A boy boards a magical train to the North Pole and discovers the true spirit of Christmas. The mesmerizing animation and thrilling adventure is like a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter’s night. The message of believing in the magic of Christmas is delivered with heartwarming sincerity.
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Review
“The Polar Express” – A Journey of Faith, Belief, and Magic
Malcolm Gladwell has always been a master storyteller. He takes everyday topics and makes them fascinating by digging deeper and exploring every possible angle. In the same vein, let’s dive into the Christmas classic movie, “The Polar Express.”
Based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express” is a story about faith, belief, and magic. It tells the tale of a young boy who goes on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve aboard a magical train called The Polar Express.
The Plot
At its core, “The Polar Express” is a simple story that resonates with people of all ages. It’s about a young boy who is struggling with his belief in Santa Claus. He’s reached an age when he starts questioning if Santa Claus is real or just a myth.
Late one Christmas Eve night, he hears the sound of a train outside his house and rushes out to see it. Before he knows it, he finds himself on The Polar Express headed for the North Pole.
On his journey, the boy meets other children who are also on board for various reasons. Together they encounter several exciting adventures that test their courage and spirit.
Casts
Tom Hanks plays six different characters in this movie – Hero Boy (the main protagonist), Santa Claus, Forrest Gump-esque hobo Billy (voice), Hero Boy’s father (voice), Scrooge-like narrator (voice), and finally conductor James/Joe (voice). He delivers some of the most memorable lines in the movie.
“It doesn’t matter where the train is going. What matters is deciding to get on.”
Acting and Characters
Tom Hanks poured everything into his performance as he brought several memorable characters to life. However, it’s not just his acting that stood out but also the rest of cast members as well.
The young Hero Boy, voiced by Daryl Sabara, perfectly captures the innocence and wonder of childhood. Meanwhile, the other children on board – especially Hero Girl and Know-It-All Boy – represent different facets of youth.
The conductor, played by Eddie Deezen, is stern but jovial. He’s the one who leads the children on their adventure and keeps them in line.
History
“The Polar Express” was first published in 1985 to critical acclaim. The book won the Caldecott Medal for its exceptional illustrations and storytelling.
In 2004, Robert Zemeckis adapted the story and brought it to life on screen with a budget of around $165 million. The movie grossed over $306 million at the box office.
Music
The score for “The Polar Express” was composed by Alan Silvestri, who also worked on films like “Forrest Gump” and “Back to the Future.” The music helps transport audiences into a magical world while still feeling grounded in reality.
Popularity
Over time, “The Polar Express” has become a beloved Christmas classic that people watch every year. Its message about faith, belief, and coming together resonates with people of all ages.
Filming
“The Polar Express” is a marvel of modern filmmaking because it uses motion capture technology to create computer-generated characters that look like real actors but are animated instead.
Evaluation
“The Polar Express” is an impressive feat of animation that tells a heartwarming story about believing in something greater than ourselves. It’s a reminder that magic can exist if we let ourselves be open to it.
Awards
While the film did not receive any major Academy Awards or Golden Globes nominations – which many considered snubs – it did receive other accolades including nominations from BAFTA Children’s Awards for Best feature film (lost award to Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’), Best music, Best production design and won the Best Sound award.
Cinematography
The film’s cinematography is breathtaking, especially when the train travels through a dark forest or on top of a frozen lake. Every frame is meticulously crafted to create a sense of wonder and awe.
Opinion
The film does have its detractors who criticize it for being too saccharine or manipulative. Some argue that the story is overly sentimental, and the animation is too sterile.
However, many more people appreciate it for its timeless message and excellent execution.
Scenes
Some of the most memorable scenes in the movie include Hero Boy trying to catch up with The Polar Express as it passes his house. Then there’s the scene where he first sees Santa Claus in person atop his giant sleigh surrounded by his elves.
Gossip
There have been rumors that Tom Hanks didn’t want to play all of those roles and just wanted to play Hero Boy. But this rumor was dismissed as false by Hanks himself during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Soundtracks
The soundtrack for “The Polar Express” includes several classic Christmas songs like “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “White Christmas.”
Analysis
When analyzing “The Polar Express,” one could argue that it contains religious undertones – that believing in Santa Claus is akin to having faith in something greater than ourselves. It’s a message that resonates not just during Christmas but throughout the year.
Special Effects
“The Polar Express” was groundbreaking at its time because it employed new technology called motion capture, which allowed actors’ movements to be captured digitally and added onto computer-generated characters. This technique made it possible for Tom Hanks to play six different roles seamlessly.
Development
Robert Zemeckis had always wanted to adapt “The Polar Express” into a movie, but he had to wait until technology caught up with his vision. In an interview with Variety, Zemeckis said that he wanted the movie to look like a storybook coming to life.
Dialogue
The film’s dialogue is minimal yet powerful. It’s punctuated by moments of silence and music, which allows the audience to soak up the beautiful visuals and wonderment.
Crews
“The Polar Express” involved many crews from different departments such as art and visual development department, modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, and compositing. They all worked together to make the film magic become a reality.
Criticism
While most people enjoyed “The Polar Express,” some critics criticized it for being too long and drawn-out. They felt that the story could have been condensed into a shorter movie.
Production
“The Polar Express” was produced by director Robert Zemeckis’ company ImageMovers in collaboration with Warner Bros. The film took over two years of pre-production and eighteen months of actual production before it was finally released in 2004.
Editing
The editing work on “The Polar Express” was carried out by Jeremiah O’Driscoll who had previously worked on Zemeckis’ movie ‘Cast Away’. He used innovative techniques to make sure that every sequence flowed seamlessly into the next.
In conclusion, “The Polar Express” is a magical journey that reminds us of the importance of faith and belief. It’s a timeless classic that celebrates the wonderment of childhood while still speaking to adults. It’s hard not to be swept away by its beautiful animation work and touching storyline. The film may have its detractors but for many others including myself; it’s simply one of the best holiday movies ever made.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 100
- Release : 2004-11-10
- Genre : Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
- Cast : Tom Hanks as Hero Boy / Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus, Leslie Zemeckis as Sister Sarah / Mother, Eddie Deezen as Know-It-All, Nona Gaye as Hero Girl (voice), Peter Scolari as Billy – Lonely Boy
- Crew : Alan Silvestri as Original Music Composer, Alan Silvestri as Songs, Alan Silvestri as Conductor, Robert Zemeckis as Screenplay, Robert Zemeckis as Director
- Popularity 33.997
- Budget : $165,000,000
- Revenue : $310,634,054
- Company : Golden Mean, Playtone, ImageMovers
- Summary : 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.
- Tagline : This holiday season… believe.
