The Polar Express

2004

1h 40m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

6.6K

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Animation

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Directors

Robert Zemeckis

Writers

Robert Zemeckis(screenplay by)

William Broyles Jr.(screenplay by)

Chris Van Allsburg(book by)

Stars

Tom Hanks

Leslie Zemeckis

Eddie Deezen

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Top cast

Hero Boy …

Sister Sarah …

Know-It-All

Hero Girl (voice)

Billy - Lonely Boy

Smokey …

Hero Boy (motion capture)

Daryl Sabara

Hero Boy (voice)

Jimmy Bennett

Lonely Boy (voice)

Tinashe

Hero Girl (motion capture)

Pastry Chef

Pastry Chef

Waiter

Waiter

Waiter

Waiter

Waiter

Waiter

Directors

Robert Zemeckis

Writers

Robert Zemeckis(screenplay by)

William Broyles Jr.(screenplay by)

Chris Van Allsburg(book by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

***Some kids with creepy dead eyes take a dreamlike trip to the North Pole on The Polar Express*** A boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is at the age where he no longer believes in Christmas, as far as Santa, his elves and flying reindeer go, but a magical train appears in front of his home on Christmas Eve and whisks him away on an adventurous trip to the North Pole with several other kids. “The Polar Express” (2004) was based on the 1985 Christmas book and was the first mainline movie to use motion capture animation for all its characters beginning to end (think Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Some people think the animation is weak, but I feel it creates its own world and has its own charm. It holds up as long as you can adapt to those creepy dead eyes of the characters. Some people love this movie while others think it’s weird, like a Twilight Zone Christmas flick. Roger Ebert, for instance, loved it and gave it a perfect grade. I’m sorta in the middle. I see its good points and appreciate them, like the haunting winter ambiance, parts of the trip to the North Pole (e.g. the quasi-rollercoaster ride) and the kids’ investigation of the Christmas factory. But there are some meh parts and dubious sections like the whole last act with the multitude of elves and the towering Santa who looked like he was modeled after 6’5” Christopher Lee with a pillow strapped to his mid-section. The movie’s interesting in some ways but also quaint in a cheesy way, as well as peculiar and lifeless. The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes. GRADE: C

Wuchak30 Nov, 2018