Spring Break
Your next stop: the Polar Express
By: Dan Curlik
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: Entertainment
Originally published: 11/4/04 at 9:41 PM EST
Last update: 11/4/04 at 9:43 PM EST
Originally published: 11/4/04 at 9:41 PM EST
Last update: 11/4/04 at 9:43 PM EST
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With every new holiday season a whole new series of Christmas films hits the theaters, poised to win the affection of us all. Unfortunately, the majority of them usually fall short. Clichéd plots, stereotypical characters, and slapstick comedy make up much of what has become the Christmas genre. In a time dominated by films such as A Christmas Story, Bad Santa and National Lampoons Christmas' Vacation it is a rarity to see a seasonal film designed for the whole family.
Much to my surprise however, The Polar Express refused to fall into the typical holes these films fall into, forgoing the violence and crude humor that films such as Home Alone are famous for. Instead it gave the audience a truly emotional ride: laughter and suspense, joy and sadness are all presented in this wonderful ride. Then again, since it was created by the amazing teamwork of Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks (Forest Gump and Castaway) and based upon the short award winning children's book of the same name, one should really expect nothing but greatness from this film.
Just as the book opens, the film begins with a young boy questioning the existence of Santa Claus. Little does he know though that soon he will be presented with undeniable proof of the jolly red man's existence, a round trip to the North Pole itself via The Polar Express. On the way there though he will meet a variety of colorful characters, including a hobo who lives on top of the train, a young yet adventurous little girl, and a shy little boy. While these characters were not in the book version, some creative license is expected as Zemeckis changed a fifteen-page picture book into an hour and a half long film.
The film itself is set into two main parts, the train ride and the North Pole. The segments involving the train provide much of the action packed sequences, a musical interlude or two, and some light humor. What makes the portions with the train so enthralling, though, is the animation of the environment itself. Watching the train skid across a frozen lake and careen down the side of a mountain will leave you simply astounded, as will scenes later in the North Pole. One scene in particular that comes to mind is ceremony that is performed before the arrival of Santa Claus. Watching an entire city of elves celebrate in unison just has certain magic to it.
Much to my surprise however, The Polar Express refused to fall into the typical holes these films fall into, forgoing the violence and crude humor that films such as Home Alone are famous for. Instead it gave the audience a truly emotional ride: laughter and suspense, joy and sadness are all presented in this wonderful ride. Then again, since it was created by the amazing teamwork of Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks (Forest Gump and Castaway) and based upon the short award winning children's book of the same name, one should really expect nothing but greatness from this film.
Just as the book opens, the film begins with a young boy questioning the existence of Santa Claus. Little does he know though that soon he will be presented with undeniable proof of the jolly red man's existence, a round trip to the North Pole itself via The Polar Express. On the way there though he will meet a variety of colorful characters, including a hobo who lives on top of the train, a young yet adventurous little girl, and a shy little boy. While these characters were not in the book version, some creative license is expected as Zemeckis changed a fifteen-page picture book into an hour and a half long film.
The film itself is set into two main parts, the train ride and the North Pole. The segments involving the train provide much of the action packed sequences, a musical interlude or two, and some light humor. What makes the portions with the train so enthralling, though, is the animation of the environment itself. Watching the train skid across a frozen lake and careen down the side of a mountain will leave you simply astounded, as will scenes later in the North Pole. One scene in particular that comes to mind is ceremony that is performed before the arrival of Santa Claus. Watching an entire city of elves celebrate in unison just has certain magic to it.
