
The Conductor: To the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!

Movie Connections:

References Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Soundtrack:

When Christmas Comes to Town

Best Christmas movie ever made

It was astonishing to read the lead in review. The complaint laid forth by the critic that the director's view of the North Pole and Santa's workshop did not reflect his, too bad. Maybe the critic could do better but it's doubtful. As for the line that the Elven town looked like something out of a German city, so what? Didn't many of the concepts of Christmas begin in Germany? My family (two seniors, a twenty year old father, his 3, almost 4, year old son) loved it. The colors were brilliant. The number of elves dancing, singing, and rushing to create an entrance for Santa was outstanding. Santa, himself, proved to be exactly as he should. Intelligent, sturdy, and kind. His reindeer, just as impressive. Forgetting the North Pole and remarking on the rest of the movie, how well done! The artwork, just great. The excitement, our grandson was out of his chair and standing while holding onto the chair-back of the row in front of us. There were scenes that could have seemed somewhat scary for a youngster, he didn't find them so. He laughed several times out loud, had his eyes glued to the screen when something serious seemed to be happening, loved the entire movie. He wants the DVD for Christmas (he will have to wait a year). He also told us that he wants to see the movie once more before Christmas. Out of the mouth of a three year old, his favorite movie.

How can a critic want to re-design that? All because he didn't like the city at the North Pole.? I guess he was looking for buildings made from peppermint sticks. To each his own. As for the three adults, we too were amazed. We went for our grandson. We enjoyed it so much, we applauded (as did others in the theater). It will be easy to return for a second showing. And, the DVD, this family will be buying more than one. My summary states that this was the best Christmas story ever made (put on film, actually), we think it was more than that. It surpasses other great animated films. Once purchased in a DVD format, Toy Story will be relegated to the back shelf, even during the middle of summer.