Polar Express (Widescreen) (2004)

"This train ride is both majestic and edge-of-your-seat.  Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter
"Two enthusiastic thumbs way up...  Ebert & Roeper
"An instant Christmas classic in a league with the original Miracle on 34th St.  Joel Siegel, Good Morning America

Editor's Note Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg. A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings). At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop. With its fascinating tale and impressive technical frolics, THE POLAR EXPRESS is destined to become both a holiday classic and a new turning point in the art of animated cinema.

	Eddie Deezen
	Leslie Harter Zemeckis
	Peter Scolari
	Tom Hanks
	Chris Van Allsburg - Based On Novel By
	Don Burgess, et. al. - Cinematographer
	Gary Goetzman, et. al. - Producer
	Glen Ballard, et. al. - Original Music By
	R. Orlando Duenas, et. al. - Editor
	Rick Carter, et. al. - Production Designer
	Robert Zemeckis - Director
	Robert Zemeckis, et. al. - Screenplay
	Tom Hanks, et. al. - Executive Producer

Los Angeles Times
"[T}here is wonder for us to cherish, courtesy of a spectacular visual sense....It does nicely with its quieter moments, especially in the emotional scenes that close the story." 11/10/2004 p.E1

Ultimate DVD
3 stars out of 5 -- "It's a technical masterpiece that is made primarily for kids..." 04/01/2008 p.64

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 9 of 10
The Polar Express is cinematic magic - a delightful tale guaranteed to enthrall viewers of all ages. Does that sound like advertising hype, or the words of a publicist? Perhaps, but it's a reflection of how strongly this film pulled me under its spell. For children, this is a glorious adventure, full of excitement, splendor, and plenty of holiday good cheer. For adults, there are deeper meanings to be found, not to mention the bittersweet nostalgia of gazing back through the years to the point where innocence gave way to the curse of maturity. - James Berardinelli

Chicago Sun-Times 8 of 10
The Polar Express is a movie for more than one season; it will become a perennial, shared by the generations. It has a haunting, magical quality because it has imagined its world freshly and played true to it, sidestepping all the tiresome Christmas cliches that children have inflicted on them this time of year. The conductor tells Hero Boy he thinks he really should get on the train, and I have the same advice for you. - Roger Ebert