The Polar Express (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

10 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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:

North Pole | Christmas Eve | Christmas | Train | Gift

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
Andy Pellick	...	Pastry Chef
Josh Eli	...	Waiter
Mark Mendonca	...	Waiter
Rolandas Hendricks	...	Waiter
Mark Goodman	...	Waiter
Jon Scott	...	Waiter
Gregory Gast	...	Waiter
Sean Scott	...	Waiter
Gordon Hart	...	Waiter
Michael Jeter	...	Smokey / Steamer

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:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | IMAX 6-Track

Certification:

Indonesia:SU | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/4 | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (Special Edition DVD) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:G (certificate #41220) | New Zealand:G | 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:

It is the first movie to use the Imagemotion technology.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The stoker uses his hair pin to replace the missing pin on the throttle. However, when the pin is in place, the engineer pulls back on the throttle as though it were the brake (evident because the train starts breaking instantly giving no time to actually apply it).

Quotes:

The Conductor: [singing] Here we only got one rule / Never, ever let it cool / Keep it cooking in the pot / Soon we got hot chocolate!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Best Ever Christmas Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hot Chocolate

This movie is a Christmas gift

"The Polar Express" is a magical and distinguish animated film directed by the great Robert Zemeckis.

This is a different kind of animated movie because it looks almost real (mostly the characters and the sceneries). No wonder it looks so realistic because, after all, it is entirely live action using performance capture technology. As a consequence, the graphics are amazing and the movie is technically admirable. Plus, the visuals/sceneries/backgrounds are terrific, the special effects are amazing, the magic is naturally present, the Christmas carols are nice and catchy and the movie has lots of adventure, strong emotions and suspense. A formidable combination of loud sounds is another quality. Definitely approved.

"The Polar Express" is also a remarkable film for Tom Hanks's career. He plays 5 different roles in this movie (the Hero Boy, the conductor, the Hobo, Santa Claus and the Hero Boy's father). By the way, the conductor really looks like Tom Hanks, except that the conductor has a mustache and is bald. Anyway, as I was saying, if it's already admirable to see an actor playing 5 roles, even more incredible is when that actor is Tom Hanks. Usually I find Tom Hanks a weak actor, but he is very good here.

This is, without a doubt, one of the finest Christmas's films ever made. Has everything to become a classic. Remember when we all used to believe in Christmas's magic and in Jolly Old Saint Nicholas? This movie brings us back this special Christmas spirit and some of the best memories from childhood. It even makes us want to believe again and hear the soft sound of the silver bell.

A curious and original detail about this motion picture it that most of the characters's names aren't mentioned, except for Billy and Sarah. I'd like to talk a bit about the characters.

First of all, the Hero Boy. He wants to believe in Christmas's magic and it's admirable how he ends up believing in Santa and all of the Christmas's magic. He is a nice and interesting character.

The Hero Girl also adds a lot to this movie. Not only is she a sweet character, but above all things she befriends with the Hero Boy and Billy, helping them to restore their faith on Christmas.

Billy is a gloomy and shy little boy who believes that he is «the little boy that Santa Claus forgot» and he has serious difficulties to trust on Christmas's magic at first... but the Hero Girl and the Hero Boy help him through this journey.

"Know-it-all" is the typical intellectual boy. He is wise, smart and intelligent, but nerdy, funny, very talkative (he speaks very quickly too), impatient and he can be a little boring at times. But even this character changes his attitudes. By the end, he becomes more calm, patient and "humble".

The Conductor has amazing talents with the tickets. He writes words on them without even looking at them. Simply amazing!

The Hobo is a mysterious and enigmatic character. He does have a great sense of humor and he is also one of the heroes in this Christmas's tale.

"The Polar Express" isn't an absolutely perfect film. Its negative side (from my point of view) includes the two engineers who happen to be ridiculous characters. Besides, I don't see what's the point of that Aerosmith's song and Steven Tyler's presence in a Christmas story (at least it's only for a brief moment). The Santa Claus looks okay, but a little... artificial? Could be a little better. But, overall, this is a wonderful movie. It's the movie of the year 2004.

This should definitely be on Top 250.