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The Polar Express

Review by: Paul Maniaci

PaulManiaci@TheCinemaSource.com

One of the greatest things inherent in youth is the ability to believe. We believe we are indestructible which leads to the common belief that we can fly. We believe we can eventually be anything; astronauts, firemen, racecar drivers, anything our imagination can create for us. For kids the sky is not the limit, it's the starting point. Therefore when a childs ability to believe begins to wane, they lose some of their childhood as well.

The Polar Express tells the story of a group of children who have lost their faith in Christmas and their quest to gain it back before Santa comes to town in an amazingly visual film with solid moral lessons, if not a very developed story.

The story of The Polar Express is a simple one. A bunch of skeptical children board a magical train on Christmas Eve bound for the North Pole. On their journey they encounter many fantastic obstacles and ultimately regain their belief in the season. I imagine the story translates better as a kid's book in its brevity because as a movie, it tends to play more on elongated action sequences on and off the train, sing-a-longs and even worse, clumsy train workers as comedy.

On a note of concern, there is also the creepiness factor. First you have children boarding a train with an unknown conductor and seeming pretty comfortable with that. He might as well be handing them lollipops. Topping that off is the scary Tom Hanks hobo onboard who interacts with the lead child without question. Apparently these children never learned about Stranger Danger and all adults are approachable. Is that the spirit of Christmas? Santa practices breaking and entering in order to deliver presents so perhaps anything goes during the yuletide season. (The book was probably written in a time when children did not have as many reasons to be concerned.) As an adult, if by age only, this concerned me. Furthermore the story has a predictable ending and getting there it stalls at times more interested in action than moving the plot along.

Acting is hard to judge in an animated film where you rely on the actors' ability to voice their feelings rather than seeing their facial expressions or physical actions. This becomes even more confusing in this film that seems to straddle the line between animation and live action. Tom Hanks plays the role of numerous characters from the Conductor, Santa Clause, hero boy, and the Hobo. Nona Gaye voices the hero girl and Peter Scolari, of Bosom Buddies fame, is the lonely boy. In the end you believe them as the roles they inhabit so they have done their job.

The animation in this film is spellbinding. It veers in

and out of fantasy and reality. The human characters look eerily life-like. At times it is hard to fathom especially when our eyes see Tom Hanks the person while it's only a computer image of him. The special effects extend beyond the characters to the sets and weather. It feels as though the harsh wind is striking our faces with icy snow as the train zooms along at breakneck speeds. The reality elements, however, are contrasted with fantastical elements such as the North Pole with its elves, high tech transportation, and gadgetry.

The computer captures the movements of the human actors which is why we see Tom Hanks and hear his laugh as his actions are translated into a three dimensional world. Someone more tech savvy then I can explain the logistics of it all. (The technology is used in video games too.) We are truly in the same dream state as the children questioning what is real and what is not.

Thematically the story instills good morals about friendship and patience. Friendship is comforting when tough times arise and patience is the key to seeing them though. These lessons are great for children and adults. Christmas is portrayed as a time of giving and being thankful. Sometimes you forget that as a kid, while you are counting your loot or riding your spanking new bicycle. As you get older you see how commercial the previously pure holiday has become. You lose that whimsy that you possessed as a child, until you found out that Santa Clause was only a figment of your imagination. I remember while I still believed, the restless night of Christmas Eve, trying to finagle one present before Christmas Day from my parent's and how Christmas mass managed to feel even longer than regular Sunday mass. The excitement was palpable as I climbed in to bed, rubbed my feet together as if making a wish, and listened for Santa coming down the chimney.

Christmas meant presents and being the earliest one down the stairs. It also meant staying in pajamas all day, pancakes, and seeing joy in the warm faces of loved ones. Some of the mystique has disappeared yet it has become a time where I treasure giving and receiving the smiles of appreciation in return. I'm still the first one down those stairs so the belief has not completely died, but perhaps transformed. I can't wait for my family to partake in our Christmas festivities, see infinite possibilities in my awesome nephew as he tears the wrapping off gifts, and see everything glow a little brighter that snowy morning.

I did not read The Polar Express growing up, but I've heard if you read it, it becomes a part of you. If that is the case this movie will probably resonate more with

you if you are not a child. Kids will definitely enjoy the fantasy, action, and spirit of Christmas in the story. Adults may have a more cynical response to it as I did. But, it still dazzles the eye visually while helping stir the happy memories that Christmas is meant to and hopefully still does create. If you decide to go for the ride, like everything else, it goes down better with eggnog.

Movie Grade for Adults: B-

Movie Grade if you read, and liked the Children's Book: B

Movie Grade for Kids: B+

Synopsis:

An inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. 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.